Saudi Aramco has invited firms to bid by February 2019 for a public-private partnership (PPP) contract to develop workers' accommodation as part of its East-West Corridor development.

It is the second contract Saudi Aramco has tendered for the East-West Corridor programme.

MEED understands the second contract has a similar scope to the first one, which involves the development of 1,700 houses.

Saudi Aramco received bids from private developers for the first contract in February. However, it is understood the first contract has not yet been awarded.

Aramco last year awarded a PPP housing development at its Fadhili gas development, where it is undertaking a major gas plant and power and steam project.

The drive to implement PPP across various sectors in Saudi Arabia has stepped up significantly since the launch of the National Transformation Programme (NTP) in 2016, with the Housing Ministry also pursuing a number of plans to oversee the development of PPP housing schemes.