According to Kenneth Lim, business development director with Singapore-based Jurong International, which is developing the masterplan, the company has just finished the market and strategic studies and will begin the concept masterplan imminently.

Located north of Riyadh in the Nejd region, Sudair industrial city will measure 257 square-kilometres, making it 70 per cent larger than King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).

The project is designed to alleviate growing congestion in Riyadh and reduce migration to the capital, while providing further stimulus to the kingdom's economy, which is expected to grow by 5 per cent in 2008 (MEED 15:02:08).

Sudair is being developed by Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Sipa), also known as Saudi Organisation for Industrial Estates & Technology Zones (SIOETZ).