Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) has awarded Lebanon's Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) a SR1.4bn ($373m) contract to build its new headquarters building in Al-Ula.

The construction work has started on site, and the project is expected to be completed by the second half of 2026.

UK-based architectural firms Buro Happold and Hopkins Architects are the project architects and consultants.

Canada's AtkinRealis is the project management consultant.

The new headquarters will provide office spaces and facilities for employees and visitors.

Al-Ula agreements

The RCU has signed several other deals in recent months for the development of the Al-Ula region in northwest Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, France’s Alstom announced that its contract to provide a tram system for Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia is worth €500m ($547m). The deal, which was first announced by the RCU in October last year, involves the delivery of a battery-powered tramway that will be the world's longest catenary-free line.

In October last year, the RCU also revealed designs for the second terminal of Al-Ula International airport.

The construction of a new terminal building at the airport forms a critical part of the RCU's airport expansion plans to handle the projected increase in annual passenger capacity.

The announcement came shortly after the RCU announced its partnership with French utility company Suez for the provision of municipal and environmental services in Al-Ula.

The partnership will allow the implementation of strategic development projects and knowledge exchange to improve water and waste management.

The partnership deal was shortly followed by another real estate development announcement by the RCU.

In an official statement released on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the RCU, Al-Ula Development Company and local real estate developer Saudi Real Estate Company (Al-Akaria) said that they had signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the Sidrat Al-Ula project in the Al-Ula governorate.

The Sidrat Al-Ula project will be developed over an area of 26 square kilometres and will comprise 804 residential units, commercial and retail facilities and other amenities.

In April 2021, the RCU unveiled an investment plan worth SR57bn to regenerate the Al-Ula tourism destination in the Medina region.