Riyadh – Mubasher: NEOM Co. awarded a contract to US-based Bechtel for executive project management work on the development of the primary and base infrastructure for NEOM.

Bechtel will provide design, construction, and project management services and will oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a cutting-edge transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities, according to a recent press release.

NEOM’s next-generation cognitive cities will promote its state-of-the-art urban environments and improve the lives of residents and businesses far beyond the capabilities of today’s smart cities.

“Built from the ground up as a model of future living, NEOM will be one of the largest, most sophisticated, and advanced infrastructure projects ever undertaken globally, and we are delighted to have a major industry leader like Bechtel on board to work with us to realize our ambitions,” said NEOM CEO, Nadhmi Al Nasr.

For his part, Bechtel Chairman and CEO, Brendan Bechtel commented, “NEOM is one of the most complex projects in living memory and we are proud to be part of it. The vision for a futuristic, innovative, and sustainable ecosystem is unique and bold, and we believe NEOM will change the way new cities are developed by future generations.”

Bechtel has in-depth experience of working in the kingdom as it had helped its customers shape the kingdom’s history with many high-profile Saudi projects, including the Jubail Industrial City and the Riyadh metro.

This year, NEOM signed a contract with the Saudi Telecom Company (stc) to set up a 5G network infrastructure and further sealed a $5-billion partnership with US-based Air Products and Saudi Acwa Power to develop the world’s largest green hydrogen and green ammonia plant scheduled to be onstream in 2025.