SAUDI ARABIA’S Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) has awarded local architectural consultancy Omrania a contract to design the masterplan of a mixed-use residential and commercial development on the outskirts of the Saudi capital called Kingdom Riyadh Land.

KHC chairman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud said Riyadh Land’s 16-million-sq-m site, will be located on Riyadh-Dammam Highway on the north-eastern outskirts of the capital.

The contract also includes provisional sums for traffic and environmental studies.

Once developed, Riyadh Land will be a mixed-use residential and commercial development. It will feature a private leisure and equestrian club, with serviced bungalows and sports and other leisure facilities which are expected to be managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

Plans exist for the government to build a highway linking the south-western end of this development to the nearby King Khalid International Airport, the KHC said.

The contract includes co-ordination and approval of masterplanning elements, engaging and managing the traffic impact study and environmental impact assessment sub-consultants and other studies required to complement and complete the masterplan in the role of the local masterplanner, including all liaison with local authorities, Al Waleed said.

Omrania will also be carrying out the supervision of the infrastructure work on site.

KHC has already given a contract for the masterplan design of its 3.8-million-sq-m Kingdom Oasis Land – located within Riyadh Land – to Hart Howerton of the US. Hart Howerton will produce preliminary concept architecture studies for the hotel, gentlemen’s retreat, women’s spa, and branded villas.

Also, KHC’s subsidiary Real Estate Investment Company will be developing the Kingdom City residences within the project, over an area of 1 million sq m.