< PreviousTHE NEOM 2022 TIMELINE | GIGAPROJECTS | 10 | GIGIGAPAPROROJEJECTCTS | 10100 7 FEBRUARY NEOM appoints Parsons Corporation to provide project management support in building industrial city OXAGON. 21 MARCH NEOM launches ENOWA to accelerate the development of world-class, smart, and connected energy and water systems. 14 JUNE NEOM awards FCC Construction and Samsung C&T Company JV one of the world’s largest drill and blast tunneling contracts. 3 MARCH HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announces the establishment of TROJENA, the global destination for mountain tourism in NEOM. 5 APRIL ACWA Power signs a $900 million Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) deal for NEOM’s green ammonia project. 16 JUNE ENOWA, ITOCHU, and Veolia signs an MoU to build new generation of desalination plant powered by 100% renewable energy in NEOM. 10| GIGAPROJECTS | 11 | GGIGIGAPAPROROJEJECTCTSS | 11111 25 JULY HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces the designs for THE LINE, the sustainable vertical city in NEOM. 1 NOVEMBER Egis consortium appointed as Independent Safety Assessor for NEOM’s THE LINE. 5 DECEMBER NEOM appoints Betchel as project management consultant for TROJENA. 17 OCTOBER NEOM names its first hotel partner for mountain tourism destination TROJENA. 2 NOVEMBER NEOM invests $175 million in Volocopter to accelerate electric urban air mobility. 5 DECEMBER HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces Sindalah, NEOM’s first island development. 11By 2050, two-thirds of all humanity — approximately 6.5 billion people — will live in urban environments. Yet the sustainable development of new cities cannot be achieved without significantly revolutionising the way we build and manage our urban spaces. That is one of the major opportunities for the region of NEOM, thanks to the scale and investment in the construction of its large infrastructure projects including THE LINE, Oxagon, and Trojena. But that alone is not enough. It is mindset we also need to change. Yes, the construction industry is adopting new technology at a rapid pace. However new technologies won’t make a significant impact if old beliefs and practices are not also replaced. This is why we’re building NEOM with partners who seek to develop and adopt a new mindset. These firms – here in Saudi Arabia and internationally – share our vision for the sustainable development of the sector and the chance to reset and reshape our global industry. There are lessons to be learned from other industries that have developed continuous manufacturing processes with modularisation, allowing for flexible production lines. The car industry is a good example. Each vehicle rolling off an assembly line is different in hundreds of ways, but they are manufactured in a continuous environment. In contrast, designers in our industry are almost universally convinced that their vision is unique. This ripples into the design principles resulting in bespoke building approaches that are then immune to best practices in production techniques. Which is why at NEOM we are anchoring design on structural kits that seem obvious in retrospect but are difficult to imagine in prospect. To us, structure is structure, while form carries the uniqueness. If we can convert what is currently a bespoke construction process into something that is more productised and continuous, then we can start to improve outputs - both here at NEOM and for future urban projects around the world. Take another example: sites themselves. We put up with large, unsightly, emission-intensive construction sites as a taken-for-granted assumption about the built environment. At NEOM our sites are the equivalent of keyhole surgery, that will “roll up” and travel as construction takes place. By the time construction is complete the evidence of the construction will have vanished. This change in mindset allows us to save precious resources such as time, steel, concrete, and overall natural capital. It’s easy to pronounce this NEOM ON RESETTING CONSTRUCTION SECTOR The construction industry is adopting new technology at a rapid pace. However new technologies won’t make a signi cant impact if old beliefs and practices are not also replaced, writes NEOM’s Roger Nickells | OP-ED | 12intention, but as our teams will attest, challenging to adopt. But change we must. The complexity and speed at which we are trying to build everything, whether it’s the port facility at Oxagon or large- scale tourism assets like Trojena, means we can’t work conventionally. Time, geography, and location mean we must transcend conventional approaches and innovate to deliver. We must transform the supply chain while scaling major developments that the world has already generated – whether it’s through digital design, environmental