As many as 350 Saudi contractors have urged Saudi Aramco to give them a chance to participate in the project of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for establishing 11 new stadiums across the Kingdom.
Saudi Aramco welcomed the contractors’ request and specified the areas where they can compete. It invited them to register their companies’ data on the designated website in order to test their competence and potentials.
At the same time, the National Committee for Contractors in Saudi Arabia announced that it has been assured by Saudi Aramco that Saudi contractors would be given a chance to make their contributions to the project.
The committee has confirmed that national contractors will find a favorable climate for success and achievement under the supervision of Saudi Aramco. This will qualify them to have a pivotal role in the construction process according to the required specifications.
About 800 people, including more than 350 Saudi contractors, participated in the meeting held by Saudi Aramco at the Asharqia Chamber to present the requirements of the king’s project.
Abdul Rahman Al-Otaishan, chairman of the chamber, expressed his happiness over Saudi Aramco being given the task of implementing the project. He said the company enjoyed high potential and would implement the project according to the highest technical specifications.
Motaz Al-Mashouq of Saudi Aramco said the company was proud of being assigned the task. “The project will contribute to the development of sport and youth in Saudi Arabia. We are committed to complete it in two years according to the highest international standards and specifications.”
He indicated that each of the 11 stadiums will accommodate about 45,000 spectators.
Al-Mashouq said: “Chances are open for all contractors to participate in the implementation of the project, especially that our relationship with them is getting stronger and stronger with time.”
“The projects implemented last year in the construction sector under the supervision of Saudi Aramco and executed by national contractors amounted to more than SR23 billion,” he added.
Meanwhile, the value of purchasing services that were awarded to national companies reached more than SR114 billion.
“Implementing the project of stadiums will create 10,000 jobs for Saudi youth in the construction sector,” Al-Mashouq added.
Ibrahim Al-Mowalad, project engineer at Saudi Aramco, confirmed that work offers are available for all contracting companies and Saudi consultancy offices that can carry out basic projects such as mechanical work, electrical works, sewage networks and civil work.
In addition, there will be offers for contractors who work with low-voltage systems, as also for contractors for external enclosures and steel structures, interior designs, asphalt, natural grass and tests on soil quality, processing sites, infrastructure, temporary facilities, staff housing as well as preparing offices, and security and safety services during the work on the project,” he added.
Al-Mowalad hinted that Saudi Aramco will secure needed materials for the project according to certain specifications.
Al-Mowalad gave details of work stages, the location of stadiums and time frame. “The project’s implementation time is two years according to global designs that simulates Al-Jawhra stadium at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The designs will go along the culture and the environment of each region,” he said.
“Specialized competent authorities will supply the necessary sites with necessary basic services such as water, bridges, roads, electricity, sewerage network and communications, which will offer more work opportunities for national contracting companies and consulting offices,” he added.
Al-Mowalad said that the stage of planning and initial designs will take between 3 to 6 months while the implementation phase will take 18 to 21 months. The construction process for the 11 stadiums will run simultaneously.
Saudi Aramco, in collaboration with local universities, will choose the designs that are compatible with the culture and history of each region that hosts one of the new stadiums.
Saeed Al-Ghamdi, representative of the contracts management at Saudi Aramco, invited Saudi contractors who would like to take part in the project to register their companies’ data on the website allocated for this purpose.
Al-Ghamdi explained the mechanism of registering on the designated website. Any contractor will be able to access the site, and know the specifications and conditions after fulfilling all the conditions and requirements of registration,” Al-Ghamdi added.
Saudi contractors want a slice of stadium pie
Saudi contractors want a slice of stadium pie
KFUPM’s 10th design expo celebrates student ingenuity
DHAHRAN: The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals hosted its tenth Design Expo on Saturday, with senior students’ graduation projects highlighting solutions to real industry problems.
President of the university, Mohammed Al-Saggaf, spoke to each team and handed out awards. It was during his tenure as president that the new model for the expo was put into place.
