The US’ Hill International has received a contract extension for the estimated SR19bn ($5.1bn) Jabal Omar Development in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The two-year extension has an estimated value to Hill of approximately $28.7m.

The Jabal Omar development, situated on 57 acres, includes 37 towers with a total built-up area of 2 million square metres of space, including hospitality, residential, retail, commercial and religious facilities. Hill has been the project manager on the development since 2010.

The local Nesma & Partners Construction is currently working on the first phase of the development, which involves the construction of nine towers.

In March 2012, a joint venture of the local Saudi Arabian Baytur Construction Company and the local Azmeel Contracting & Construction Corporation was awarded an estimated SR1.49bn contract to build the second phase of the scheme. The second phase involves the construction of four hotel towers to be operated by the Starwood Hotels and Resorts group. Two of the towers will be built under The Westin hotel brand, while the remaining towers will be run by Sheraton.

In December 2012, the joint venture of Lebanon’s Arabian Construction Company (ACC) and the UAE’s Drake & Scull International was awarded the estimated $720m contract to build phase three of the development. The third phase will involve the construction of four hotel towers. Two of the towers will house a five-star Hilton hotel and the other two towers will contain a three-star Double Tree by Hilton hotel.