Thakher Gardens Building Design in Mecca
We are proud to announce that RMJM Dubai’s Thakher Gardens won the Best Future Project of the Year by Design Middle East Awards 2021. The Design Middle East Awards aim at recognising the creative excellence of both individuals and companies, and their core strengths. The Best Future Project category is “dedicated to any type of building and development that is already in progress or slated to begin construction soon and gives an insight into what the future may hold through distinct architecture, the use of advanced technology, and environmental qualities”.
As such, the Thakher Gardens have been designed as a gateway site to a new Thakher city, integrating the mixed-use development into a single cohesive and efficient approach allowing for the creation of a new urban quarter that is a destination for living, hospitality, events, shopping, leisure and civic use. The vision that drove RMJM Dubai to design the Gardens is to deliver an exemplary world-class development that will be commercially sustainable, vibrant and connected while, through its architectural expression, delivering a gateway destination for both Makkah and Thakher city.
Source: E-Architect.com
With $1.1tn investment, Saudi Arabia to become the world’s biggest construction site: Knight Frank
- January 18, 2023
- 11:14 am
With $1.1tn investment, Saudi Arabia to become the world’s biggest construction site: Knight Frank
The construction sector in Saudi Arabia maintained its growth momentum in the third quarter of 2022 with contracts worth SR25.2 billion ($6.7 billion) awarded during the period, according to a report by the US Saudi Business Council.
The report suggested that multiple Vision Realization Programs in the fields of tourism, housing, and infrastructure development drove the sector’s growth in the Kingdom. Despite a 6 percent year-on-year drop in the number of contracts, the total value is on track to surpass the sector’s 2021 performance. The value of awarded contracts in the first three quarters rose 67 percent year on year to reach SR119.7 billion, the report showed.
“The construction sector continues to perform at a fast pace as a number of supporting developments have aided in its surge,” said Albara’a Alwazir, director of economic research at the USSBC.
He added: “The improved macroeconomic environment spurred by the Kingdom’s oil revenues coupled with ongoing non-oil sector initiatives have helped propel project awards.” The USSBC Contract Awards Index fell from 230 to 188 points in the third quarter for the first time since the third quarter of 2021. Nevertheless, the Kingdom’s construction activity is expected to rise in the coming period since it still lands well above the 100-point threshold.
“The CAI’s performance during the first three quarters of 2022 reveals the resurging health of the construction sector whereby the value of construction projects under execution continue to soar,” the report said. It further noted that the real estate sector grew by SR11.7 billion quarter on quarter and by SR6.3 billion or 102 percent year on year. “Through the first three quarters of 2022, real estate gained the third highest value of awarded contracts by sector with SR23 billion or 19 percent of the total, after transportation and oil and gas,” it said. According to the report, the transportation sector witnessed a drop in awarded contracts during the third quarter yet maintained its position as the second highest-performing sector in the third quarter of 2022. The sector fell by SR18.9 billion compared to the previous quarter but increased by SR780 million or 30 percent year on year.
“The 12 contracts awarded during the quarter were dominated by NEOM’s four infrastructure and earthwork packages pertaining to The Line’s high-speed rail link called The Spine,” the report added. The water sector fell by SR3.3 billion or 51 percent year-on-year and by SR2.9 billion or 47 percent quarter-on-quarter. The report pointed out that the Tabuk region captured the largest share of awarded contracts worth SR10.2 billion or 42 percent of the total, driven by the real estate sector. According to the report, the Riyadh region witnessed a diversified mix of awarded contracts in the civil, transportation, real estate, and healthcare sectors. The Eastern Province contributed SR3.7 billion or 15 percent of the total contracts awarded in the Kingdom, largely backed by the oil and gas sector.
Source: Arab News
Red Sea Global is launching during Phase 1
Red Sea Project is greeting the new year with four major tourist destinations to be fully functional in the next few months.
The destination, which is being developed by Red Sea Global, sits over 28,000 km2 of pristine lands and waters and is committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing the natural environment. By 2030, the giga project will be home to 50 hotels, 8,000 rooms, up to 1,000 residential properties, and its own international airport. In the meantime, here are four developments expected to open its doors in Phase One.
Six Senses Southern Dunes
This Red Sea resort is one of the two inland locations in Phase One of The Red Sea Project, designed by Foster +Partners and renowned for its eco-credentials. The architectural approach pays homage to the Nabataean heritage and majestic desert and sand dunes surroundings.
Similarly, the design of the resort utilises sustainable and lightweight materials that reflect the textures of the Saudi Arabian desert. The base structure is a modular, precast system that ensures the building only touches the ground lightly to leave most of the site undisturbed, with minimal paving to ensure the surrounding pathways remain natural and authentic. Moreover, the engineering under the surface helps the resort set a new standard for environmental sustainability. The entire destination has secured the first stage of LEED for Cities Platinum certification and is the first development in the region to do so.
St. Regis Red Sea Resort
In October of 2021, Marriott International announced its partnership with Red Sea Global to develop two luxury hotels as part of the highly anticipated Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia.
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort is expected to further enhance Marriott International’s footprint across the kingdom where it currently has a portfolio of over 30 properties with more than 9,000 rooms across ten brands. Situated on a private island, the resort is expected to feature 90 villas, two signature restaurants, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, and a spa, in addition to a Children’s Club. Expected to open in 2023, the exclusive resort will offer the brand’s visionary spirit, avant-garde style and bespoke service.
Nujuma Ritz Carlton Reserve
In May of 2022, Mariott International signed an agreement with Red Sea Global to debit its Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand off the west coast of Saudi Arabia.
The Nujuma resort is scheduled to open this year and will be the first property from the brand in the Middle East and joins a collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide.
The resort will have 63 one- to four-bedroom water and beach villas, in addition to a spa, swimming pools, multiple dining venues, a retail area, a conservation centre and a range of leisure and entertainment offerings. The destination will also include 18 Ritz-Carlton Reserve branded residences.
Red Sea International Airport
As a development heavily reliant on innovative technologies, it is no surprise that the Red Sea project prioritised the opening of its carbon-neutral airport during the first phase.
Fully powered by 100% renewable energy, the airport is uniquely regenerative, designed by international architectural firm Foster + Partners to provide an unforgettable aviation experience.
The project is on track to welcome its first passengers in 2023, with capabilities to serve an estimated one million domestic and international tourists per year by 2030 – at a peak of 900 travelers per hour.
In October of 2022, Red Sea Global appointed daa International to operate the RSI airport. daa International will be overseeing design consultancy, management, and operations in accordance with the provisions of the General Authority of Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GACA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Source: Construction Week Saudi
