Bids will be invited for the construction of the Madina seaport this year, Fahd Bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Rasheed, member of the Board of Directors and Executive President of Emaar in Madina, said. Al-Rasheed said the port has been designed to support and reinforce the economic growth in the Kingdom as well as boosting the competitiveness of the Kingdom's economy. The port is one of the six zones forming the Economic City in Madina. The port will be built on an area of 168 million sq. meters and is expected to be the largest on the Red Sea and the 10th largest seaport in the world. The seaport, which is to be operational in 2011, will be distinguished for its accommodation and storage capacity as it is expected to be able to accommodate 20 million 20-ft containers. It will also be directly linked to the Industrial City which will facilitate the transportation and handling of primary materials and industrial products. This will positively contribute to the increase of the Kingdom's exports to global markets. The port, with an 18-meter deep dock capable of receiving super vessels, will be linked with an integrated roads network that will accelerate the handling of the Kingdom's exports and imports. The Madina Economic City consists of six major zones. Richard Baird, Executive Director of Halcrow Co. in the Middle East said: “The seaport will lead to the emergence of a new world characterized by dynamism as it will link the Kingdom with several world markets.
