There are plans to tender four highway projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as part of a pipeline of 200 privatization and PPP projects across 17 sectors rolled out by the National Centre for Privatization and PPP (NCP).
The projects will be procured by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, although the launch dates have so far not been specified.
This quartet of highway PPP projects encompasses:
Jeddah – Makkah Highway
The Jeddah-Makkah Road is 64 kilometers long and features seven interchanges and four camel crossings. The work is being done in three stages totaling 51 kilometers. Construction on Phase 4 has yet to commence, but NCP has stated that the cost will be borne by the government, as it has been for Phases 1–3.
The Ministry intends to acquire O&M services in addition to developing and running Motorway Service Areas (MSA) on the Jeddah-Makkah Road through PPP. Neither the contract duration nor the length of the road to be covered was specified.
The projects will be procured by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services
Yanbu – Jubail Highway
The 447-kilometer highway links Yanbu and Jubail and includes 17 intersections, 14 wildlife crossings, four bridges, one tunnel, and 18 service areas. The construction of 39 kilometers towards Al Zulfi has been completed.
The contract style and duration, as well as the length of the highway to be covered, were not specified by NCP.
Asir – Jazan Highway
The highway will link Asir and Jizan and will be 136 kilometers long, with six intersections, 18 kilometers of bridges, and nine kilometers of tunnels. The undertaking begins in Asir and runs through Jazan to the Red Sea.
A 30-year Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) contract will be procured to fund the contract.
Jeddah – Jazan Highway
The highway will stretch between Jeddah and Jazan and will be 570 kilometers long, with 43 intersections, 11 wildlife crossings, and 29 bridges. The existing 280 kilometers of double lanes will be converted to three lanes as part of the project.
NCP stated that the contract would be for 30 years but did not define the type of PPP contract.