Before long, a remote Saudi plateau just below the border with Jordan will be transformed into an industrial city of a hundred-thousand people and the facilities and infrastructure to make its industries hum. Bechtel is managing the creation of Waad Al Shamaal City and an associated mining complex, together known as the King Abdullah program for Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden).
Ma'aden called on Bechtel to oversee the engineering and construction of the new complex near Turayf. In 2012, Bechtel developed the megaproject's master plan in advance of performing front-end engineering and design. Construction began in 2013.
Waad Al Shamaal is another in a continuing series of Saudi programs to harness, process, and monetize natural resources in a way that promotes economic development and diversity.
We have worked in the middle east for more than 70 years. On every project, we look to maximize the number of local job opportunities available and will use this approach to continue our legacy of delivering quality infrastructure in the Kingdom.David Welch, president, regions and government affairs
Inside the project
This project adds to Bechtel’s portfolio of work for Ma’aden during the last decade, which includes the Ras Al Khair aluminum smelter. Bechtel has successfully delivered nearly 5,000 mining and metals and civil infrastructure projects around the world and is currently building Jubail Industrial City, the world’s largest civil infrastructure project, also in Saudi Arabia.
