Building Saudi’s super cities

Each week Arabian Business turns the spotlight on a leading company.

Anything to do with Ras Al Khaimah?

That's a fair enough question - most companies that begin with those three letters do tend to come from the emirate. In this case, though, you're wrong. Over the last 13 years, Saudi Arabia's Rakisa Holding Company has invested in a number of telecommunications and infrastructure projects throughout the KSA and neighbouring GCC countries.

So it's a big player?

Through its various investments, Rakisa has helped create 60,000 job opportunities, and generate revenues in excess of US$5.8bn, as well as manage assets in excess of US$1.3bn. Rakisa is also the consortium leader for the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Mousaed Economic City in Hail, KSA.

Even I've heard of that...

The US$8bn development will include a new airport as well as industrial and residential areas. To be developed entirely with private funds over a period of 10 years, it is envisaged as an integrated commerce and industry hub stretching across 156 million sq m of land in the north of the Kingdom.

It will incorporate a cluster-based development comprising transportation, logistics and supply chain centres; educational services; agricultural and food processing services; mining and commerce services; housing; and infrastructure.