Local developer Ewaan al-Farida has reissued tender documents for construction contracts on its estimated $373m mixed-use project in Jeddah.

The deadline to bid on the contract for site preparation, earth works and infrastructure is 4 August this year.

To bid on the residential component, contractors are asked to submit commercial and technical documents by 31 August.  

Ewaan al-Farida targeted Saudi Arabia’s largest contractors when it first invited contractors to bid at the start of 2010.

Saudi Oger, Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) and El-Seif Engineering Contracting and Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company were among the bidders when the project was first tendered earlier this year.

After receiving bids from large contractors, Ewaan al-Farida sought more competitive bids from some of the kingdom’s smaller contractors.

Alfanar Construction is among those looking to bid on the two million square-metre project in August, says Alaa Alloush, market intelligence manager, Alfanar Construction.

The mixed-use scheme will comprise 2,500 affordable homes. It will also contain facilities for recreation, healthcare, education, shopping and prayer.

Government reports suggest the housing shortage in Jeddah has reached 283,000 homes. It is estimated that the shortage could increase to one million by 2020 (MEED 1:5:10).

Ewaan al-Farida is a partnership of the local Ewaan Global Residential Company and the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank. The company was established to build affordable housing throughout Saudi Arabia.

Canada’s Array International Architects designed the masterplan in early 2009. Kuwait-based Projacs International is the project manager.