Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education Ministry has issued 11 tenders for construction work at various universities across the kingdom.

The tenders are as follows:

• Al-Majmaah University: Zulfi Campus in Riyadh Province: construction of a new three-storey College of Dentistry and associated works; total built up area 30,000 square metres; tenders due by 28 November.
• Hail University: construction of new three-storey College of Art for Women and associated works; total built up area 35,000 square metres; tenders due by 2 December.
• Jizan University: construction of a new College of Dentistry for Women; total built up area 35,000 square metres, tenders due by 30 December.
• Mizahmiah Unversity: construction of a new College of Engineering building; total built up area 40,000 square metres; tenders due by 8 December.
• Shaqraa University: Quaiaia Colleges: construction of new College of Applied Medical Science; total built up area 45,000 square metres; tenders due by 10 December.
• Shaqraa University: Quaiaia Colleges: construction of College of Science & Humanities, total built up area 15,000 square metres; tenders due by 12 December.
• Al-Baha University: construction of a new College of Art & Science in Baljurashi; total built up area 40,000 square metres, tenders due by 18 December.
• Qassim University: Onaizah Campus: infrastructure works; tenders due by 22 December.
• Northern Border University in Arar: construction of new College of Home Economics for Women; total built up area 35,000 square feet; tenders due by 26 December.
• Tabuk University: construction of a new College of Education & Art for Women; total built up area 35,000 square metres; tenders due by 4 December.
• Al-Baha University: construction of a new College of Art & Science in Al-Mikhwah, total built-up area 40,000 square feet; tenders due by 16 December.

Alnaim Architects Engineers & Planners are the consultants on each project.

Saudi Arabia has made education a top priority as it seeks to address rising unemployment and rapid population growth. At the end of 2012, the official unemployment rate of Saudis was 12 per cent, but for young people, the rate is far higher. Among those aged 20-24, unemployment is more than 40 per cent, with about 70 per cent of females in that age bracket unable to find work.

Government funding of higher education as a percentage of GDP is the highest in Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom has allocated 25 per cent of its budget ($54.4bn) to build 539 new schools and 15 new colleges, as well as expand its scholarship programmes that already fund 120,000 Saudi scholarship students abroad.