Saudi Contracting Companies to Forge International Alliances for Major Projects

The Saudi contracting sector is heading towards major international alliances. In the smaller frame, Governor of the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) Thabet Al-Sawyeed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi contracting sector is heading towards major international alliances. In the smaller frame, Governor of the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) Thabet Al-Sawyeed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Contracting Companies to Forge International Alliances for Major Projects

The Saudi contracting sector is heading towards major international alliances. In the smaller frame, Governor of the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) Thabet Al-Sawyeed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi contracting sector is heading towards major international alliances. In the smaller frame, Governor of the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) Thabet Al-Sawyeed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Governor of the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) Thabet Al-Sawyeed said that the annual volume of contracting sector projects in the Kingdom has reached 250 billion riyals (USD 66 billion).

He noted that the virtual Future Projects Forum (FPF), which will be held this week, would enable local enterprises to build alliances with international companies to implement major ventures presented within the 1,000 projects with a total value of 1.6 billion riyals (USD 426 million).

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Sawyeed said that the FPF would be launched on Monday, with the participation of project owners, contractors and stakeholders from 35 countries. Among the proposed initiatives is the Authority’s Innovation Center, which is entrusted with studying the latest technologies in the contracting sector.

“We also intend to launch an initiative next month to provide specialized consultations to contractors, interested persons and workers in the sector,” he said, noting that the initiative aims to offer information, recommendations and guidance to contribute to raising the quality of outputs.

Al-Sawyeed emphasized that the Authority was working to empower small, medium and micro enterprises, as they represent 99 percent of the sector. He noted that one of the main focus was to facilitate access to integrated information that reflects the extent of growth and distribution of contractors with their classifications in different regions and cities.

“The contracting sector in the largest in the Kingdom in terms of the number of establishments that exceed 170,000 companies. Small and micro-enterprises constitute 96.5 percent, medium-sized account for 3 percent and large companies represent around 1 percent of the sector,” he said.

The size of the market projects reaches 250 billion riyals annually, in which government projects represent the largest percentage, while the number of employees exceeds 3 million.

“The contracting sector is very large and connects 28 different segments, including engineering, project management and financing agencies. Therefore, the Saudi Contractors Authority was established to organize and enable this sector to reflect positively on the state’s economy,” Al-Sawyeed told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He explained that the role of the Authority was based on three main sections, the first of which is the regulatory procedures related to labor, equipment, contracts, and the contractual relationship between the contractor and other parties.

“The second part of the Authority’s role is to empower establishments through a special platform that provides statistics and access to integrated information about the extent of growth and the distribution of contractors with their classifications in different regions and cities, as well as employment and project opportunities,” he remarked.

As for the third, it is represented in value-added services, Al-Sawyeed noted.

“We intend to launch an initiative within the next month to provide specialized consultations to contractors, interested persons and workers in the sector,” he said.

“My message to the sector stems from the Authority’s vision in building the future. We know that there are challenges facing the establishments, but my vision is full of optimism,” he underlined.

Al-Sawyeed continued: “During the past five years, the local market has witnessed many developments within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. There are great opportunities ahead and we must take advantage of the mega projects that will be implemented in the next phase and focus on business development to raise the level of efficiency and productivity to increase the sector’s competitiveness with international companies.”



Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yemen’s Defense Minister, Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri, does not expect Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to stop even if the Gaza war ends. He also warns of rising tensions in the region, which could lead to a major conflict.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Daeri affirmed close coordination between Yemeni forces and the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. He praised Saudi Arabia’s key role in the coalition, highlighting its continuous support for Yemen.

Al-Daeri said there has been significant progress in unifying government-aligned military forces, with committees set up by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) establishing a joint operations authority.

Despite challenges, he remains optimistic that these efforts will help unify the military command against the common enemy — Yemen’s Houthi militias.

Al-Daeri warned that Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea are a serious threat to Yemen and the region. He noted that the Houthis are using these attacks to distract from their internal problems and are trying to capitalize on Yemeni sympathy for Palestine by claiming support for Gaza.

He added that the Houthis are unlikely to stop targeting international shipping, even if the Gaza war ends, and are constantly seeking new alliances with terrorist groups to strengthen their position.

Al-Daeri, accused Iran of fueling instability in Yemen by supporting Houthi militias for years, smuggling weapons and military experts to spread chaos without regard for regional stability.

On US relations, Al-Daeri said ties are good but military cooperation remains limited. He noted that US military aid, suspended in 2014, has not yet returned to previous levels.

Al-Daeri said his visit to Saudi Arabia was part of ongoing coordination with the Joint Operations Command and the Saudi Ministry of Defense to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.

During his “productive” visit, Al-Daeri met with several military leaders, congratulated the new commander of the Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Salman, and held talks with officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.

Al-Daeri emphasized the strong defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, particularly during Yemen’s war in recent years.

He noted that the high level of coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab Coalition members has significantly improved regional military readiness.

Al-Daeri said relations with Saudi Arabia are growing stronger, with both countries working closely together to fulfill their missions in the region.

He described defense cooperation as being at its peak, praising Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Arab Coalition.

“Saudi Arabia has always provided full support—military, financial, and moral. As the region’s strongest power, they have supported Yemen not just with resources, but also with strategic expertise and by fighting alongside us, even sacrificing their lives for our cause,” Al-Daeri told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Houthi militias have taken advantage of the ceasefire and the Saudi-led initiative, which later became a UN effort, to conduct hostile activities and assert their presence.

He referred to the Houthis’ actions as creating a “massive prison” for millions of Yemenis who do not want to live in their controlled areas.

Al-Daeri, described the situation in the region as dangerous, pointing to recent events in Gaza and Lebanon as signs of increasing tensions. He warned of the risk of an unprecedented regional war due to the rising violence and conflicts.

“What is happening is very alarming, especially with the recent events, including terrorist militias in Yemen, the unacceptable violence in Gaza over the past year, and the situation in southern Lebanon. This all signals the risk of an unusual war,” said al-Daeri.

Regarding potential outcomes, al-Daeri noted that Yemeni forces are ready for both war and peace. He acknowledged significant efforts to achieve peace but warned that renewed conflict could occur at any moment. He also pointed out ongoing provocations from Houthis, which continue to lead to casualties.

"We are ready for all options and have comprehensive strategic plans for deploying our forces. The past two years have seen a ceasefire, and the Arab Coalition is making significant efforts to achieve peace rather than resorting to war. However, this does not mean that conflict won’t resume; it could restart at any time,” explained al-Daeri.

“Despite the ceasefire and the presence of our forces, the legitimate troops have not fired back, yet the militias provoke us daily, resulting in casualties,” he added.

“Patience is a key quality of the legitimate authority in Yemen, led by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and his colleagues in the Presidential Leadership Council. This patience reflects our readiness for the moment of truth, whether for peace or war—we are prepared,” asserted al-Daeri.