PR92631

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- The Royal Commission for AlUla signs landmark agreements with global

infrastructure firm AECOM and an international French consortium comprising

Egis, Assystem and Setec during the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh

- World-class program management expertise combined with design and delivery

experience on complex, large-scale projects accelerate RCU’s rapid progress in

responsible, sustainable and community-inclusive development

- Initially the program management team will implement Phase 1 of the RCU

masterplan worth USD 15Bn including the 20km length of AlUla’s core historical

area and encompassing key development projects for infrastructure, hospitality,

arts & culture, and social and community development.

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed two landmark strategic

partnerships that will further accelerate the regeneration of AlUla as it moves

from the planning stage to implementation following the launch of its

masterplan in April, 2021.

The agreements with global infrastructure firm AECOM and an international

French consortium comprising Egis, Assystem and Setec set out a comprehensive

development timeline based around three phases that lead up to 2035.

Phase 1 development amounts to SAR 57+ Bn / USD 15+ Bn invested in AlUla’s core

20km historical area. This incorporates social, economic and sustainability

projects in five unique hubs with a focus on infrastructure, hospitality, arts

& culture, and social and community development.

Signing the agreements at the fifth edition of the Future Investment Initiative

(FII) in Riyadh, RCU CEO Amr AlMadani said: “These new long-term strategic

partnerships are critical to realising our ambition of creating a global

benchmark for sustainable tourism. Our new partners will be instrumental in

helping us deliver a detailed and certified plan. While our focus is set on

Phase 1, we will ramp up our integrated approach towards the development of

Phases 2 and 3 to drive traffic and sustain a regular flow of tourists in the

long run.

“As we develop infrastructure and other assets that will help to establish

AlUla as an exciting business hub servicing the northwest Arabia region, we

require world-class partners such as these who will be with us for the long

haul and who share our desire to benefit the people of AlUla while creating

unforgettable experiences for visitors.”

These partnerships will accelerate business and investment opportunities from

2022 onwards and demonstrate the pace of progress to revitalise AlUla as a

responsible, sustainable and community-inclusive destination.

AECOM President Lara Poloni said: “AlUla is one of the world’s largest and most

complex development projects, home to more than 30,000 sites of historical

significance, and we are proud to help realize the city’s vision for the

future. In partnership with RCU, we look forward to leveraging our global

program management and technical expertise to deliver a sustainable legacy that

transforms AlUla for generations to come.”

AECOM will provide a range of integrated services across the entire AlUla

program. These include executive-level program management to integrate all

workstreams and major initiatives across RCU to implement the AlUla vision and

outcomes, as well as a project delivery office that will work with RCU to

implement best practices and delivery from design to construction and

operation.

AECOM will also lead all design activities from setting standards, delivering

the digital ecosystem, leading innovation, managing designers and delivering

scopes. Further, asset and facilities management will be provided for the

project lifecycle along with the benchmarking and development of smart city

plans and projects.

Creating opportunities for the local community is a core aspect of AlUla’s

development plan and AECOM’s approach. AECOM has already invested in training

400 residents to achieve professional vocational qualifications and will

provide additional professional skills development and knowledge transfer

opportunities both for residents and those relocating to AlUla for work.

Speaking on behalf of the French consortium, Egis Group CEO Laurent Germain

said: “Our three highly regarded firms - Egis, Assystem and Setec - are

unified, committed and eager to showcase our capabilities. As longstanding

members of the Saudi business community, we are excited to be part of the

development of AlUla.”

The French Agency for the Development of AlUla (Afalula) was instrumental in

bringing together the French consortium. Afalula Executive Chairman Gérard

Mestrallet said: “Today’s agreement deepens the Saudi-Franco partnership at

AlUla and across other projects in Saudi Arabia. It also attests to the depth

and strength of French engineering and infrastructure expertise to confront the

most challenging aspects of responsible and sustainable development.”

