Neom's early contractor involvement for Gulf of Aqaba development

 

Neom's early contractor involvement for Gulf of Aqaba development

In a strategic move, Saudi Arabia's Neom is adopting an early contractor involvement approach for its ambitious Gulf of Aqaba project. This approach involves collaborative participation by infrastructure contractors in various project aspects, such as design, cost estimation, procurement planning, pre-construction services, program scheduling, construction, and interface management.

The Gulf of Aqaba project covers an initial 97-kilometer stretch along the Aqaba coast, featuring distinct segments classified as the "plain area" and the "mountainous area" to account for varying terrain and topography. Key components of the development encompass utility and civil infrastructure in these areas, including Romantic Bay, the Cube development, and a golf course.

 

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The civil infrastructure plan is structured across six districts, each with its unique features, including bridges, underpasses, and box culverts:

District 1 - Northern Gateway: Encompassing 13 bridges and underpasses, 1.9 kilometers in length, 18 wadi culverts, and five drainage culverts.

District 2 - Romantic Bay and the Cube: Comprising two bridges and underpasses spanning 360 meters, 40 wadi culverts, and 24 drainage culverts.

District 3 - Wadi Tayyib: Featuring two bridges and underpasses, 26 wadi culverts, and nine drainage culverts.

District 4 - Jungle Club: Incorporating three bridges and underpasses and 17 wadi culverts.

District 5 - Magna: With two bridges and underpasses, 14 wadi culverts, and two drainage culverts.

District 6 - Southern Gateway: Comprising three bridges and underpasses, 31 wadi culverts, and one drainage culvert.

 

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Notably, Neom has partnered with a joint venture between the local Al-Ayuni Investment Company and Turkish contractor Limak Holding for the early works on the Cube mountain resort in the Gulf of Aqaba. This collaborative effort includes various tasks, such as enabling works, drilling of boreholes, construction access tunnel creation, excavation on the mountain's summit, and associated works. The Cube will be an iconic structure atop a mountain, offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Aqaba, with each side of the building extending approximately 100 meters.

The Gulf of Aqaba project, stretching 120 kilometers along the coast, with an average width of 3.5 kilometers, covers a vast land area of about 430 square kilometers. The overarching development plan includes the construction of several hotels, featuring a low-rise resort and the innovative Gas Station Hotel, which consists of two towering hotel structures, each soaring 500 meters high, flanking the main highway serving the development. Neom's vision for the Gulf of Aqaba project promises to transform the region into a remarkable coastal destination.

Source: meed.com