The SR550m ($146m) deal includes lecture buildings, student accommodation, a medicine college, pharmacy college and university hospital extension.

Construction is expected to take 12-36 months. The client is Umm-Al-Qura University, operating under the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia.

Al Arrab Contracting Company is one of the bidders for the $1100m Northern Border Security Fence (Phase 1) project. KSA Ministry of Defence and Aviation (MDA) is the client. Other bidders include Al-Khodary & Sons Company, Almabani General Contractors and Saudi Binladin Group.

The contract was originally tendered to local contractors in early 2006, with Al-Arrab Contracting entering the lowest bid, but was withdrawn in September for further consultation (MEED 15:9:06).