Rua Al Madinah Holding, a unit of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has awarded contracts worth more than 5.3 billion Saudi riyals ($1.41 billion) for the Rua Al Madinah project, a massive development close to the Prophet’s Mosque comprising hotels and other infrastructure, according to its chief executive.
Ahmed Al Juhani told the Future Hospitality Summit in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday that Rua Al Madinah is “actually an urban development within the city of Madinah … there has been a lot of work that has been done on the ground as part of the project”.
“We have ongoing right now values of contracts and the execution of more than 5.3 billion riyals,” he added.
Last year, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the project, which is located to the east of the Prophet’s Mosque.
Once completed, the development will boost the area's capacity, allowing it to host up to 30 million Umrah pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported at the time.
The construction project is part of development efforts by the PIF in line with the kingdom's Vision 2030.
As part of the project, which will be built over 1.5 million square metres, 47,000 new hotel rooms will be available by 2030.
“We actually took over the land and made all the detours around the urban development and completed the design of 5,000 rooms,” Mr Al Juhani said.
It has also signed a hotel management agreement with three companies, including Marriott, Accord and Hyatt, to manage hotels.
“We also have 7,000 hotel rooms in the concept stage and another 8,000 rooms will start design in November. So we are talking about 20,000 rooms before year end in different stages, in design or under construction or in the middle of design,” Mr Al Juhani said.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme is rapidly transforming the country's economy as it aims to reduce dependence on oil, nurture domestic industries, boost jobs and diversify revenue.
The country is developing a number of new projects, including Neom – a $500 billion futuristic city comprising a nature reserve, coral reefs and heritage sites spread over roughly 50 islands in the Red Sea – as well as a mega entertainment and sports project called Qiddiya in the capital.
“Madinah is a very old city with more than 3,000 years of history with hundreds of thousands of visitors visiting the mosque every day … we have a lot of logistical issues. However, we have a plan to deliver this massive project,” Mr Al Juhani said.
Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector will grow an average 11 per cent annually over the next decade, making it the Middle East's fastest-growing market, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
By 2032, the sector’s contribution to Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product could reach nearly 635 billion riyals, representing 17.1 per cent of the kingdom's total economy, the council said in a July 2022 report.
Brief scoreline:
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Huddersfield 0
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Heather, the Totality
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The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
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Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
More on Quran memorisation:
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
