Parsons has secured a major contract from Rua Al Madinah Holding Company to provide construction project management consultancy and contract administration services (PMCM) for a key development in Madinah.
Spread over a 1.5m sqm area, the Rua Al Madinah project will have 63% open, green spaces as well as new modes of transportation and parking, designed to provide easy access to the main mosque, surrounding residences, and commercial spaces. The expansive mixed-use project will also boast 47,000 hotel rooms, able to accommodate the estimated 30m pilgrims visiting the Saudi city throughout the next decade.
The Rua Al Madinah project represents the first phase of the Madinah Central Area mega-development and is projected to add $37mn to the GDP, as well as creating more than 93,000 new jobs. Parsons said that with regard to the $15mn PMCM contract, it will manage the main infrastructure works including the tunnel, road and all utility set-up.
Pierre Santoni, President for Middle East and Africa, Parsons commented, “The Kingdom has several mega-projects that are driving the economic and social transformation of the region, while highlighting its hospitality and heritage. The Rua Al Madinah project is a key initiative towards the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030.”
In late October 2022, it was announced that over 100 historical Islamic sites would be renovated in Madinah and, in early November 2022, Saudi Arabia’s SPGA invited pre-qualification bids for a TOD project in Makkah.
He added that the development is designed to elevate the city’s cultural and historical heritage, improve the quality of life for its residents, and enrich the visitor experience for Islamic pilgrims, “Moreover, we are dedicated to helping our client achieve their vision of reforming Madinah into a modern Islamic and cultural destination for pilgrims and a revitalised urban center for its residents.”
Santoni said Parsons has been serving as a trusted project management firm in the Middle East for more than 60 years.
He concluded, “With a regional team of more than 5,000 employees, our professionals bring domain expertise across multiple disciplines, including smart mobility, asset management, critical infrastructure, master planning, urban planning, and landscape architecture.”
In late November 2022, PIF subsidiary SEVEN said it would invest $13.3bn into 21 integrated entertainment destinations in KSA.