THE Saudi government’s drive to boost its infrastructure has spelt success for Al Latifia Trading and Contracting Company, which has been involved in a large number of key projects in the kingdom over the past few years.

The general building and contracting company is now trying to significantly enhance its capabilities and resources to help it cash in on the ample opportunities afforded by the buoyant construction market in Saudi Arabia.

“The construction scene in Saudi Arabia has been incredibly active. You will find new projects being constructed throughout the kingdom with no end in sight. Similarly, old projects are being renovated and updated,” says Ali Barbouti, the chief business development officer, adding that some of the major new projects in the kingdom include the Hilton Hotel, Ministry of Health hospitals, Granada Housing and Business Park, and other various projects.

Noting that the construction industry in Saudi Arabia has been fairly upbeat in the recent past, Barbouti says the company expects a steady growth in business over the next few years and is positioning itself to attain a competitive edge in the market.

“We are constantly assessing our organisation and researching techniques to ensure further development. We are hiring well-educated employees, and maintaining client relations.”

He adds that Al Latifia has a promising future, with prospects being particularly bright next year as it completes the construction of the landmark Riyadh Hilton Hotel and Residence luxury hotel complex.

The Saudi British Bank ... delivered by Al Latifia.

“This striking development will showcase our true experience, which we have garnered over several years of building projects with close attention to details and finishing. Building excellence is what we do best, and we strive to maintain it,” Barbouti states with pride.

Being built for the General Organization of Social Insurance (Gosi), the Riyadh Hilton Hotel and Residence comprises 675 guest rooms, 275 hotel apartments, 1,300 car-parking slots, a 500-m pedestrian suspension bridge and other amenities. The built-up area of the SR1.808-billion ($483 million) project is about 220,000 sq m. Construction began in December 2011 and is set for completion at the end of 2014.

Al Latifia is also engaged on another Gosi development, the Granada Housing and Business Park project, which is in the final handover stage. Comprising eight office towers – six high-rise and two low-rise – a business centre and 48 villas, the SR1.525-billion ($407 million) will offer a total built-up area of 339,000 sq m and include parking for 3,500 cars, and landscaping and hardscaping.

A distinctive project being undertaken by the company in joint venture with Leighton Middle East is the King Fahd Medical City PPNNCC project, Riyadh. Valued at SR1.465 billion ($391.485 million), the scope of works on the 510-bed multi-purpose hospital complex includes construction of new medical centres inside the current campus involving a  total built-up area is 234,000 sq m and integrated with existing facilities. It comprises neuroscience, cancer and cardiology centres, a laboratory and administration building, a proton therapy centre – which will be the first in the Middle East – and a central services building including a 340-m services tunnel in addition to all external works (roads, car-parking, fence, ancillary buildings, landscape, etc). Construction began in November 2012 and is set to be completed in 2016.

This apart, Al Latifia is currently working on two hospital projects for the Ministry of Health, construction work on which was launched in June last year and is slated for completion in 2015.  These include the 300-bed Almeqat Hospital in Madinah and the 100-bed Aljmom Hospital in Makkah. The SR416.292-million ($111 million) Almeqat Hospital project calls for the construction of a main hospital building, an occupational therapy centre, emergency ICU (intensive care unit) department, hostel, family villas, administration building, recreation centre, guard house, warehouse building and mosque, involving a total built-up area is 115,000 sq m.

The SR225.41-million ($60 million) Aljmom Hospital project comprises hospital buildings, staff housing, a mosque and support facilities, offering a total built-up area of 62,000 sq m.

Also in progress is a housing project in Jubail for Marafiq, a power and water utility company. It consists of 249 villas of six different types and entails the construction of the buildings, external works, carports and boundary walls, a mosque to accommodate 450 worshippers, as well as site works including grading, roads and sidewalks, utilities, landscaping and hardscaping. The SR330.635-million ($88 million) project – work on which began last November – will provide a total built-up area of 119,842 sq m and is expected to see completion in 2015.

Meanwhile, Al Latifia is close to completing work on the King Abdul Aziz Centre for National Dialogue (KACND) head office in Riyadh, while Saudi Aramco’s corporate data centre (CDC) in Dhahran is complete.

The KACND project consists of three towers – each with seven floors and three basement levels – water tanks, a water treatment plant and all other facilities, involving a total built-up area of 67,000 sq m. Construction work on the SR174-million ($46 million) project began in May 2012.

Al Latifia has handed over Saudi Aramco’s CDC in Dhahran under a SR714-million ($190.747 million) deal.  The scope of work on this project included materials procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning of a fully operational, Tier IV CDC to house the computing systems.

“The CDC is believed to be one of the largest data centres in the Middle East and is classified as a mission-critical facility,” Barbouti explains. “The building has been designed in such a way that the physical environment of the data centre is rigorously controlled. The building is fully equipped with state-of-the-art air-conditioning, fire protection systems, and uninterruptible power supply.” 

Al Latifia’s comprehensive project portfolio includes two projects for the National Guard as well. The first, which is completed, comprises central ammunition bunkers, while the second, which is expected to be completed in the end of this year, calls for the construction of additional bunkers and external works in Al Hasa.

Al Latifia Trading and Contracting Company was established in 1987 in Riyadh. With its headquarters in Riyadh and a staff of more than 9,200, the company has successfully carried out numerous projects of all types throughout the kingdom and continues to build on its success.

“Al Latifia is committed to construction excellence,” Barbouti concludes.