The latest packages on Al-Tilal centre on the construction of about 350 villas designed in a traditional Arabian style. Bids are under evaluation from about 10 local contractors for packages 1 and 2, which call for the construction of about 150 villas in a modern style.

About 20 local companies are prequalified to bid for the packages. Located to the south of Medina, the project is about 7 kilometres away from the holy mosque and covers an area of about 2.2 million square metres. Saudi Diyar Consultants is the design consultant.

Contractors have until the end of April to bid for another Dar al-Arkan contract involving the construction of 87 apartment buildings in the Al-Qasr mixed-use development at Suwaidi, south of Riyadh. The Al-Qasr project includes the construction of 3,800 low-rise apartments for which several packages are already under evaluation.

Estimated to cost SR 1,500 million ($400 million), the project will be carried out in 22 packages. A team of the local Al-Sakhra al-Arabia with Manazel for Construction has completed the infrastructure and site levelling works.

The masterplan has been prepared by the local Alnaim; Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) has carried out the final designs.

However, plans to build the estimated SR 250 million ($66 million) Al-Abrar tower in Mecca have been put on hold. Contractors had submitted bids for the structural and vertical transportation packages for the 28-storey tower.

Dar al-Arkan also unveiled in early March plans to build a new residential district in the north of Riyadh. The estimated $1,600 million Riyadh View development will comprise 8,000 residential units.

The project manager on all the developments is Turner Arabia, part of the US' Turner Construction International.