The US’ Hill International has been awarded two new contracts for the estimated SR19bn ($5.1bn) Jabal Omar development in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The two contracts involve an increase in manpower resources for Hill’s existing project management contract for phases one and two of the development, in addition to design review services for the third, fourth and fifth phases of the scheme.

The estimated value of the project management contracts is SR25.3m. Hill International has been project manager on the mixed-use development since August 2010.

Jabal Omar Development Company, the client for the project, recently invited contractors to submit bids for the second phase of the scheme, which involves the construction of four towers to be operated by the Starwood Hotels and Resorts group. Two of the towers will be used as a Westin Hotel, and two are planned to be run as a Sheraton hotel. Submissions for phase two were due on 3 March.

The developer has also achieved financing for phases three, four and five of the development, and all of the phases are still in the design stage.

The Jabal Omar development will consist of 37 towers when completed. The local Nesma & Partners Construction is currently working on the first phase of the development, which involves the construction of nine towers. In December 2010, Nesma was awarded SR3.4bn construction contract for the work. Nesma replaced the local Saudi Binladin and Saudi Oger firms, who had originally been appointed to build the first phase.

MEED recently reported that the developer had started talks with banks about raising a SR5bn 15-year loan for the scheme.