WORK is expected to kick off at site on the Knowledge Economic City (KEC) when initial grading and plot demarcation activities start next year at the 4.8-million-sq-m high-tech knowledge-based economic city in Madinah.
This apart, design work on the infrastructure and initial residential developments will be completed early next year, while designs for the initial commercial developments are scheduled to be finished by end of the same year, a spokesman for the KEC Developers Company (KECDC) tells Gulf Construction.

The developer is also hoping to start infrastructure works for the initial phases over the year for completion by the end of 2011, the spokesman adds.

Being built at a staggering cost of $8 billion, the upcoming development is located 5 km east of the Holy Mosque between the Second and the Third Ring Roads. It will comprise a total built-up area of 9 million sq m, to accommodate 150,000 people and 30,000 visitors, besides creating 20,000 new job opportunities. The entire development is targeted for completion in 15 years.

Launched in June 2006 by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the ambitious development is part of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority’s (Sagia) efforts to promote investments in sectors that offer the best competitive advantages, namely energy, transportation, and knowledge-based industries.

A detailed masterplan has been completed by HOK Canada and approved by Sagia. The traffic impact study and the conceptual infrastructure/utilities plan have both been completed by IBI Group of Canada and Omrania & Associates of Saudi Arabia, respectively, and approved by Sagia.

KECDC has appointed Dar Al Handasah as the main consultant for design works and site supervision over the entire infrastructure, road networks and utilities. The US conglomerate Aecom has won a $15-million contract to provide programme management services for Phase One.

KECDC has also enlisted Malaysia’s Topia to provide consultancy and design services, content and intelligent city services, network development and other telecommunications services for the development.

The agreement also includes the provision of quality control (QC) services in the design of the systems and approach to be used and implemented by reviewing all the technology components of KEC.

In addition, an agreement has also been signed with global IT networking leader Cisco to provide the network architecture for the city as part of its Connected Real Estate initiative. All buildings in KEC will be interconnected and can be managed over a highly secure Internet Protocol (IP) network, allowing for centralised management and reduced operational costs for the city. The city’s network will facilitate data, voice, video and mobile communications across commercial and residential buildings.

The project will be built in four phases. Phase One includes infrastructure development for the northern portion of the city and initial residential areas; Phase Two consists of mixed-use, hospitality, retail and commercial developments adjacent to a proposed rail station; Phase Three comprises a business park and a commercial retail complex; while the last phase will be a progressive development of the remaining project.

Elaborating on the project, the spokesman says: “The city’s various zones will be designed to complement each other. These will include a technology and knowledge-based zone; an advanced IT studies institute; an interactive museum on the life of Prophet Mohammed; a centre for Islamic civilisation studies; a campus for medical research and life sciences; an integrated medical services zone; a retail zone; a business district; residential zones including high-rises, houses, and fully-serviced apartments; shopping malls; hotels and a mosque.”

According to the spokesman, tenders for the design of the commercial retail complex will be invited shortly, while those for the residential areas will be invited early next year. The mosque – King Abdul Aziz Mosque – is in the planning stage. Meanwhile, a passenger railway station within KEC will be developed by the Saudi Railways Organisation.

Madinah was chosen for the KEC project because of its unique position in attracting Muslim talent from all over the world. Being designated a special economic zone enables the city to provide an attractive and KBI (knowledge-based industries)-friendly business environment.

Outlining its numerous objectives, the spokesman says the project aims to be an economically-viable catalyst for knowledge-based industries in Madinah. It will establish an alternative central business district for the city with superior facilities and infrastructure easily accessible to the city’s residents and visitors.

The KEC will also act as a unique tourist destination supported by a unique theme park, world-class hospitality establishments and outstanding retail offer, creating a superior urban environment to attract the city’s residents, visitors and knowledge workers to live and work in this city.

Key components of the project include:
• A high-tech park for knowledge-based industries, including research centres, which is in the initial design stage;

• A centre for Islamic civilisation studies and research;

• An educational/entertainment-themed-park around the prophetic heritage. Known as Seera Land, the theme park is currently in the planning stage;

• A centre for medical sciences and bio-technology;

• A multi-modal transportation centre;

• A world-class business district for Madinah; and

• A major retail hub themed after the old suqs of Madinah.

The high-tech park, located over an area of 360,000 sq m, will contain a series of highly-equipped “smart” buildings provided with state-of-the-art IT and telecommunications infrastructure. The IT park’s areas of focus will include electronic governance, distance learning, Arabic language improvement and technology, religious tourism technology and call centres. It will also support young Saudi IT entrepreneurs and small firms by providing a competitive environment in which to grow their business.

The park will utilise the skilled female talent pool in the region and provide them with working opportunities.

The centre of Islamic civilisation studies and research, spread over of 205,000 sq m, will specialise in history and cultural educational programmes using modern distance learning technologies, video conferencing and webcasting. It will also provide audio-video cultural programmes on Islamic civilisation in key languages spoken in the Islamic world as well as cross-cultural discussion panels looking at cooperation and tolerance. It will also be home to think-tanks tasked with working out clear strategies for building a prosperous future in the Islamic world.

The centre for medical sciences and biotechnology, covering 85,000 sq m, will provide medical services to Madinah residents as well as to pilgrims coming from different parts of the world.

The likely focus of biotechnology research will include the treatment of common illnesses in the kingdom, environmental research into waste management and water treatment and a genetic engineering programme to improve palm tree productivity and quality in Madinah.

The theme park in the KEC is being designed to give visitors a virtual tour into the history of the Prophet’s heritage and Islamic civilisation.

It will focus on the lives of the prophets, Islamic civilisations and their contribution to world knowledge. All activities in the theme park will use the latest multimedia, laser and digital technologies.

The residential zone – the architecture of which will be traditional – will also have a major retail area in the style of Madinah’s old suqs. Much of the area will be pedestrianised with pleasant outdoor spaces. There will also be a hotel complex with a convention centre and a multi-purpose hall.

The project has attracted a number of investors. The development consortium members, led by the Savola Group, include Taiba Investments and Real Estate Development Company, Project Management Development Company, and  Quad International Real Estate Development Company.