DRAKE and Scull Construction (DSC) boosted its project portfolio with the award of a SR487-million ($130 million) contract for the construction of Antara, a signature residential project in Saudi Arabia by Gulf Related, a leading regional real estate developer.

Strategically located in the growing north-western part of Riyadh on King Khalid Road, and conveniently situated 10 minutes from King Abdullah Financial District and 20 minutes from King Khalid International Airport, Antara is a premium self-contained residential compound that will establish a new benchmark in quality living for expatriates in the kingdom, said a top official of Gulf Related, the development manager of Antara.

The project is expected to be completed in two years.

Antara was masterplanned by Otak, an international multidisciplinary design firm, along with Florida-based world-renowned architects Edsa, which also designed the landscape architecture. The building architecture and engineering was designed by Omrania and Associates out of its Riyadh and Bahrain offices.

DSC, the general contracting division of Drake and Scull International (DSI), has secured Dh5.1 billion ($1.39 billion) worth of project awards year to date. It is currently involved in several high-profile projects in Saudi Arabia, including the Dh3-billion ($816.5 million) Kapsarc project, the Dh1.7-billion ($426.7 million) contract for construction and mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) works for the Lamar Towers in Jeddah, the Dh1.3-billion ($353.7 million) Jabal Omar Development in Makkah, and the Dh321-million (87.4 million) MEP works for King Saud University in Riyadh.

Within the healthcare sector, the company is undertaking the MEP works on the Dh255 million ($69.4 million) National Institute of Neurosciences, and the Cancer and Cardiac Centres in the King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh and the MEP works for the Dh170 million ($46.3 million) 400-bed hospital in Dammam.

Saleh Muradweij, managing director of Drake and Scull Construction, comments: “Saudi Arabia is DSC’s biggest market in the region, where we have a long history of consistently delivering several landmark developments. Our impressive portfolio of projects in the country along with our track record of undertaking massive scale projects assured Gulf Related of our capabilities and awarded us with the contract for the Antara expatriate residential compound. The luxurious residential project is a prestigious win for DSC and will further consolidate its position in Saudi Arabia.”

Dr Karim El Solh, the co-managing partner of Gulf Related, says: “Antara will be another world-class development from us, combining luxury living with resort-style family comfort for expatriates in the new heart of Riyadh.”

“We are delighted to award the construction of this mega development to Drake and Scull, which has established its credentials in the Saudi market, and we look forward to delivering an iconic landmark on Riyadh’s urban landscape.”

As per the terms of the agreement, mobilisation will begin immediately and the construction will start on site in one month. DSC will complete all the civil, architectural, and MEP works, including structural, and external works for the residential and ancillary buildings on the project site.

Emile Habib, the managing director of Gulf Related, says: “Antara will be transformational for the new urban area of Riyadh, creating a real step-change in the urban landscape of the capital and will serve as a model residential development for the expatriate community in and around Riyadh.”

“Our overall aim is to develop a premium neighbourhood that offers a luxurious lifestyle for the entire family, offering easy access to essential facilities while also fostering a community spirit,” he explains.

Raja Alameddine, the executive director, Gulf Related (Saudi Arabia), said: “We were looking for an established contractor who will be able to offer multi-disciplinary services and expertise for this landmark project and Drake and Scull Construction came out as a best-in-class partner.”

Designed in a Mediterranean resort-village style, Antara comprises a built-up area of 98,115 sq m, consisting of 520 homes. These include 12 apartment buildings with a total of 267 apartments, 70 duplexes, 151 villas as well as 32 short-stay apartments in the village centre.

 Full community amenities will also be provided in the 157,300-sq-m development, featuring a pre-school, village market, main clubhouse, and administrative building with a sports and fitness centre; tennis, basketball and volleyball courts; bowling and billiards centre and barber shops; library, book stores, restaurants, cafes and community lounges.

Other infrastructure facilities will consist of a utility building, security gates and guardhouses, car parking, landscaping, and pedestrian paths, with 40 per cent of the total development – or about 48,500 sq m committed to open areas – lush green landscaping, cycling tracks and children’s play areas, said the statement.

Enabling and underground infrastructure works have already been completed.

DSI is a regional market leader delivering world class quality projects via end-to-end solutions that provide integrated design, engineering and construction disciplines of general contracting, MEP, water and power, rail, water and wastewater treatment, waste to energy and oil and gas, through people, innovation, and passion.

DSI established its first office in Abu Dhabi in 1966, and has since expanded operations to encompass offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, India, Thailand, as well as managing projects in Europe and other parts of North Africa.

DSI’s main business streams include Drake and Scull Engineering, which serves as the MEP and water and power arm; DSC, which is the general civil contracting unit; Drake and Scull Oil and Gas, which undertakes oil pipelines and related petrochemical projects; Drake and Scull Rail; Germany-based Passavant Energy and Environment which focuses on water and wastewater treatment as well as waste to energy; and Drake and Scull Development, focusing on the infrastructure sector.