Kingdom draws up shortlist for women’s college campus

03 October 2008

The Saudi Finance Ministry has prequalified a number of local and international contractors, including Saudi Oger and Saudi Binladin Group, to build a university campus north of Riyadh.

Part of the Riyadh University for Women, it will cover about 2.5 square kilometres.

Selected companies have been invited to submit bids by 22 October for the main construction contract, with work expected to begin early next year. The cost of the project is SR15bn ($4bn).

It is the latest in a series of academic institutions that are being developed in the kingdom.

In July, Binladin was the low bidder for the contract to construct another women’s college in Riyadh. Its bid of SR8.8bn ($2.4bn) was ahead of bids from the local Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company, Sweden’s ABV Rock and Saudi Oger (MEED 25:7:08).

The college will be located close to the existing King Saud University and will cover about 1.3 sq km, with 12 buildings.

An award had been expected in August. However, a decision from the client, King Saud University, has yet to be announced, and there is no indication yet when this will occur. It is hoped that construction will begin by the end of 2008.

A number of other education projects are also under construction in the kingdom. Saudi Oger is working on the SR11.3bn King Abdullah University of Science & Technology for Saudi Aramco.

China’s Guandong Overseas Construction Group was also awarded a SR2.3bn contract for 16 buildings at King Khaled University in July (MEED 13:7:08).

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