Dar Al Handasah Consultants has been awarded a contract by the Jeddah Central Development Corporation to design the masterplan for the first phase of the $20 billion Jeddah Central project. The JCDC, which is owned by the Public Investment Fund, said Dar Al Handasah will be in charge of design and technical consultation, which will pave the way for construction to begin. The contract also stipulates that Dar Al Handasah will provide the masterplan design, including all four major architectural landmarks as well as the development of the asset both horizontally and vertically, JCDC said.

A JCDC statement said the design process will be led by local and international experts from Jeddah, in line with the firm's comprehensive strategy to create a global destination in the heart of Jeddah. Upon completion, the Jeddah Centre project will begin hosting Jeddah residents as well as tourists from within and outside the Kingdom.

The first phase of the project is expected to include three major architectural landmarks; the project will be Become an opera house, a stadium, a marine aquarium and a coral farm.

Regarding the collaboration with Dar Al Handasah, Al Sulaim said that the Saudi group will provide design and technical advice for this large-scale development. The project will be implemented in a strategic area of 5.7 million square meters in the heart of Jeddah, and has a waterfront location with 9.5 kilometers of coastline.

In addition to 2.1km of sandy beach, it will have a world-class marina that can accommodate local and international yachts. The project will help develop high-quality projects in potential fields such as tourism, sports, culture, entertainment, commerce, and residential. It will enhance the living standards of residents by providing global entertainment options and creating more jobs. Its contemporary design draws inspiration from Jeddah's authentic cultural identity, combining the city's traditional architecture with modern urban design elements. Keywords: engineering construction, engineering news

JCDC's goal is to develop high-quality projects in important areas, while enhancing the cultural and social identity of the city of Jeddah. In December 2021, His Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud outlined for the first time the main features of the Jeddah Central Project. In February, JCP's chief executive said 85 percent of the company's workforce was Saudi, and in April, JCDC signed off on the land deal for the first phase of the project.Editor/XingWentao