Work on the 17,000-square-metre hospital extension is expected to last two years, and involves the demolition of existing facilities and construction of a new wing to house cardiology and surgery units. In addition, Al-Osais will be responsible for supplying and installing medical equipment and furnishing for the hospital. The consultant on the project is local Al-Hejailan Consultants.

Al-Osais has also begun work on the construction of an office building in the North Park estate in Dhahran. Work on the 4,000-square-metre site will be completed in 2003. Aramco is understood to be considering plans for a larger, $70 million-80 million extension of its central administrative headquarters, but industry sources say the company is waiting for clear signs of an oil price recovery before allocating funds for new construction projects (MEED 21:9:01).