Six local companies submitted bids on 4 January for the contract to expand Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. The expansion will see the addition of three new colleges and a major car park.

Bid prices were opened immediately after submission. The low bid, at SR 770 million ($205 million), came from Al-Fouzan Trading & General Construction, and was followed by Al-Harbi Trading & Contractingat SR 788 million ($210 million) and El-Seif Engineering & Contractingat SR 789 million ($210 million). Prices ranged up to SR 1,268 million ($338 million).

The project calls for the construction of three colleges for female students, each of which will cover a built-up area of 84,000 square metres. The successful contractor will also build a 100,000-square-metre covered car park and carry out site development and all other related works.

A contract award is expected within the next two months following the completion of final negotiations between the contractors and the client, the Higher Education Ministry. Imam University was established in 1974.