The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) awarded UAE-based ARCCO-Speedhouse and Saudi al-Majal al-Arabi Group contracts for the construction of a residential village for workers at the destination.
Each will construct 5,000 units over the next ten months to house the initial 10,000 construction workers working on the site. The workers’ village will be further developed to house additional 25,000 construction workers later this year.
TRSDC CEO John Pagano explained that a healthy, happy workforce is key to the delivery of the destination in line with the sustainable development approach.
Pagano asserted the company’s belief that both ARCCO-Speedhouse and al-Majal al-Arabi share these values.
“Together we will ensure that accommodation facilities for construction workers on the Red Sea Project define a new standard of excellence for residential accommodation for constructors on large scale projects across the region.”
The companies will use pre-fabricated and modular construction to reduce delivery time, enhance quality, limit the number of workers on-site and minimize the environmental impact of construction, in line with TRSDC’s sustainability goals.
Red Sea Development will maintain operational control of the construction village once completed, ensuring that the facility is managed in adherence to the highest living standards.
All construction workers at the site will be housed in the village, whether employed directly by company or by contractors.
TRSDC Chief Project Delivery Officer, Ian Williamson explained that the design of the village focuses on creating a community feel, intended to enhance the welfare and quality of life of the workers who will live there.
“By requiring that all construction workers are housed in accommodation built and managed by TRSDC, we are making every effort to ensure that we become the benchmark for construction worker accommodation in the region and in the industry as whole.”
Al-Majal al-Arabi CEO Mazen al-Zahrani noted that the company looks forward to working with the Red Sea management team to deliver this project in line with the timelines and environmental standards required.
Zahrani asserted that al-Majal al-Arabi is committed to the Red Sea Project and to executing Saudi Arabia’s transformative Vision 2030.
“This project is unique and will be a pillar for the Kingdom, with its entertainment facilities, sports fields, health centers and service offerings, and we are delighted to part of the team bringing it to life.”
Al-Raeel Engineering Construction and Development Co. (ARCCO) Vice Chairman J.K. Yoon explained that the partnership between ARCCO and Speedhouse combines the scale and flexibility of the ARCCO portfolio with Speedhouse’ extensive experience in pre-fabricated and off-site construction to form a partnership ideally suited to deliver this ambitious project.
“We look forward to creating a facility that will redefine worker accommodation in the region’s construction industry.”
The construction village will feature residential buildings positioned to form neighborhoods around a centralized area that will be equipped with a range of recreational facilities including cricket pitches, volleyball and basketball courts, football pitches, a gym and cinema.
It will have its own dedicated medical facilities, including an emergency care center, a laboratory and a dispensing pharmacy.
Medical services will be provided through a centralized operator and delivered by a full complement of doctors and nurses operating in line with Saudi and international standards.
Construction at the Red Sea Project has been underway since the first quarter of 2019, with a one million square meter nursery being established to support landscaping, marine infrastructure, including causeways, a bridge and jetties to facilitate the movement of machinery, materials and workers.
