Arab News, Sat, Jul 27, 2024 | Muharram 21, 1446
New contractors database announced to help deliver Saudi Vision 2030 projects
Saudi Arabia:
A database rating contractors in the Saudi construction industry is part of a
new national strategy designed to help the Kingdom deliver its SR1.2 trillion
($319 billion) Vision 2030 projects.
The new initiative, launched by the Saudi
Contractors Authority, seeks to provide opportunities for contractors to
implement projects in their specializations to raise their quality.
This falls in line with the authority’s mission to
organize the industry by setting and executing high-quality organizational
standards, encouraging innovation, developing skills, improving communication in
the industry and achieving economic sustainability.
During a speech at a ceremony reviewing the
achievements of the SCA over the past three years, the authority’s chairman said
he wanted to prepare and equip a strong contracting sector that will be an
executive arm for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 projects.
Al-Abdulqader explained that the authority raised
the number of contractors during the past three years by 400 percent, bringing
the registered number to more than 18,000, including 1,200 international
contractors.
The SCA has also signed over 10 agreements and
memorandums of understanding with major global contracting sectors, in addition
to participating in more than 50 government committees.
In 2023, the National Housing Co. and SCA signed
an MoU during the Future Projects Forum in Riyadh to develop a platform aimed at
enhancing cooperation, ensuring the development of both entities, and improving
the sector’s efficiency.
The SCA, a semi-governmental organization,
addresses the challenges of the contracting sector and fosters a more attractive
and efficient environment.
It also led the contracting sector in 57 countries
by winning the presidency of the Islamic Contractors Union and establishing the
Kingdom as its headquarters.
The Saudi contractor industry is thriving, driven
by significant investments in diverse sectors and ambitious projects under the
Vision 2030 initiative, creating numerous opportunities for local and
international contractors.
This comes as the Kingdom’s construction market
has become a leader in the Middle East and North Africa, with an estimated value
of $70.33 billion in 2024, projected to reach $91.36 billion by 2029, according
to the US International Trade Administration.
The sector is categorized into residential,
commercial, and industrial, as well as infrastructure, transportation, and
energy and utility construction, presenting a sizable market for contractors
seeking opportunities.