PROJECTS: Saudi’s Diriyah Gate expects to issue $6bln tenders after summer – Group CEO

PROJECTS: Saudi’s Diriyah Gate expects to issue $6bln tenders after summer – Group CEO

"We still have to get formal approval on the budget, but we expect the tender figures to be about $6 billion for the next year," he said in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

The 300-year-old Ad-Diriyah, located just outside of Riyadh, is considered to be the birthplace and capital of the first Saudi state.

"The tenders include a sizable number of residential contracts, eight museums, hotels, restaurants, retail, the new souks, two spectacular mosques (King Salman Mosque and Grand Mosque), and the new King Salman University," said Inzerillo.

He disclosed that the museums are in the design stage while other [buildings] are in the expression of interest or construction tendering stage.

"We have our board meeting on 24 May, and then we will get the permission to release further information on the details of the museums and other projects. We have the land assignments and know the footprints, but they are still being nailed down a bit more from their original mission statements."

He pointed out that DGDA awarded almost $4 billion in contracts so far this year.

"Of this, $2 billion contracts were awarded in infrastructure to prepare the city for 7 million visitors. Some of the work