NEOM Starts Construction of Housing Complexes to Accommodate Over 30,000 Workers

Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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NEOM Starts Construction of Housing Complexes to Accommodate Over 30,000 Workers

Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Parties signing a contract to construct residential complexes in NEOM (Asharq Al-Awsat)

NEOM City has started building the residential area by awarding contracts for construction, financing, and operation of residential complexes to two national companies.

These contracts are NEOM’s first investment opportunities offered to construction companies to work on the project.

The residential area will provide workers with a lifestyle aimed at creating a healthy working environment in line with NEOM's objectives, as life quality is one of the project’s main pillars.

Two Saudi companies, Al-Tamimi Group and Saudi Arabian Trading & Construction Co. (SATCO), won contracts for the construction of the complexes, with a capacity to house over 30,000 workers.

The contract allows the companies to operate the housing for 10 years.

The areas will be part of a “Construction Village,” which NEOM plans to expand to accommodate more than 100,000 workers.

The residential area is an extension of other logistics facilities to facilitate the movement of construction workers to the project site.

This was preceded by the opening of “NEOM Bay” Airport to be a commercial airport with regular weekly flights connecting NEOM with the capital, Riyadh.

“We expect the work on developing such a project to last for many years, so moving to NEOM for work and life for a long time is critical,” NEOM Chief Executive Nadhmi al-Nasr said.

For this reason, he added: “We were keen to provide high life quality for whoever moves to work and live there and provide an investment opportunity for developers in line with NEOM’s objectives to attract investors.”

“The awarding of these contracts is another milestone in our journey to turn the NEOM dream into a reality,” Nasr noted.

Such a megaproject “requires manpower to settle there for years to come,” he stressed.



Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
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Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA

Kuwait's foreign ministry issued on Sunday a circular indicating that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.”

Lebanon's health ministry expressed surprise and said it would seek clarification.

It said it received the Kuwaiti statement "with great surprise", adding it had not been provided with "any information or notification from any Kuwaiti entity about this matter.”

"The hospitals mentioned in the statement are registered with the syndicate of private hospitals in Lebanon and carry out their role in providing treatment and health services to all Lebanese without exception," the ministry statement said.

It called the facilities "an essential part of the Lebanese health system,” and said it would contact the relevant authorities to request clarification and "protect Lebanon's health system.”

It noted that "Kuwait has numerous joint projects with the ministry... and has been among the most prominent countries that have stood by the health system during the successive crises that Lebanon has faced.”

The latest move was "unprecedented and inconsistent" with the Gulf country's usual approach, it added.


Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Ramiro Martínez in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed developments of mutual interest.


Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
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Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed developments in Syria.