Hochtief awarded Riyadh airport contract

expat network

Hochtief awarded Riyadh airport contract

Hochtief, the German construction group has said that it will take the technical and commercial lead in a $1.45 billion King Khaled International Airport expansion project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Hochtief will redesign, upgrade and expand two existing terminals, and demolish and refurbish other parts of the airport infrastructure in a joint venture with Shapoorji Pallonji Mideast L.L.C. and Nahdat Al Emaar, the company said in a statement.

Hochtief has 55% stake in the joint venture. The German contractor was awarded the deal by Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Apart from refurbishing and expanding the existing Terminals 3 and 4, the contract also involves the demolition and reconstruction of the aprons inclusive of apron lighting and fueling facilities.

The contract further covers the construction of new terminal lounges and operation buildings, as well as the installation of baggage handling and security systems. Hochtief will also be responsible for installing IT, fire protection and communication systems at the airport.

Marcelino Fernández Verdes, CEO of Hochtief said: “We are delighted to have won this major contract.

“It reinforces our position as an important infrastructure construction group and shows that our international expertise and the know-how of our engineers in the area of complex, large-scale projects are greatly appreciated by our clients.”

Source: Construction Week Online

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.