King Abdullah Economic City

Infobox City
official_name = King Abdullah Economic City
مدينة الملك عبدالله الإقتصادية




mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of King Abdullah Economic City
image_caption = The Gate to King Abdullah Economic City
subdivision_type = Province
subdivision_name = Makkah Province
leader_title =
leader_name =
area_note =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 173
area_land_km2 = 168
area_water_km2 = 5
population_as_of = Projected
population_total = 2000000
population_metro = 3807000
population_density_km2 =
utc_offset = +3
timezone =
latitude =
longitude =
website = [http://www.kingabdullahcity.com/en/ King Abdullah Economic City]
footnotes =

King Abdullah Economic City (abbreviated as KAEC; pronounced CAKE) ( _ar. مدينة الملك عبدالله اللإقتصادية) is a mega project revealed in 2005 by Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia.

Overview

With a total development area of 173 km² (66.8 sq mi), the city is located along the coast of the Red Sea, around 100 km north of Jeddah, the commercial hub of the kingdom, the city is also going to be approximately an hour away from the holy Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina by car. And as reportedly an hour away of all Middle Eastern capital cities by plane. The total cost of the city is $26.6 billion (around SR 100 billion), with the project being built by Emaar, The Economic City. A Tadawul-listed company created from Emaar Properties, a Dubai-based Public Joint Stock Company and one of the world’s largest real estate companies, and SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority) which is the main facilitator of the project.

The city, along with other five economic cities, is a part of an ambitious "10×10" program to place Saudi Arabia among the world’s top ten competitive investment destinations by the year 2010, planned by SAGIA. The first stage of the city is planned to be completed in 2010, while the whole city is going to be fully completed by 2020. The city will help diversify the oil-based economy of the kingdom by bringing direct foreign and domestic investments. The city also will help create up to one million jobs for the youthful population of the country, where 40% of the population are under 15 [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7446923.stm|title=BBC - New cities rise from Saudi desert] [cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/business/worldbusiness/20saudi.html?ref=business&pagewanted=all|title=New York Times - The Construction Site Called Saudi Arabia] .

City Components

The city is divided into six main components: Industrial Zone, Sea Port, Residential Areas, Sea Resort, Educational Zone, and a Central Business District (CBD) which includes the Financial Island [cite web|url=http://www.kingabdullahcity.com/en|title=King Abdullah Economic City official website] .

Industrial Zone

The Industrial Zone is estimated to cover 63 million m². The 4,400 hectares of land will be dedicated to industrial and light manufacturing facilities - identified as key growth drivers for the Saudi economy - and can now host 2,700 industrial tenants. The jobs created estimated to be in industrial and light industries (330,000); research and development (150,000); business and office (200,000); services (115,000); hospitality (60,000) and education and community services (145,000). The "Plastics Valley" planned within the zone will use raw materials readily available in Saudi Arabia to produce high-end plastics used in automotive, biomedical, construction and food packaging industries.

Sea Port

The Sea Port is estimated to cover 13.8 million sq meters, it will be the largest in the region with a capacity of over TEU|10 million|first=yes of containers per year. The port will have facilities to handle cargo and dry bulk, and will be equipped to receive the world’s largest vessels. Another key component of the Port will be a custom-built Hajj Terminal with a capacity to handle up to 300,000 pilgrims on their way to Mecca and Medina, the holy Muslim cities.

Residential Areas

The residential area is planned to include 260,000 apartments and 56,000 villas. It will be divided into smaller residential, commercial, and recreational areas. Parks and green spaces will be used extensively throughout the residential area. The area is estimated to be home for around half a million residents, and another ten thousand tourists. Each district would feature its own public amenities, such as mosques, shops and recreational venues.

Sea Resort

The Resorts Area will be designed to feature services and amenities, hoping to draw both local and international tourists. Set to become a major destination on the map of Saudi Arabia and the map of the Middle East as a whole. It will include hotels, shopping centers and other recreational facilities. The number of hotel rooms and suites are proposed to be 25,000 hotel rooms in more than 120 hotels.Among the tourist draws at the resort is an 18-hole golf course, with training facilities and driving range. An equestrian club, yacht club and a range of water sports will also be constructed.

Educational Zone

The Educational Zone is a part of plan to bring the Saudis capabilities and aspirations in technology to globally competitive levels. The Educational Zone is planned to consist of multi-university campus flanked by two Research & Development parks. The multi-university campus is designed to accommodate 18,000 students, and a 7,500 faculty and staff members.

Central Business District

The Central Business District (CBD) is planned to offer 3.8 million m² of office space, hotels and mixed-use commercial space. The Financial Island, within the CBD, has now been doubled in area to cover 14 hectares of land, which will be the largest regional financial nerve center for the world’s leading banks, investment houses and insurance groups.

