Holland Gulf Chamber of Commerce » Project

GCC railway fully operational in 2018

jochemgeheniau — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:32:36 +0000

Abu Dhabi: The 2,177-km-long GCC rail network, which will link all six Gulf states by rail for the first time, providing an alternative to air or sea travel for both goods and passengers in the region, will be fully operational in 2018, said Dr Ramiz Al Assar, World Bank resident adviser of the GCC Secretariat General in Riyadh, yesterday.

“The designs of the nearly $200 billion (Dh734.490 billion) network, which will run down the Gulf coast from Kuwait, through Saudi Arabia, to the UAE and Oman, with branches linking Bahrain and Qatar, will be completed by the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year. Construction on the network is to start in 2014-15 and it will be fully operational in 2018,” Dr Al Assar told the MENA Rail and Metro Summit, being held in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is leading the GCC rail network with its Dh40 billion Etihad Rail project. The 1,200-km line, planned to be completed in 2018, will link major industrial zones, cities and ports in the UAE, and will eventually connect with the GCC railway.

GCC transport ministers approved the feasibility study for the railway in October 2008, although a number of other key decisions have yet to be taken, including the precise route of the line.

Dr Al Assar said talks were under way between Saudi Arabia and Jordan, on the one hand, and between Kuwait and Iraq, on the other, on connecting the Arabian Mashreq (Eastern) to Maghreb (Western) networks.

“Designs of a causeway to link Bahrain to the GCC railway is expected to be approved in the third quarter of next year and there are plans to link Muscat with Yemen,” Dr Al Assar said.

Dr Al Assar said a tender for a study to set up GCC railway authority was to be issued by the first quarter of next year.

“This year has seen a turning point in the regional rail market,” says MEED editorial director Richard Thompson. “Over the past 10 months, we have seen the region’s ambitions to build Metro systems and main line rail networks start to become a reality, with more than $30 billion worth of rail construction contracts awarded so far this year And there is a lot more to come.”

More than $30 billion worth of rail construction contracts have been awarded across the region in the first three quarters of 2013, compared with just $3.9 billion worth of contracts signed in the first three quarters of 2012. The single biggest investments this year saw $22 billion worth of construction contracts awarded in June on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Metro.

“The success of this project so far is likely to act as a catalyst for further Metro schemes in the kingdom,” Thompson said.

The Riyadh Metro project is one of the key projects being discussed at the MENA Rail and Metro Summit 2013. Other projects under discussion include the Etihad Rail, Doha Metro and plans for an integrated GCC rail network.

The rail boom also raises challenges for the region, particularly around skills shortage and supply chain bottlenecks.

“Everybody will be competing for the same resources,” Thompson said. “And there is a real risk of unnecessary delays and cost escalation unless people manage the situation effectively. A coordinated approach is required. That is what we are aiming to achieve with this summit meeting of regional rail industry leaders.”

Saudi MoH seeks private sector cooperation in dialysis service

jochemgeheniau — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 07:57:31 +0000

The Ministry of Health is to seek private sector’s cooperation in serving the increasing number of dialysis patients in the Kingdom.
According to Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, undersecretary to the Ministry for Hospital Affairs, the ministry has allocated SR1.9 billion for this national project, which is geared to solicit private sector cooperation in purchasing equipment and offering state-of-the art services to dialysis patients.
“We hope to benefit from the experience of foreign specialists who are in active contact with renal patients to provide them with the best services,” he said.
He added that the Ministry of Health formed a central committee with various subcommittees in health care to monitor the project and coordinate with the parent body.
The ministry, he said, would release a manual detailing the salient features of the project and that the private sector could respond to the project by expressing its willingness to participate.
“We want to use the best technology for the benefit of our patients and we would make dialysis services conform with the standards maintained in Europe and America.”
He said the project will be implemented in three phases. The first phase would cover a period of 24 months, which would embrace major cities and densely populated towns in the Kingdom. The second stage would be for a period of 12 months to cover small cities and the final stage will last for six months and include uncovered areas.
There are some 142 dialysis centers in the Kingdom, which includes 30 centers in Riyadh, 15 in Asir, 13 in Al-Qassim, 11 in Madinah and nine centers in the Eastern Province. Areas such as Tabuk, Hail and Jazan have seven centers each.
Hemodialysis patients totaled 9,892 and the number of patients with peritoneal dialysis has reached 471 patients.

Makkah Gate to be built in 20 years

jochemgeheniau — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 08:01:01 +0000

The structural plan for the Makkah Gate project that was recently approved by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will be implemented in four stages over 20 years, said Osama Al-Bar, Makkah mayor and chairman of the board of directors at the Makkah Gate Company.
He said that 70 percent of the project is located inside the borders of the Grand Mosque.
“The strategy of the project will allocate a series of places to be developed independently in phases,” he added.
“The infrastructure network proposed is proportional to the phases of development and is in accordance with a development plan that extends between 15 to 20 years, five years being allocated for each phase,” said Al-Bar.
Spokesman Issam Kolthoum said that the properties conform to 10 percent of the area to be developed, with owners from different parties such as the Ministry of Finance and other individuals in the loop.”
Very small properties, he added, as well as a number of infringements, will not hinder the progress of the project and insure the lawful rights of their owners.
Kolthoum said the project includes a location for Makkah National Park designed in harmony with the natural features and landscapes of the area.
“The projects pays much heed to consistency of the geological conformation with the facilities and their use,” added Kolthoum.
Once completed, the project will accommodate 1,000 visitors who will enjoy 40 different activities, including more than 300 campsites, 30 kilometers of long pedestrian lanes, sports locations, a children’s park, places for rest and services.

Water and sanitation deals worth SR394 million signed

jochemgeheniau — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 07:18:24 +0000

Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Hossein has recently signed 22 contracts for the implementation of water and sanitation projects in different parts of the Kingdom at an overall cost of SR394 million.
Saudi Arabia falls under the category of countries with water scarcity problems and several water and sanitation projects are under progress across the country to counter the depleting water resources.
These projects are part of the holistic plan to achieve greater economic growth and keep apace with accelerating population growth in cities and provinces.
The contracts include sewer projects in Dawadmi district in Riyadh, at an estimated cost of SR109. 6 million and another contract for the establishment of a water tank in Hail, signed at a value of SR64.3 million.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry is also working on a project designated for the maintenance of water and sanitation in Qatif area in the Eastern Province as well as a similar project in Asir region worth SR46.5 million.
The other projects includes internal drinking water system for the city of Al Quoz in Makkah, an expansion project contract for Rafha water system with reservoirs in the northern border, a water surplus line sewage treatment plant in Asir Province, which is expected to cost around SR10 million as well as water and sanitation projects in Abha, Tabuk, Najran.
Moreover, the National Water Company (NWC) is also implementing the strategic water storage project in Jeddah with a power of 1 million cubic meters.
Loay Al-Musallam, CEO of NWC recently announced that the company is working to enhance the vision of leadership in achieving water security and provide better services to citizens.
Al-Musallam also pointed out that the project in Jeddah was implemented according to international standards and high-quality specifications.