Al Majal + Man Enterprise to build Diriyah Grand Mosque: Diriyah Company awarded a SAR 917 mn (USD 244 mn) joint venture contract to construction conglomerate Al Majal El Arabi Group and Beirut-based engineering contractor Man Enterprise for the construction of the Grand Mosque in the second phase of the Diriyah masterplan, it said in a press release yesterday. The timeline for the construction was not disclosed.

The deets: The mosque, which spans a total floor area of 12.3k sqm, will accommodate 11.4k worshippers — 5.2k indoors and 6.2k in outdoor courtyards. The Najdi-inspired mosque will feature intricate facades, a central plaza for communal prayers during Eid and Ramadan, and dedicated spaces for cultural events such as book fairs and local markets. The building will include separate prayer halls for men and women, ablution area, a library overlooking Wadi Hanifah, and facility management offices.

Green design in mind: The project aims for LEED Gold and Mostadam Gold Certifications, using smart energy and water systems and a 3D mesh structure that maximizes natural light while minimizing heat, according to the press release. Fully integrated with Diriyah’s smart city systems, the mosque will connect water, power, irrigation, safety, and security operations to the central Diriyah Operations Center.

Diriyah has been on a development spree, partnering with Majid Al Futtaim this week to bring a VOX Cinemas multiplex and seven international lifestyle brands to Diriyah Square. Last week, it launched Jabal AlQurain Avenue, a mixed-use hub for retail and F&B businesses and introduced Faena Residences, a branded residential project in Wadi Safar. It also awarded WeBuild’s subsidiary Salini Saudi Arabia a new contract worth SAR 2.3 bn in July to carry out the next phase of the square’s development in Riyadh, followed by a SAR 5.8 bn contract to China Harbour Engineering Company for the construction of the Arena Block district.

IN OTHER CONSTRUCTION NEWS-

Finland-based elevator and excavator maker Kone Corporation has been awarded the contract to supply 67 elevators and escalators for Jeddah Tower, it said in a press release yesterday. The order includes high-speed MiniSpace and DoubleDeck elevators, JumpLift construction elevators, MonoSpace models, and TravelMaster escalators, along with digital monitoring and maintenance services. The value of the contract was not disclosed.

ICYMI- The Kingdom Holding Company officially resumed construction of the 1k-meter Jeddah Tower earlier this year, set to become the world’s tallest building. As for the start of the year, some 63 floors have been completed out of a total of 157, before work on the project was stalled in January 2018.

Tags: