Saudi Shura Council Demands Development of Supervisory Tools to Monitor Commodity Prices

The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Shura Council Demands Development of Supervisory Tools to Monitor Commodity Prices

The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Shura Council has called on the Ministry of Commerce to cooperate with the relevant authorities, in order to develop the supervisory and procedural tools for monitoring commodity prices.

The Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market and to develop procedural and technical mechanisms to include the “non-delivery of products” within the commercial violations.

In this regard, it underlined the necessity to develop the consumer protection sector, in a way that enables it to perform its supervisory role and preserve consumers’ rights.

During its 42nd regular session on Monday to study the annual report of the Ministry of Commerce, the Shura Council underlined the importance of coordinating with the competent authorities to find solutions for financial compensation in jobs that cannot be filled by national cadres in small and medium enterprises, as well as reviewing the Saudi regions’ competitive advantages in the business sector to adopt the appropriate mechanisms for their development.

The Council also discussed tightening control over the maintenance of roads, bridges, and tunnels, as well as ensuring quality and speed in the design and implementation of relevant projects, while accelerating the shift towards a digital system in the entire sector.

The Council has also called on the Saudi Space Authority to activate the memoranda of understanding with the Ministry of Education and a number of Saudi universities to expand the development of scientific specializations that serve the sector, and to study the launching of internal scholarships with possible employment to develop human capital.

The Council urged the concerned bodies to benefit from the experiences and infrastructure available in some relevant government agencies to integrate and unify efforts and achieve the strategic goals of the space sector in the Kingdom.



Diriyah Company Awards $600 Million Contract to Salini Saudi Arabia for 400 Retail Units

The heart of Diriyah reflecting 300 years of history and heritage (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The heart of Diriyah reflecting 300 years of history and heritage (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Diriyah Company Awards $600 Million Contract to Salini Saudi Arabia for 400 Retail Units

The heart of Diriyah reflecting 300 years of history and heritage (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The heart of Diriyah reflecting 300 years of history and heritage (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Diriyah Company has awarded a major new $600 million contract for construction work on the high-profile Diriyah Square retail precinct to Salini Saudi Arabia, a subsidiary of the Webuild Group.

The square is located at the heart of Diriyah, the City of Earth, within the unique Najdi-inspired architectural Diriyah Masterplan.

It is designed to develop a vibrant retail district featuring a mix of 400 iconic retail, leisure, and dining brands.

The district will emphasize exceptional customer experiences, focusing on pedestrians and offering unparalleled shopping, dining, and living opportunities. Also, the square aims to pioneer the future retail and leisure landscape of the region.

This marks the third major involvement of the Webuild Group in helping to create the unique flagship retail environment in Diriyah.

Salini is already well advanced in constructing a 10,500-space car park beneath Diriyah Square, which will be among the largest in the world.

The car park will include bus stations, dedicated taxi and VIP drop-off areas, and an underground four-lane gyratory connecting the subterranean Masterplan, providing best-in-class vehicle access and customer parking experiences across Diriyah Square.

Salini is also nearing completion of the structural engineering for all above-ground Diriyah Square assets, including the retail spaces, hotels, branded residences, offices, and the Grand Mosque, according to Diriyah Company.

The contract for developing the retail district includes constructing 73 individual buildings and 400 shell-and-core retail units over a built-up area of 365,340 square meters, covering facades, finishes, and fit-outs of the units.

Every building will use traditional Najdi architectural design themes to create a unique pedestrianized retail environment in the heart of Diriyah reflecting 300-years of history and heritage.

Commenting on the latest contract award, Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: “Diriyah Square is one of our most exciting, anticipated, and prestigious districts, and we are extremely pleased to have signed with Salini to deliver it, bringing their immense global experience to the table.”

“It is yet another significant milestone in our development journey and will help set the stage for Diriyah Square’s retail spaces to welcome a diverse array of shoppers from our residential communities, surrounding office spaces, and the millions who visit us every year,” he added.

Webuild CEO Pietro Salini said: “We are proud to contribute to a project of such symbolic and strategic importance to Saudi Arabia.”

“This will further strengthen our presence in the Kingdom and positively impact both the area and the local community,” he stated.

Salini also said: “We are excited about developing this new phase of Diriyah Square, an integral part of an iconic project. The Webuild Group has been present in Saudi Arabia since 1966, delivering more than 90 projects.”

He added that his company will remain committed to supporting the Kingdom in developing some of the world’s most complex infrastructure projects, particularly in areas such as civil buildings, sustainable mobility, and desalination.