RIYADH: The Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) announced on Tuesday that work on two projects near the King Khaled International Airport (KKIA) costing SR44.25 billion ($11.8 billion) has begun.
The two projects are the Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University for Women and the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center.
"The university and research center will be integral parts of other projects to be implemented near the airport, these projects include road network, public transport, architecture and infrastructural plans to develop Riyadh," ADA said in a statement.
The university is to be located on an eight million sq.-meter plot of land along the new airport road north of the city.
The built-up area will be about three million sq. meters and will include administration buildings, 13 faculties, a 700-bed student hospital, laboratories, research centers and a residential area that includes accommodation for students and staff.
The university will have a capacity of around 26,000 students and cost $11.5 billion. It is currently considered one of the Kingdom's top 10 projects.
Meanwhile, the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center will include 188 villas, two apartment blocks, a clubhouse and other infrastructure.
The project costs $300 million. Both projects are due for completion in 2012. The ADA said that in addition to the university and research center, a new commercial area near the airport, a medical complex for the Ministry of Defense and a project for the Prince Naif University for Security Sciences are also being planned. The costs of these projects have not been mentioned.
© Arab News 2010