The Egis-led consortium brings infrastructure programme management and

construction management capabilities to support on-time delivery of AlUla’s

most urgent projects and long-term development. As such, it offers a new

perspective on infrastructure delivery defined by a coordinated approach. A

core team will be based in AlUla including high-level specialists for

engineering, construction and operations management and a range of

international experts to bridge any knowledge gaps.

AECOM and the French consortium share the values of AlUla’s Sustainability

Charter which, through its 12 principles of sustainability, will empower the

realisation of a carbon-neutral strategy and circular economy. It will also

establish robust and resilient policies for the development of AlUla’s heritage

and environmental targets fuelled by renewable energy with 500-plus megawatts

of clean power capacity.  By 2035 renewable energy will supply 50 percent of

demand.

Since unveiling its Journey through time masterplan in April 2021, the RCU has

made significant progress on its journey to developing AlUla as a living museum

while diversifying the economy and creating a vibrant community.

USD 2 Bn has been invested in key development projects including expanding

AlUla International Airport, completing the stunning and architecturally

awarded Maraya multi-se venue, completing water and power-plant infrastructure

in the Ashar Valley, and bolstering AlUla County’s security infrastructure.

Upon completion of the development strategy in 2035, RCU envisions the emerging

city of AlUla defined by a thriving community and its ability to support

residents’ ambitions, where service excellence is the norm and creativity

drives a culture of adaptability and flexibility.

By 2035 RCU forecasts that the population will more than triple to 130,000 with

38,000 new jobs created and AlUla contributing SAR 120 Bn (USD 32 Bn) to Saudi

Arabia’s GDP. Additionally, 80 percent of AlUla County will be home to nature

reserves, with key flora and fauna reintroduced.

To learn more about investing in AlUla, visit

https://www.rcu.gov.sa/en/investment

For media enquiries please contact the RCU Public Relations team at

publicrelations@rcu.gov.sa

Note to editors:

It is always AlUla / not Al-Ula

About the Royal Commission for AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July

2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and

cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU’s long-term plan outlines

a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic

development, that preserves the area’s natural and historic heritage, while

establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This

encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture,

education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic

diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation

priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s most trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering

professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from planning, design

and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning

transportation, buildings, water, energy and the environment, our public- and

private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our

teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our

unrivalled technical expertise and innovation, a culture of equity, diversity

and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance

priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business

had revenue of $13.2 billion in fiscal year 2020. See how we are delivering

sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

About EGIS

A major international group in the construction engineering and mobility

services sectors, Egis creates and operates intelligent infrastructure and

buildings capable of responding to the climate emergency and addressing the

major challenges of our time by helping to achieve more balanced, sustainable

and resilient territorial development.

A 75%-owned subsidiary of Causse des Dépôts, with the remaining 25% held by

partner executives and employees, Egis places its multiple fields of expertise

at the disposal of the community and makes cutting-edge innovation accessible

to all projects throughout their lifecycle: consulting, engineering, operation.

Through its wide-ranging fields of activity, Egis is a central player in the

collective organisation of society and the living environment of its

inhabitants all over the world.

About SETEC

Setec is ranked as a global engineering leader thanks to its technical

excellence, which has driven its ambitions for more than 60 years.

With 3,300 employees around the world working in numerous sectors, ranging from

transportation, water and buildings to energy efficiency, digital

infrastructure and industrial facilities, setec serves a growing base of

customers.

Setec is also an independent group owned by its engineers, with an energy and

excellence fuelled by the passion of its employees. setec people continually

enhance their expertise to design, model and implement sustainable solutions

for a changing world. Their curiosity and appetite for challenge allows setec

to invent new businesses and innovative approaches entirely focused on meeting

the needs of its customers.

About Assystem

Assystem is an international engineering group. As a key participant in the

industry for over 50 years, the Group supports its clients in managing their

capital expenditure throughout their asset life cycles. Assystem S.A. is listed

on Euronext Paris.

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Source: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)