Saudi Aramco has approached contractors for two construction contracts at its estimated $10bn sports city development near Jeddah.

The state oil company has asked firms to express interest in the enabling works package and it has invited selected companies to prequalify for a road building contract.

The enabling works involves earthworks such as general site levelling and preparation and the 10-month road contract involves the construction of two interchanges and a perimeter road, says a source close to the project.

UK-based Arup is the consultant on the scheme.

King Abdullah Sports City was approved by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud in February 2009. It will cover an area of 9 square-kilometres on the outskirts of Jeddah. It will feature a main stadium with a capacity of 100,000, together with at least 5 other smaller sporting arenas (MEED 22:2:09).

It will also feature a specialist hospital for sporting injuries, a number of indoor arenas and accommodation facilities.

The project is one of several major sports related projects planned in the Gulf. It has already completed the first phase of its Dubai Sports City development and will build more sporting venues if it wins the rights for the 2020 Olympic Games, Abu Dhabi is tendering a major new football stadium, and Doha plans to build new stadiums as part of its bid for football’s Fifa World Cup 2022.