social and governance (ESG) commitments, materials decarbonisation or whole- lifecycle digital management. We’re often asked about what we’re looking for in our partnerships, whether that be investors or contractors. As the reader will gather from the above, the answer is as much about attitude as it is about attributes. Two companies can have similar capabilities. We will choose the one with a constructive, positivist attitude about change. It’s important to emphasize these requirements to those who see themselves as potentially being partners in this ecosystem, working with us and being part of rapid growth in this region. Some will invest, build capacity in-country and all these models are welcome. There will be ways of engaging and maintaining presence, of contributing ideas and propositions; of responding to requirements. At this early stage we are signalling our intentions, and openness to those who are open to invest in learning more about NEOM – and investing in our challenge of overcoming outdated industry beliefs. Yes, these are exhilarating times with much to do. And by leveraging the unprecedented opportunity posed to us thanks to the 4th Industrial Revolution, coupled with strong industry collaborations, we will deliver the vision of NEOM that the world awaits. “THE COMPLEXITY AND SPEED AT WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD EVERYTHING, WHETHER IT’S THE PORT FACILITY AT OXAGON OR LARGE-SCALE TOURISM ASSETS LIKE TROJENA, MEANS WE CAN’T WORK CONVENTIONALLY. WE MUST TRANSCEND CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES AND INNOVATE TO DELIVER.” Roger Nickells, head of Design & Construction, NEOM Roger Nickells is the head of Design & Construction at NEOM. Roger Nickells, head of Design & Construction, NEOM. | OP-ED | 13| COVER STORY | 14 How Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) has been propelling Riyadh’s economy to new heights as the new nancial hub, CEO Gautam Sashittal tells Ranju Warrier | COVER STORY || COVER STORY | 15 King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). [Images: Supplied] | COVER STORY || COVER STORY | 16 Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) was inspired by the late King Abdullah’s vision of creating a new financial district that will propel Riyadh’s economy to new heights. In an exclusive interview with Construction Week Saudi, Gautam Sashittal, CEO of KAFD reveals how the megaproject, owned by Public Investment Fund (PIF), has evolved into a premier business and lifestyle destination that aligns with Vision 2030. What is the significance of KAFD to Riyadh City and more importantly to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? KAFD is part of a sweeping national program to put Riyadh on the global map and to ensure that urban development meet the demands of tomorrow. Foreign investment in the kingdom is rising rapidly, with Riyadh on track to become one of the 10 largest city economies in the world by 2030. The message is clear for international investors: if you want to be part of the growing success of the Saudi market as the most dominant economy in the Arab world, you need to do business in the kingdom. KSA’s profound social and economic transformation translates into significant opportunities in the decade ahead – and KAFD is a key platform to underpin this economic growth as the kingdom’s, and in fact, the wider region’s, leading financial centre and natural hub for businesses. Similarly, KAFD is designed and managed as the urban destination of choice. As governments invest increasingly in technology for connected urban development, the global demand for smart city systems and solutions is estimated to increase by 25% year- on-year. KAFD is the kingdom’s first example of a smart city and our work continues to emphasise solutions that ensure ease of city-wide navigation, wellbeing and optimised visitor, resident and tenant experiences. As a vertical city and the example of the kingdom’s new urban living potential, KAFD offers Riyadh businesses and residents an optimised modus operandi. As the largest mixed-use financial district in the world to achieve LEED- Platinum certification, what are some of the sustainable elements you’ve considered for KAFD? Saudi Arabia has made an ambitious pledge to have 50% of its power come from renewable sources by 2030, and to reach net zero by 2060. KAFD is committed to supporting these targets and in fact has sustainability built into the core of its infrastructure. Some of our energy-efficient building initiatives include district cooling plants that reduce the energy consumption required for cooling by up to 30%, the use of LED streetlights instead of conventional lighting, and the installation of renewable energy sources such as solar panels in several of our towers. KAFD is also equipped with a site-wide automated waste collection system that collects and segregates recyclable waste, eliminating the use of garbage trucks on KAFD is designed and managed as the urban destination of choice.