It is more than 17 years since the Saad Group started operations in the civil construction sector.

Since then, the group's businesses have expanded to include the design, construction and management of luxury residential resorts and state-of-the-art medical facilities from computer-based 3D modelling systems to design and engineering, agricultural engineering, transportation, furniture manufacture, hospital and medical services, information technology, travel services, education and finance.

In the construction sector, the Saad Group has, in the last 10 years, invested more than SR2 billion ($533 million) on the development and construction of high-quality residential compounds, hospital and medical centres, educational complexes, industrial facilities and marine and harbour works, says deputy general manager Mohammed Al Rushaid.

In addition to the company-owned projects, Saad Trading & Contracting Company (STCC) - one of the 12 organisations in the group - was recently awarded a large construction project - The Academic Square for King Abdul Aziz University at Jeddah. It has also completed numerous projects for Saudi Aramco, The Royal Commission, SCECO, Municipality, Water & Sewer Department and the private sector.

While business has clearly been good in the past decade, Al Rushaid now says that prospects for the coming year seem to be even better than the past year. The Group plans to award STCC contracts for some stunning new projects, including the SR47 million Saad Clinic in Dammam and the SR50 million Saad Plaza in Al Khobar.

The 16,344 sq m Saad Clinic complex will comprise a six-storey (plus basement) main building and a multi-storey car-park with a built-up area of 18,542 sq m, in addition to external works including boundary walls extending 460 m. The Saad Plaza will comprise a 12-storey, 32,738 sq m main building, and elevated bridge over the main street at 8th floor level connecting the plaza building with Saad Specialist Hospital. The scope of work includes fountains, Jacuzzi and swimming pool, canopies and domes.

To meet the challenges of increased business, Saad Design and Engineering Office, another firm in the group, is also expanding its design, supervision and management services for government projects, establishing a specialised team for road construction projects initially in the Eastern Province but later to cover the entire Kingdom.

This expansion will further complement the wide range of services provided by the various organisations within the group, which comprise: STCC, Saad Properties, Saad Information & Technology; Saad Investments; Saad Al Sanea Centre; Saad Agriculture; Saad Design & Engineering; Saad Specialist Hospital & Medical Services; Saad Travel & Tourism Company; Saad National Schools; Saad Transport; and Maan Al Sanea Furniture. Group activities are directed from Al Khobar, while there are offices and affiliates in Jeddah and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Bahrain, Geneva (Switzerland), London (UK), Paris (France), Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles and Jersey (Channel Islands).

Saad Group also draws on the strength and expertise of its more than 8,000 multinational staff covering engineering, architecture, design, management and consultation, teaching and training, medicine, information science, international finance and law, says Al Rushaid. A recent venture in which Saad became involved was the establishment of a medical waste treatment plant at Saad Specialist Hospital. The facility uses Rotoclave technology which is, says Al Rushaid, efficient and environmentally-friendly.

Saad is now pioneering medical waste management including handling, treatments and transportation using the safest and the most advanced technology.