Bechtel, a leading engineering, procurement, construction, and project management company, has announced the opening of a new regional headquarters in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh.

Bechtel held a ribbon-cutting ceremony where Craig Albert, president and chief operating officer at Bechtel, said: “This new regional headquarters reflects our strong and long-standing commitment to our customers and partners in the region. For 80 years, Bechtel has provided training and development opportunities for the local workforce and strengthened local businesses. We are proud to build on this progress as we advance these transformational projects together.”

Bechtel has delivered some of the world’s most ambitious projects in Saudi Arabia. Current projects where Bechtel is applying its 125 years of expertise include NEOM, Trojena, the Riyadh Metro Project, and most recently, New Murabba. The new office will accommodate Bechtel’s growing team, which will help deliver these iconic projects.

At the launch event, Albert was joined by Hassan Al-Duhaim, senior adviser to the Minister of Investment, and Abdul-Rahman Al-Ghabban, vice president at Bechtel Infrastructure.

Al-Ghabban said: “Just last week, we celebrated Saudi National Day, which recognizes the unification of the Kingdom, and today we mark this important expansion of Bechtel’s presence that will play a role in the Kingdom’s continued success.”

Bechtel’s history in the Kingdom began in 1945 when it completed its first project, the Ras Tanura Refinery 1. Since then, Bechtel has completed or is currently working on over 300 projects in the Kingdom, including the Riyadh Metro Project that will provide an efficient and sustainable means of commuting for residents and visitors.

Bechtel, which celebrates its 80th anniversary working in the Kingdom this year, has nearly 3,000 professional staff working on projects, and continues to employ growing numbers of women and locals working at projects like NEOM, where more than 50 percent of women on the project are Saudi nationals. 

As Saudi Arabia celebrates its 93rd glorious year, ROSHN, the Kingdom’s leading national real estate developer and PIF-funded giga-project, unveiled 93 pioneering planting initiatives. Coinciding with the special occasion of the 93rd Saudi National Day, ROSHN’s initiative serves as a testament to the Saudi Green Initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the chairman of ROSHN’s board of directors. By striving toward a verdant Saudi Arabia and the preservation of the Kingdom’s vast landscapes, ROSHN aims to actively contribute to several key aspirations of the Saudi Green Initiative. This commitment further resonates with the values of ROSHN’s CSR program, YUHYEEK, which emphasizes the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability.

ROSHN will distribute and plant more than 65,000 trees across a range of different initiatives to support sustainability, the environment, and quality of life. The company already kick-started its commitment to a greener future at the inaugural launch of CityScape in Riyadh, where visitors actively engaged in planting trees at ROSHN’s pavilion, symbolizing a joint effort toward sustainability. These trees, enriched by the collective care of the event’s attendees, have been seamlessly transitioned to their new home in the ROSHN Front and SEDRA community in Riyadh. Building upon this initiative, ROSHN is set to further its environmental endeavors by planting additional trees within the ROSHN Front, integrating 1,500 trees in SEDRA, and rolling out school distribution, planting, and awareness sessions with an ambitious goal of 31,000 trees. Furthermore, a significant effort will be channeled into mangrove planting in three distinct locations, aiming for a contribution of 25,000 trees. These diverse efforts not only symbolize actual planting but emphasize giving away plants, nurturing a young generation’s love for the environment.

The compass guiding this ambitious journey is Ghada Alrumayan, group chief marketing and communication officer of ROSHN.

Alrumayan said: “The greatest gift we can bestow upon our homeland is one that nourishes, endures, inspires, and flourishes. Our green initiative exemplifies this sentiment. It’s not just about planting; it’s a profound gesture of love and commitment to our land. From the delicate hands of our youngest — the children who lovingly plant, water, and watch with hope — to the steadfast guidance of the visionary leadership of this country, every aspect of this initiative resonates with a tale of unity, dedication, and growth.”

She added: “Our narrative is one of a nation, deeply rooted in its history, ceaselessly nurtured by its people, and bolstered by the wisdom and foresight of our leaders. Blossoming day after day, we’re on a journey toward a brighter and more sustainable future. As we commemorate this day, we pledge our continued allegiance to a greener, more vibrant Saudi Arabia. To every soul that celebrates, I salute our collective spirit of hope, unity, and the verdant promise we’re crafting for generations to come.”