Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) will select the winning bidder for the new USD 105 million airport in Al Mulaidaa in Qassim Province by the second week of October, according to a source close to the project.
"Al Ayuni Investment and Contacting Co. in a joint venture with Turkey-based Kalyon Construction Ind. & Trade Inc, the lowest bidder for the project, is expected to win the contract," the source who did not wish to be named told Zawya.
The project, which is 30 kilometres west of Buraidah, the capital of Qassim province, involves construction of a new international airport that can handle 1.6 million passengers per year.
The other bidders are Arab Supply and Trading (Astra), Al Jabreen Trading & Contracting, Al Mabani General Contractors (Al Mabani Group), Saudi Al Terais Trading Industrial Contracting Company, Al Muhaidib Contracting, First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting, Al Arrab Contracting Co. Ltd. (ACC), Al Rawaf Trading & Contracting, Al Jaber Transport & General Contracting, Seder Trading & Contracting Group and Saudi Bin Ladin Group (Public Buildings & Airports.
The source said Mapa Construction and Trade Company, who had submitted the tender document, has withdrawn from the competition.
Zuhair Fayez Partnership Consultants is the design consultant while supervision consultancy is done by GACA.
The tender was released on January 20 and the bid closing date was August 12, 2014. The original bid opening date had been first week of June, but was postponed to second week of October.
"The construction contract award was pushed back to October from June but the developer's office did not give a reason for the delay," added the source.
The project is expected to be completed by end 2016 and operational in the first quarter of 2017.
Formerly known as Qassim Regional Airport, the facility was renamed Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport in memory of the late Crown Prince Nayef.
© Zawya Projects News 2014