| COVER STORY | 17 the streets and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, most of KAFD’s internal access roads are paved with concrete and have a high Solar Reflective Index (SRI) value, which reduces the “heat island effect” and therefore ensures cooler temperatures. In addition to infrastructure, KAFD’s urban design also plays an important role in our sustainability agenda. In order to minimise land footprint and avoid urban sprawl, KAFD’s many skyscrapers encourage vertical living, while smart city amenities like multi-modal transport and mobility options provide connectivity throughout the district. We’re very proud of our district-wide LEED certification, and recognition KAFD is the largest mixed-use nancial district in the world to achieve LEED-Platinum certi cation. KAFD’s masterplan emphasises connectivity within the district.| COVER STORY | 18 as a leader in sustainability. KAFD is operated with sustainability at the forefront of our agenda. This has spilled over into an emphasis on walkability and healthy living with greening initiatives of all KAFD public spaces. What is KAFD doing for city connectivity? We consider KAFD to be an embodiment of the 15-minute city concept, in which most daily necessities can be accomplished by either walking or cycling. The 15-minute city is the answer to many of today’s challenges around efficient land use and the need to maximise density in a more climate-friendly and sustainable way. People who live or work in KAFD get to experience this concept on a daily basis, but visitors have the opportunity to see it first-hand, as well. That’s because connectivity is a hallmark of KAFD’s distinctive urban design. Features such as open promenades, a dedicated shuttle service for tenants and temperature-controlled pedestrian skywalks make it easy and comfortable to move throughout the city. The skywalk network creates direct elevated links between buildings throughout KAFD, while offering quick access to the metro station and bus terminals. One of our most popular attractions is The Wadi, a 2,000-meter- long pedestrian zone that sits 5.5 meters below street level, which creates a naturally cooler zone for the public to enjoy and explore. Finally, while KAFD’s masterplan emphasises connectivity within the district, it also ensures the district is well-connected to key destinations in and KAFD is the kingdom’s rst example of a smart city.| COVER STORY | 19 around Riyadh. KAFD’s metro station, which is an architectural marvel as well as a vital transport hub – designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, when operational will provide direct access to locations around the city, including King Khalid International Airport. As the next financial hub in the kingdom, how is KAFD helping realise the Vision 2030 goals? Saudi Arabia is the economic powerhouse of the Middle East region with a bold program of economic and social transformation: Vision 2030. As one of the most ambitious mega-developments in the world, KAFD is a landmark project and the first tangible manifestation of this vision – helping the kingdom fulfill the dream of an ambitious nation, with a thriving economy and a vibrant society. KAFD’s unique mixed-use design, which includes state-of-the-art office spaces, exclusive retail and lifestyle experiences, and a vibrant residential community, is a catalyst for growth that is already creating jobs, helping to diversify the economy and generating significant value for the kingdom. Many companies are opening their Middle East headquarters in KAFD. What opportunities does KAFD offer these businesses? There are many reasons why companies benefit from being headquartered at KAFD, and while each reason is compelling on its own, taken together the upsides are hard to deny. First, KAFD’s unique facilities – from cutting-edge connectivity and technical infrastructure to premium office spaces – allow businesses to maximise their growth opportunities. Next, at KAFD foreign investors across a broad array of industries can put their offices right next to those of many of the kingdom’s key economic decision makers, creating an unparalleled environment for business growth and national development. Moreover, as an inter-connected smart city, we have access to a wide range of data about visitors, residents and tenants that can help businesses and local authorities to tailor their services more closely to meet local needs. This is an area that we will see grow rapidly in the next few years, providing vast opportunities for companies to learn and grow. Gautam Sashittal, CEO, KAFD.Next >