Welcome Back. Here's What Moved Over the Break.

New Murabba has launched the next phase of procurement for the Mukaab, sending a request for proposals (RFP) to contractors as the giant cube moves closer to full-scale construction. The move comes after months of industry speculation over the project's pace and reports suggesting parts of Saudi Arabia's development pipeline could face delays or reprioritisation.

An award is expected next year for a package covering the Mukaab itself, including its towers, podiums, basement areas, rooftop, public realm, supporting infrastructure, site logistics and technology-enabled experience systems. Through the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process, bidders will be assessed on their capability and delivery approach before one of the Kingdom's largest construction contracts moves into execution.

But the Mukaab was only one part of a broader picture this week. Across the Kingdom, developers, investors, manufacturers and contractors advanced projects spanning healthcare, battery manufacturing, urban cooling, industrial localisation and real estate investment, highlighting the increasingly diverse nature of Saudi Arabia's construction and infrastructure pipeline.

This week in CW Saudi:

— Fahad Abuljadayel, Editor

In Makkah, Saudi Arabia awarded approximately $3.5 billion worth of development sites under a private-sector participation model, reflecting the growing role of developers and investors in delivering large-scale urban projects. The move comes as the Kingdom prepares for rising pilgrim numbers in the years ahead, driving demand for additional hotels, commercial space and supporting infrastructure, while underscoring a broader shift toward using private capital to help finance and deliver strategic developments.

The trend is also visible in the investment market. SAB Invest and Retal launched a 1.9 billion riyal ($507 million) real estate fund to develop Retal Heights, a mixed-use tower project on a 19,000-square-metre site in Riyadh's Al Malqa district along King Fahd Road. The development will combine residential, commercial and hospitality uses, with SAB providing financing of up to 50% of the investment value.

CW Saudi also this week highlighted 20 firms making a mark under Vision 2030, selected based on their recent project activity, contract awards, investments, market influence and visible role in shaping the Kingdom's development pipeline. The list is not intended to rank the largest or most important companies in Saudi Arabia, but rather to spotlight some of the developers, contractors, consultants and operators that have been among the most active participants in delivering the Kingdom's transformation agenda.

Morocco's Akdital announced plans for a third hospital in Saudi Arabia after securing land in Riyadh, deepening its expansion into what has become one of the group's most important growth markets outside Morocco. The healthcare operator is targeting 1,000 beds in the Kingdom by 2030 and is already advancing projects in Riyadh and Jeddah, underscoring growing investor confidence in Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector as population growth, tourism and healthcare reforms continue to drive demand for new medical facilities.

At the same time, China's ZOE unveiled plans for a Saudi battery energy storage systems factory with an initial annual production capacity of 5GWh, positioning the company to serve one of the world's fastest-growing energy storage markets. The investment comes as Saudi Arabia rapidly expands renewable power generation and grid-scale storage capacity, with local manufacturing increasingly viewed as a key component of the Kingdom's industrialisation and energy transition strategy.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Doosan Enerbility secured a $556 million contract tied to Phase 2 of the Jafurah Combined Heat and Power Plant, a key piece of infrastructure supporting Aramco's giant Jafurah gas development. Scheduled for completion in 2029, the facility will generate 330MW of electricity and 465 tonnes of steam per hour for operations linked to the gas field. While separate from the Jafurah development itself, the project forms part of the wider infrastructure ecosystem required to support one of the Kingdom's most important energy investments.

Riyadh's cooling initiative also moved forward, with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City appointing Greek consultancy PLANET to develop a strategy aimed at reducing temperatures on roads, building facades and other urban surfaces by between 8°C and 15°C. The study will identify five pilot areas across the capital and assess measures including cooler construction materials, expanded green cover, water features and other urban design interventions to address the city's heat island effect. With implementation expected to begin next year following a 12-month study phase

Construction Week Saudi May-June Issue

This edition explores a market that is simultaneously building at unprecedented scale and adapting to a more demanding delivery environment. From the Kingdom's largest contractors and developers to the investors, operators and consultants shaping major projects, the issue examines what it takes to move from ambition to execution.

Inside, we spotlight the companies helping drive Vision 2030 forward, and hear from industry leaders on the lessons learned from decades in construction. The issue also tracks the trends reshaping the sector, from housing and infrastructure to logistics, tourism and industrial expansion.

Because while the scale of Saudi Arabia's pipeline continues to grab headlines, the bigger story is increasingly about delivery. And there is still a lot to build.

What to watch next week

Construction Week Saudi · Fahad.Abuljadayel@ITP.COM / Ahmad.Amer@ITP.COM