Al Azizia Panda United, a major retail company in Saudi Arabia and a subsidiary of Savola Group, has succeeded in raising the rate of Saudization close to the high level of 39 percent of the total number of its 13,000 employees working in 140 branches of Panda and Hyper Panda around the Kingdom.
In addition to its ongoing efforts to provide job opportunities for Saudis, Al Azizia Panda has been ranked among the top five companies with the Best Work Environment in Kingdom’s commercial sector for the year 2011.
Abdulraouf Mohammed Manna, MD of The Savola Group, said: "With the praise of God, Al Azizia Panda is recognized locally and internationally for its excellent work environment. At global level, in the same year, the company won a number of awards on the Asian continent in a contest held in Singapore, where Panda received the award for best human resources strategy compatible with the company's activity, and the award for excellence in training, in competition against major international companies.”
Mowafaq Mansour Jamal, CEO of Al Azizia Panda United, said: "Since 2002, Al Azizia Panda has dedicated a significant amount of investment to Saudization, allocating a budget of SR 10 million annually and another SR 5 million a year for management training. In 2011, the company hired 5,270 Saudis compared to 1,262 non-Saudi employees. For this year, we have targeted the completion of 14 new branches in the Kingdom, which will provide 800 new jobs for young Saudis, God willing."
Last year, Al Azizia Panda conducted a field survey that included more than 90 percent of its 11,000 employees, which revealed the strengths and weaknesses in the company’s communication with its employees. Based on the results, the company launched a number of programs and initiatives, most notably an employee assessment program.
Al Azizia Panda building best working environment for staff
Al Azizia Panda building best working environment for staff
Alfanar Projects wins MEED Award for ‘Industrial Project of the Year’
Alfanar Projects has been recognized as a “national winner” at the MEED Projects Awards 2025, for its role as the main contractor in the landmark Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant, which was awarded “Industrial Project of the Year.”
Developed through a strategic partnership between the Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company, or Dussur, Saudi Aramco, and Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, the Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant represents a cornerstone in the Kingdom’s drive to establish a world-class industrial base, localize advanced manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen national supply chains.
Situated in Ras Al-Khair Industrial City, the plant spans over 400,000 square meters, encompassing 39 major buildings and an extensive network of infrastructure and external works. Alfanar Projects delivered the project on a lump-sum turnkey basis, executing more than 122,000 cubic meters of concrete, erecting 25,000 tons of structural steel, installing hundreds of kilometers of underground piping and cabling, and implementing advanced electrical and mechanical systems to global engineering standards.
With a production capacity of 60,000 tons per year, utilizing state-of-the-art sand casting and open-die forging technologies, the plant will play a pivotal role in serving critical sectors such as the oil and gas industry, maritime industries, and heavy equipment manufacturing, while advancing Saudi Arabia’s goals of industrial localization and self-sufficiency.
Jamal Wadi, president of Alfanar Projects, said: “The Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant embodies the pinnacle of what engineering can achieve when coupled with determination. The project brought together complex architectural and structural challenges with advanced engineering solutions, which we executed with precision and efficiency. This landmark facility stands as a testament to our deep expertise as an industrial contractor and to our ability to harness engineering excellence in building strategic projects that underpin the Kingdom’s economic future.”
The MEED Projects Awards, organized in partnership with Mashreq Bank, are among the most prestigious accolades in the region, celebrating excellence in project delivery across sectors. Alfanar Projects’ recognition underscores its role as a leading national contractor, committed to delivering world-class industrial infrastructure projects that support the Kingdom’s long-term vision for sustainable growth and industrial leadership.
The leading engineering and construction company is dedicated to advancing the Kingdom’s infrastructure and industrial landscape in alignment with Vision 2030. Through its commitment to sustainable development, Alfanar Projects supports the growth of key sectors, including building construction, urban infrastructure, renewable energy, and grid modernization across Saudi Arabia and internationally. With an emphasis on localization, innovation, and sustainability, Alfanar Projects continues to deliver world-class solutions that contribute to the Kingdom’s ambitious economic and social transformation.