“This exhibition is distinguished by the collaborative effort among students from different majors to create innovative projects,” the university said in a statement.
Mimicking industry standards, the university event also briefs the soon-to-be professionals on how to pitch and speak about their projects to the public, potential investors and educators.
“This exhibition will showcase various academic projects presented by our students in diverse fields,” the statement said.
A total of 1,063 students participated to present 185 projects “devising solutions for industrial challenges” in the following categories: artificial intelligence, automation technology, construction technology, digital transformation, drone technology, energy systems, environmental technology, health care technology, renewable energy, sustainability and technology enhancement.
The winning projects included an autonomous wheelchair that uses electromyography — EMG — a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles.
Prizes were also awarded for the most entrepreneurial project, the most innovative project and the best elevator pitch, along with an award based on public voting and the president’s choice award.
The most humanitarian project award was handed to “Quick-Construct Housing for Refugees and the Impoverished,” to six students: Alwaleed Talal Abutaleb and Abdulaziz Talal Abutaleb from the architectural engineering and construction management program; Ayoub Abdullah Alsalamah from mechanical engineering; Ammar Omar Alhawsawi from electrical engineering; and Faris Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani and Bander Nasser Almubaddel from aerospace engineering.
“All of this is Saudi-made, even the manufacturing process. It’s the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, the mechanism and everything — from designing to construction — was assembled by a Saudi company,” Almubaddel told Arab News.
In a record three minutes, the structure can be built and lived in almost instantly. Their target is the refugees in the Middle East — to offer durable, affordable, portable shelter that can be assembled easily and efficiently.
Abutaleb, who focused on the architectural elements, said: “What we brought to the table (is) that we designed the unit, the dimension, the process and the interior of the unit. We are responsible for the integration of the system within the unit, in addition to the construction and the assembling.”
Electrical engineering student Alhawsawi said: “I contributed the power system and all the connections required; and all the power systems that will be integrated into the unit.”
Aerospace engineering student Alsuhaibani added: “The unit is very simple to assemble — these materials that we used to construct the unit have a very high resistance for the heat. It has item resistance, and it can withstand the harsh environment in Saudi Arabia.”
The team will continue to work on the project beyond the classroom to make it useful in the real world.
Saudi project clears 2,010 Houthi mines in Yemen
- A total of 442,077 mines have been cleared since the start of the initiative in 2018
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam cleared 2,010 mines in Yemen — which had been planted by the Houthi militia — between May 11 to 17, according to a recent report.
Overseen by the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief, the project’s specialist teams destroyed 1,980 pieces of unexploded ordnance, 19 anti-tank mines and 11 anti-personnel mines.
The explosives, which were planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
Project Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia at the request of King Salman, which has cleared routes for humanitarian aid to reach the country’s citizens.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
A total of 442,077 mines have been cleared since the start of the initiative in 2018, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s managing director.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines, according to the Project Masam website.
Masam teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Alkhobar’s farmers’ market ends on a sweet note
ALKHOBAR: Alkhobar seafront bustled with activity as the farmers’ market, organized by the Culinary Arts Commission in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and the Eastern Province Municipality, came to town.
The three-day evening market, which ended on Saturday, showcased the seasonal bounties of the Eastern Province with homegrown goodies for sale, and quickly attracted more footfall despite the humidity and sweltering heat.
The market featured 15 booths from 10 farmers who were mostly from neighboring areas, along with a few from other parts of the Kingdom.
The Culinary Arts Commission set-up a bookstand in which Saudi-centric, food-related books were on sale in both English and Arabic, as well as games, hoodies and socks.
The family-friendly event was a stone’s-throw from the waves of the corniche, where seating options were ample and offered the perfect spot to relax and snack.