Developments

On June 12, 2008, King Abdullah visited the city and evaluated the progress. He also inaugurated projects and initiatives with a total worth of $35 billion (SR 130 billion) [cite web|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/164440.html|title=AME Info - Emaar, E.C. celebrates SR 1 bn sales from the residential units in KAEC] . These projects include [cite web|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/press_releases/detail/20877|title=Arabian Business - King Abdullah visits KAEC; evaluates progress achieved] :
* Science and Research Complex.
* Colombia University.
* Thunderbird University.
* Environment Protection Centre.
* Ethraa, The Smart City.
* Health Care City.
* KAEC Media City.
* The Cadre Technical City.
* EMAL International Aluminum Smelter factory.
* Total Oil factory.
* Holiday Inn Express Hotel.
* Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Resort.The king also inaugurated the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) earlier this year. The university is 20 km away south of the city in the village of Thuwal. It is planned to open in late 2009.

Emaar, E.C. and SAGIA have also signed several memorandums of understanding (MoU) and contracts with international and local developers in many fields. These developers include:

* Ericsson, to supply, build, integrate operate and manage multiplay end-to-end fixed broadband network. [cite web|url=http://www.ericsson.com/ericsson/press/releases/20080828-1246724.shtml|title=Ericsson - Ericsson in exclusive broadband deal for flagship Saudi tech city] .
* Cisco Systems, to design infrastructure for IT networks in the city. [cite web|url=http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2008/prod_020108.html|title=Cisco Systems - Cisco to Design Infrastructure Network for KAEC] .
* GEMS World Academy, to design, build, and operate the first school in the city which will be opened by September 2009. [cite web|url=http://www.gemseducation.com/server.php?show=nav.001008009|title=GEMS Education - GEMS World Academy, KAEC, Saudi Arabia]
* StrateSphere Enterprises and PolymerOhio, to develop KAEC Plastics Valley [cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=6&section=0&article=112235|title=Arab News - Emaar signs MoU for KAEC Plastics Valley] .
* CEMCCO, to develop infrastructure for the Industrial Zone [cite web|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/press_releases/detail/12388|title=Arabian Business - Emaar, E.C. awards SR 115 million contract to CEMCCO] .
* DP World, to develop KAEC Sea Port to be the largest in the Red Sea and one of the top 10 largest ports in the world with a capacity to handle 20 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) [cite web|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/press_releases/detail/15680|title=Arabian Business - Emaar, E.C. and DP World sign MoU to KAEC Sea Port] .
* Mars GCC, to establish its own manufacturing facility in the Industrial Zone [cite web|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/164148.html|title=AME Info - Emaar, E.C. signs MoU with Mars GCC to establish manufacturing facility] .
* Capri Capital Partners, to develop a mixed-use project with a total worth of $ 2 bn (SR 7.5) [cite web|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/164148.html|title=AME Info - Emaar, E.C. joins hands with Capri Capital to develop a mixed-use project in KAEC] .
* Freyssinet Saudi Arabia, to develop the Business Park at Bay La Sun Village [cite web|url=http://www.emaar.com/MediaCenter/PressReleases/2008April16.asp|title=Emaar Properties - Emaar.E.C awards a contract to Freyssinet Saudi Arabia for second phase of Business Park in KAEC] .
* Bin Laden Group, to construct 16 residential towers within Bay La Sun Village. The towers are scheduled for completion in September 2009 [cite web|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/154845.html|title=AME Info - Emaar.E.C awards SR1.4bn contract to Saudi Bin Laden Group to construct 16 residential towers in KAEC] .
* Siemens, to undertake the electrical transmission and distribution (T&D) works for the first phase of KAEC. The work is scheduled to be completed by 2010. [cite web|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/169283.html|title=AME Info - Emaar, The Economic City awards electrical transmission and distribution contract for KAEC to Siemens] .

Emaar, E.C has also launched two residential areas, Bay La Sun Village [cite web|url=http://www.emaar.com/MediaCenter/PressReleases/2007September5.asp|title=Emaar - Emaar, E.C. unveils Bay La Sun Village at KAEC] , and Esmeralda Suburb [cite web|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/157234.html|title= AME Info - Emaar, E.C. launches Esmeralda Suburb] which includes a golf community. Both of the areas received an overwhelming response from investors. Bay La Sun is in itself a fully integrated community that includes several new initiatives including:
* Raffles International School [cite web|url=http://www.eyeofdubai.com/v1/news/newsdetail-22533.htm|title= Eye Of Dubai - Emaar, E.C. & Raffles International sign deal to open premier educational institute in KAEC] .
* Bay La Sun Business Park.
* Bay La Sun Hotel and Mall, which were also inaugurated by the king when he visited the city.

Main Developers

* Emaar, The Economic City.
* SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority).
* Emaar Properties.
* Bin Laden Group.
* Savola.
* Al Muhaidib.

See also

* Saudi Arabia
* King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

Notes and References

External links

* [http://www.kingabdullahcity.com/en/ City's Project Site]
* [http://www.rabigh.com Rabigh city]