Yakin Dabda and Yousef Zakaria discuss new commitments involving the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula and King Salman Park. Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) Diriyah is the historic capital of the first Saudi state. DGDA is a key project of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to develop the economy and reconcile Saudi society with its past. The development of Diriyah City started in 2022 and is expected to be completed in 2028.
The Masterplan consists of different thematic areas and setec, in partnership with Egis, has been awarded a contract for the Diriyah South and Gardens development. Our area will include new hotel, cultural and residential facilities in close proximity to existing historic sites. We will be overseeing the work of renowned architectural firms and builders, and interacting with project stakeholders at the highest level of the Saudi government. For setec, the involvement of DGDA is an important step in our growth strategy in the Middle East. As a sustainability consultant, Alpin complements our project management services.
The Royal Commission for Al-Ula Al-Ula is a Nabatean UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the Neolithic and Paleolithic periods. setec, along with Egis and Assystem, two members of the French consortium, was awarded a Program Management contract for the infrastructure to be built over an area of nearly 30,000km2 .
Our previous work on the Al-Ula Master Plan 1 and our close cooperation with the French Agency for the Development of Al-Ula enabled us to win this prestigious contract. We are managing the programme of design, construction and operational preparation works covering power generation and distribution, road network, water supply, telecommunications, air and rail transport, as well as a multitude of water, sanitation and environmental projects.
Our two-year assignment, with an optional extension, will involve close collaboration within the consortium and interfacing with numerous government departments and local and international companies. In total, our assignment will deliver infrastructure for nearly 300 projects, large and small. Thanks to our close relationship with the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, we will be able to offer setec services in areas such as hydrogeology, environmental impact studies, heritage enhancement of historical sites and transport.
King Salman Park King Salman Park is another iconic project for Saudi Arabia which, like DGDA and Al-Ula, is based on sustainable development. The project, built over 16km2 and destined to become the largest urban park in the world, offers a wide range of options and quality activities. It is strategically located in the city of Riyadh, connected to several major road networks. We are working on the design of the park together with our British partner Buro Happold and our German partner Gerber. setec is, among other tasks, responsible for the design of the public transport system, including five stations of the green line of Riyadh’s rail network and ten stations of the city’s bus network. One of the objectives of the project is to transform the former military airbase in the city centre of Riyadh into a green park of the highest standard, including natural and open spaces, cultural facilities and various sports facilities.