Ghada Abdullah Al-Garyafi, a beekeeper from Qatif for the past four years, told Arab News about participating at the event. “As a Saudi beekeeper, I produce many types of honey in addition to derivative products. I make organic syrup, which is in very high demand, as well as organic honey vinegar.”
Additionally, she offers other items such as honey spoons — sealed spoons filled with honey that can be unwrapped and used to stir tea, or consumed directly.
She also used the event as a way to test out new recipes. “We introduced a new honey drink, with bits of passionfruit and other produce mixed in. I wanted to see the opinion of customers and the visitors to the festival, and they liked it very much.”
Speaking about taking up beekeeping, she explained that what started out as a fear became her whole life. “I used to be afraid of bees! I challenged myself during (COVID-19) period when my husband brought maybe four or five hives within a farm he rented. I would go with him and make a big fuss about being scared,” she said, laughing. “Little by little, he told me to get closer and that they wouldn’t sting me if I wore the protective gear. He showed me how to inspect the hives.
“Eventually, I overcame my fear, thank God, and became a honey producer. I worked during the mangroves season, which was my first experience. All of our production comes from the Eastern region, specifically from Qatif, Saihat, Safwa and Ras Tanura,” she said.
Other entrepreneurs at the market included the organic company, Planet of Plants at Jenan Al-Nakheel Farm, as well as many other local and regional goods.
Children could have their faces painted or their names written in Arabic calligraphy during the event. A live oud player serenaded the crowd.
The farmers’ market is just one of the stops in the commission’s seasonal tour, which will continue in the coming weeks.
Saudi envoy to Dhaka praises Makkah Route efficiency
- Makkah Route Initiative streamlines the performance of Hajj for Bangladeshi pilgrims
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa bin Youssef Al-Duhailan lauded the Makkah Route Initiative as a unique program that streamlines the performance of Hajj for Bangladeshi pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Al-Duhailan highlighted the initiative’s role in the Pilgrim Experience Program, a Saudi Vision 2030 program focused on enhancing services for Hajj performers, and emphasized how the initiative has significantly improved the Kingdom’s organization and planning for pilgrims visiting the holy city of Makkah.
“The initiative showcases excellence in management, organization, and efforts to facilitate the journey of pilgrims to the holy lands,” Al-Duhailan said.
The initiative’s features, he added, include the issuance of electronic Hajj visas and luggage coding at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, which enables Bangladeshi pilgrims to be processed upon arrival in Saudi Arabia as domestic travelers and expedites their transportation to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah.
“Pilgrims are welcomed with hospitality, security, and safety throughout their journey, creating a rich and unforgettable spiritual experience,” Al-Duhailan said, expressing his gratitude to the Saudi leadership for its vision and to all those involved in the Makkah Route Initiative for their dedication to serving Hajj pilgrims.
KSrelief provides prosthetic services in Yemen
- Yemen is among the top beneficiaries of KSrelief assistance
RIYADH: A Saudi-backed prosthetics center in Yemen has provided help to hundreds of people in the war-torn country, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The project, supported by the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief, offers physical therapy and other services to assist those who have lost limbs to reintegrate into society.
The rehabilitation center in the governorate of Taiz provided 821 services to 329 beneficiaries in one month, including the manufacturing, fitting, delivery, and maintenance of prosthetic limbs.
Other treatments include physical therapy and consultation sessions, SPA stated.
Yemen is among the top beneficiaries of KSrelief assistance. The center has implemented 862 projects in Yemen worth over $4.3 billion.
KSrelief’s programs cover food security, health, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, education, telecommunications and logistics.
Since its inception in 2015, KSrelief has implemented 2,673 projects worth more than $6.5 billion in 99 countries, in cooperation with 175 local, regional, and international partners.
Meanwhile, KSrelief distributed 720 shelter bags to displaced families and those in need in the locality of Kosti in the White Nile State of Sudan, benefiting 4,140 individuals.
The center also distributed 769 food baskets in Kassala State, benefiting 3,762 individuals.
