Jeddah Central awards design, engineering contracts for key stadium
JEDDAH, July 19, 2022
Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC), a subsidiary of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF, has signed up world-renowned firm GMP International Spain GMBH and urban development consultants Khatib and Alami for providing the design and enginerring of the stadium at Jeddah Central Project.
A SR75-billion ($20 billion) project, the Jeddah Central will be implemented on a 5.7-million-sq-m strategic area in central Jeddah.
The project, which has a stunning waterfront location with a 9.5-km shoreline, will boast a world-class marina to accommodate local and international yachts in addition to 2.1 km of sandy beaches.
JCDC, a subsidiary of Saudi sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund, said this comes as part of its strategic plan to create a local attraction and global destination in the heart of the Saudi port city.
GMP International is a leading architectural consultancy with over 50 years of experience and has built internationally acclaimed stadiums in South Africa, Russia, and Brazil, as well as sports cities in China and other countries.
The engineering work will be done by Khatib & Alami, the multidisciplinary urban and regional planning, architectural and engineering consulting company with five decades.
The stadium’s design is unique to Jeddah and is based on international standards that highlight the sports, entertainment, and cultural destination. With its open spaces, green parks, world-class pitch, and a dynamic platform that brings together international events, the stadium will promote a healthier and more active lifestyle in the city’s community.
The Stadium is set to be one of four major landmarks of the Jeddah Central Project, the other three being a Museum, an Opera House, and an Oceanarium.
On the contract award, CEO Engineer Ahmed Al Sulaim said the move will contribute to achieving one of PIF’s objectives of socioeconomic significance for the sports sector and support Saudi Vision 2030 to build a thriving economy and a vibrant society.
"This contract comes as part of our plan to launch a project that helps to enhance the economic position of Jeddah and to provide a world-class sports and entertainment destination for the city’s residents and visitors from around the Kingdom and abroad," he added.
JCDC Chief Development Officer Paul O'Brien said the construction of the new landmarks will stimulate the efforts to attract local and global quality investments, which will contribute to the development and operation of the Jeddah Central Project's unique facilities.
This will in turn pave the way for investors to participate in the creation of new promising economic sectors in an attractive environment in Saudi Arabia, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
