The first steps have been taken in the creation of an ambitious 3.3 million sq m waterfront “city of the future”  in Al Khobar with the completion of the dredging and reclamation work on the City Fanar project.

The $200 million project, along the Al Khobar-Dammam Corniche, will be built around a 300,000 sq m man-made lagoon that stretches into the Arabian Gulf.
The mixed-use development – the flagship project of Rikaz Development, a leading Saudi real estate developer – will offer worldclass residential, commercial and leisure facilities over an area of 400,000 sq m, of which 90,000 sq m overlooks the sea.
Dutch company Ballast Ham, which started work on the dredging contract in December last year, has completed the dredging and reclamation of about 2.5 million sq m of land for the project last month (mid-April), two months ahead of schedule.
Backfilling work has also being completed and work has commenced on the roads which will provide access to the site. Plots with the necessary infrastructure are scheduled for completion by the end of 2005 while the entire “city” is slated for completion by 2015.
Strategically placed as the hub between Al Khobar and Dammam, the City will have easy access to Dammam, Al Khobar, Jubail, the King Fahad International Airport, Dammam Port, and the Dammam Reexport Free Zone, making it a prime location for real estate investment, says the developer. It will also be linked to the new university campus of King Faisal University by two entrances from the southern side.
Riyadh-based Beeah planner, architects and engineers is the overall consultant for the project.
This prestigious project is Rikaz’s largest, both in terms of aspiration and size. Following extensive studies and construction planning, Rikaz officially launched the project earlier this year, which will include a number of distinctive construction features:
• It will have longest seafront in Saudi Arabia of any real estate project: more than 4,000 m;
• It is the only Saudi project with its own private lagoon, on either side of which will be open beaches for walking.  The lagoon will be the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia;
• It will have the longest pedestrian walkway in the kingdom with a length of 1,700 m;
• It will be the first Saudi project to allocate more than 60 traditional private gardens in the residential area; and
• It will be the first private sector project to include a multipurpose hall, public library and social club, a gift from Rikaz to the residents of City Fanar.
Fanar is the Arabic word for ‘lighthouse’ and the new city aims to be just that – a beacon of direction, security and hope – in its features and services, according to Shaikh Khalid Al Gahtani, president and CEO of Rikaz.
“The scope and mix of this project cannot be found anywhere else in Saudi Arabia,” says Shaikh Khalid. “With idyllic waterfront estate houses, condominiums and apartments, City Fanar will provide the ultimate in deluxe living. As a national landmark, its legacy will attract people from all over, making it the preferred destination within the surrounding region.
The lagoon will serve as a centre for a lifestyle in line with Saudi Arabian traditions and values. Some 35,000 sq m of land, overlooking the lagoon, has been reserved for tourist projects. The orientation, height and density of the surrounding buildings will allow for panoramic views of the lagoon, set against vistas of the Arabian Gulf.
The masterplan positions the tallest buildings and recreation facilities along the lagoon waterfront, with a gradual reduction in building density further inland.
These will vary from 16-storey mixed-use highrises to single-storey residential buildings. The development will comprise 1,791 residential plots (ground-plus-one-storey), 377 commercial plots, 363 mixed use and 35 land parcels for support services.

Commercial area
The commercial centre has been masterplanned in such a way as to facilitate the use of advanced technology in its office complexes, service centres and world-class shopping malls. The malls will offer leading international brands, making them an attractive choice for consumers in the region to visit. The marina, hotels, parks and open spaces will enhance the city’s splendour and vibrancy.
The pedestrian walkway, located at the center of the commercial area, will connect the piazza – a 20 sq m architectural marvel situated in the heart of the commercial area – to the city’s 115,000 sq m main mall, one of the largest in the Eastern Province. The walkway will also act as a main artery, facilitating movement throughout the city, and will be linked to other walkways in the Corniche. This 15,000 sq m area will be reserved for exhibition areas, shops, restaurants and recreation. The main streets will have a width of 30 m, while the alleys will be at least 18 m wide.
The first major component to be launched was the main mall, which will occupy a prime location within city on the Khobar-Dammam Coastal Road and Qashlah Street.
“Marking the entrance to the city, the Mall will be a unique landmark in terms of its architectural design and is aimed at meeting the needs of the residential as well as the business communities of City Fanar and the region,” says Shaikh Khalid
It will host the leading international and local brands, thereby offering the required mix of products and services. Rikaz has appointed Nabil Gholam, Architecture and Planning of Lebanon as the consultant for the concept plan for the Mall and the feasibility analysis.

Residential area
The carefully-deliberated community-centred design of the residential area will create a sense of space for residents, with the lagoon at its heart. Specialised urban planning will minimise automobile use and encourage pedestrian mobility, making the residential area a safe, intimate environment for families.
With more than 200,000 sq m of lush greenery  50 per cent of which will be set aside for private residential gardens  City Fanar’s traditionally-designed residential area will present a hospitable and delightful environment, he adds.
City Fanar also includes a community centre, which will maximize the social communication and recreation of the resident families.
Basic infrastructure facilities such as schools, mosques, clinics and neighbourhood parks will be distributed throughout the development.
“City Fanar will be more than simply a location where people live and work. It will be a versatile and dynamic entity, evolving with the culture to which it belongs. Unlike other projects resulting from a frenzy-driven real estate market, one of the unique aspects of this project is its collective approach in its strategy, using a steering committee made up of consultants, architects, communication experts and futurists,” Shaikh Khalid points out.
City Fanar is expected to attract an investment exceeding SR700 million. It will provide work for contractors on the infrastructure and basic services and Saudi suppliers of building materials.
Development work will include infrastructure and main services; land reclamation; road and pavement construction; tree planting; streetlighting; water, drainage and sewerage systems; electricity networks and an advanced telephone network with fibre optics, enabling world-class telecommunication and internet services.
Rikaz, a subsidiary of the HAK Group, has become a leading developer of urban and industrial projects with a wide network of global partners and associate companies.
Established in 1997, Rikaz has focused its core activities on the purchase, development, leasing, management, construction and acquisition of, and investment, in real estate assets. It has implemented more than 12 real estate projects involving an investment of more than SR3.5 billion.
The company has earned a niche in real estate development, construction and marketing through handling some of the biggest property development projects in Saudi Arabia including Al Rehab Township; Al Khozama Township; Makkah Towers; Rikaz and Al Khobar industrial project; Al Forsan Palaces; Sairafi Mall; Jawaharat Al Huda and Jawaharat Al Aziziah residential project and Dar Al Marwa project. It has also been involved in the Amwaj Resort and Marina and Tala Beach Resort in Bahrain.