Top 10 Gulf healthcare projects
A look at some of the region’s biggest healthcare construction projects
1. KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDUL AZIZ SECURITY FORCES MEDICAL COMPLEXES
Client: Ministry of Interior
Location: Saudi Arabia
Budget: $6.7 billion
Status: Current project
The King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Security Forces Medical Complexes is the largest medical project in the KSA and GCC. The project consists of two separate medical cities being built in Riyadh and Jeddah on behalf of the Interior Ministry, at a total cost of $6.7 billion. Each city will be constructed on a total built-up area of 1.3million sqm, with medical facilities across 400,000sqm and residential units over 500,000sqm. Both complexes will comprise three hospital buildings, residential villas and apartments, office space, a research centre and other facilities. The main contractor on the Riyadh complex is the ABV Rock Group, while the consultant is Dar Al Handasah. The project is slated for completion by the third quarter of 2017.
2. SULTAN QABOOS MEDICAL CITY
Client: Ministry of Health
Budget: $1.5 billion
Location: Oman
Sultan Qaboos Medical City, being developed by the Omani government on a 5 million sqm site in Barka, will have five major hospitals. Specialist medical facilities will include an organ transplantation centre, a rehabilitation centre, a children’s hospital, a general hospital and a head and neck hospital. Additionally, laboratories, a university research centre and a Medical Education City will also be housed inside the development. Combined, the complex will have a capacity of over 2,000 beds. The project is tentatively set to be operational around 2017. When ready, the new Medical City will function alongside Sultan Qaboos University to provide research and development facilities to students.
3. NEW JAHRA HOSPITAL
Client: Amiri Diwan of Kuwait
Location: Kuwait
Budget: $1.24 billion
Status: Tender Stage
The new Jahra Hospital is a 1,171-bed hospital about 32km west of Kuwait City. The Amiri Diwan and State of Kuwait commissioned TRO JB and PACE to design the upcoming hospital, which will function as a trauma centre for Jahra district. The hospital comprises seven individual buildings including the 426,000sqm main building, as well as a 20,000sqm dental centre with 104 clinics. According to a report issued this year by the Kuwait Life Sciences Company, the contract for construction was initially awarded to Burhan International, and then after retendering to Kharafi National. Both companies lost out on the contract, however, after failing to pay the 10% bid bond. It is currently unclear when the next re-tendering will occur.
4. KING FAISAL MEDICAL CITY
Client: Ministry of Health
Budget: $1.06 billion
Status: Current project
King Faisal Medical City, in the province of Asir, will have a built-up area of 262,836sqm and 1,350 beds. It will comprise a 500-bed main hospital, with the other 850 beds distributed across five specialty hospitals: cardiology, oncology, ophthalmology, neurology and rehabilitation. The master plan also includes a mosque, a hotel, administration and research facility buildings, a convention centre and staff residences. The contract for construction of the main hospital was awarded in 2012 by the Ministry of Health to Al-Fouzan Trading & General Construction Company.
5. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CITY
Client: Apex Medical Group
Location: Oman
Budget: $1 billion
Status: Current project
International Medical City in Salalah, Oman is a $1 billion healthcare project, with the first phase scheduled to open at the end of 2016. Phase one, developed by Saudi-based Apex Medical Group, will have a 530-bed tertiary care multi-speciality hospital, along with three medical centres for organ transplant and dialysis, diagnostics and rehabilitation. Apart from the healthcare complex, the project, which is being built on 800,000sqm of land, will also have a healthcare resort and an education complex, to be developed in subsequent phases. The resort, to be built in phase two, will include a wellness centre, a four-star hotel, a conference hall, staff accommodation and other amenities. The educational complex will be completed in the third phase, and will encompass medical and nursing colleges and a conference centre.
6. HAMAD BIN KHALIFA MEDICAL CITY
Client: Public Works Authority (Ashghal)
Budget: $659.4 million
Location: Qatar
Status: Current project
The medical complex being built at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City will feature a 243-bed women’s hospital, an ambulatory and minimally invasive surgical hospital, a physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital, a scientific centre for medical research, and a bio-bank. The project also includes construction of additional operating rooms for Hamad Medical Corp (HMC), to increase capacity of the existing Hamad General Hospital’s surgical department. The project is led by the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company and was due for completion in 2014, but suffered delays. In January this year, Qatar’s Ashghal said work on the 227,000sqm site in Rumaila was more than 80% complete.
7. KING ABDULLAH SPECIALIST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Client: National Guards Health Affairs (NGHA)
Location: Saudi Arabia
Budget: $500 million
The King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh will be a 350-bed facility housed in a G+12 building in King Abdulaziz Medical City. The 85,000sqm development will be the first specialised children’s hospital in the Kingdom. It will have six wards – one general, two surgical, one oncology, one ICU and a VIP ward with six suites. Each ward will have classroom and playroom facilities. The complex will also have day treatment areas and other facilities such as conference rooms and lecture halls.
8. BURJEEL MEDICAL CITY, ABU DHABI
Client: Burjeel Hospital
Location: UAE
Budget: $381 million
Status: Under construction
Burjeel Medical City (BMC), part of Mohammed Bin Zayed City, is a 92,903sqm project on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway. BMC is being developed by Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel Hospital, part of the VPS Healthcare Group. When operational, the 400-bed hospital will be equipped with specialised departments like oncology and acute care, and will focus mainly on long-stay patients. The project is expected to be complete in 2017. Apart from BMC, Burjeel also plans to open four hospitals, five speciality centres and 10 medical centres, including one on Reem Island, the National reported last year.
9. ABU DHABI MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE
Client: Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA)
Location: Abu Dhabi
Budget: $180 million
The Abu Dhabi medical rehabilitation centre project is a 156-bed facility being built in Khalifa City A in Abu Dhabi. The new centre will be an 84,200sqm development, set to offer post-treatment services to people with conditions like cerebral palsy and arteriosclerosis, or victims of traffic accidents. Design began in 2010, with Allen & Sharif appointed to provide project and construction management services. Construction comprises two basement levels, a ground floor and four additional floors. The developer of the new rehab centre, Seha, also has plans to build, replace or renovate 23 medical centres by 2018.
10. CANCER TREATMENT CENTRE, KING HAMAD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Client: King Hamad University Hospital
Location: Bahrain
Budget: $85 million
Status: Current project
The new oncology centre at the King Hamad University Hospital is a 120-bed facility aimed at bringing first-class cancer care and research facilities to Bahrain. Construction work on the 59,600sqm centre began in August last year, and the project is scheduled for completion in 2016. Design is by international design firm Hassell, in partnership with Bahrain’s Mazen Alumran Consulting Engineers and team members Aecom, Baker Willis Smith and MJ Medical. Last year, Bahraini contractor G.P. Zachariades Group bagged the contract to build the project, which will also include a 10-bed bone marrow transplantation centre linked with King Faisal Scientific Research Centre in Saudi Arabia.
