FAKHER AL SHAWAF
General Manager, Al Bawani Company

30 MAY 2018:

We stand on the cusp of one of the world’s largest ever integrated transport projects. In your opinion, what are the social and economic implications of this mega project?

It will bring the capital into line with state-of-the art transportation systems around the world, freeing up space on our roads and improving safety per passenger mile. We do not see this as a replacement for the car, which is central to life in Saudi Arabia, but as a useful complement to it, to prevent gridlock in coming years and to offer a safer, more sustainable alternative for the public. As more Saudis join the workforce, it will help create a new mental attitude towards the daily commute, and will free up increasingly scarce resources to allow families to invest in education and housing rather than multiple family cars.

What are likely to be the long-term impacts of the project on Saudi Arabia’s construction and contracting industry?

It’s important to realise the giant leap forward taken by the scale of operations supported by the Riyadh Metro Project and associated Park and Ride facilities. Riyadh will become more densely populated as the route to Vision 2030 is achieved, with more people living here and more visitors year-on-year. It is important to facilitate the construction project traffic required to bring this vision into reality, and the Metro is the primary means of doing this.

What message does the Riyadh Metro project send out to the world not only about the Kingdom’s ability to plan, implement and deliver complex mega transport schemes, but also develop skilled Saudi cadres?

The Kingdom’s unparalleled strength is its ability to swiftly take decisions, set tight deadlines, choose the right partners and see projects through to completion. Al Bawani is very happy to play its part in bringing the King’s vision to completion. In terms of work executed, the Metro sends the message that the Kingdom can carry out far-sighted infrastructural work to the highest standards, setting great safety records and minimising unnecessary disturbance for the work duration, with all major routes remaining functional. Together, these indicators show the Kingdom’s commitment to the highest standards of professionalism when executing civil transportation infrastructure works.

What are some of the major milestones for Al Bawani on the project to date?

Al Bawani is pleased to have worked with and learn from the high standards expected from both BACS and FAST consortia. We have set high benchmarks and achieved excellent results in both these projects, as evidenced by our health and safety awards.