Jeddah-based Umm al-Qura Development Company has invited firms to prequalify by 15 July for the contract to develop two major buildings for the King Abdul Aziz Road (KAAR) project, commonly referred to as the West Gate or Mecca gateway project.

The two buildings will comprise a cluster of hospitality mixed-use development along with a shopping mall.

KAAR is envisaged as the new entrance to Mecca and will comprise 211 towers upon completion.

The project is located in the western part of the city and extends 3,650 metres from the western entrance of the Grand Mosque leading to the Jabal Omar scheme.

In 2015, Nesma & Partners won a $1.75bn contract for infrastructure work on the KAAR.

The works involves building roads and general infrastructure for the scheme. It also involves building 9.5 kilometres of roads, together with intersections and a main road with four lanes in each direction; and a central pedestrian boulevard linking to the Haram area.