More contracts in the cards, says Al-Dhuwaihi RIYADH – The Ministry of Housing on Tuesday signed a contract with Parsons Saudi Arabia Limited to prepare designs for Phase One of 11 housing projects in Riyadh, Al-Kharj, Dammam, Al-Ahsa, Al-Qatif, Jeddah, Madina, Tabuk and Khamis Mushayt, according to Dr. Shuwaish Bin Saud Al-Dhuwaihi, Minister of Housing. This is part of the national housing strategy announced in March by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to build 500,000 houses at a cost of SR250 billion. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Dhuwaihi said the ministry is scheduled to sign further contracts for housing projects for citizens. Prince Turki Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Parsons, said the company would use its engineering expertise to help the government successfully implement its housing strategy. Prince Turki said as part of the project 25,000 to 30,000 houses will be built, including villas and apartments. A total of about 32 million sq. meters of land will be set aside for Phase One of the project. It will be followed by more phases in numerous locations across the Kingdom. The largest area set aside is in Dammam, on 10 million sq. meters. The smallest is on one million sq. meters in Khamis Mushayt, Prince Turki said. He said the company would hold a workshop next week with ministry and international experts to present the designs for these projects. Each villa will be built on 500 sq. meters. The building area itself will be on 240 to 250 sq. meters.
