Eight local and international groups submitted bids on 5 September to build the new headquarters building for Al-Rajhi Bank in Riyadh. The project, valued at about $200 million, will be located between King Fahd road and Olayya street (MEED 31:3:06).

The bidders are the local Yamama Construction Company with China?s Sino State Construction Engineering Corporation, South Korea?s Samwhan Corporation with an unidentified local contractor, the local/Lebanese Saudi ACC, and El-Seif Engineering, Saudi Binladin Group, Saudi Constructioneers, Saudi Freyssinet and Saudi Oger, all local.

The 33-storey building will be about 250 metres high, with a major atrium on the ground floor and a built-up area of about 66,000 square metres. Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of 2006. US-based Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), which is the overall consultant on the development, is being assisted by the local Mohammed Harasni Architects.

The UK?s Atkins is finalising designs for the Al-Rajhi Riyadh Landmark tower, set to be the capital?s tallest structure. The pyramid-shaped structure will rise to 352 metres. Saleh bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi Business Council is the client (MEED 26:5:06).