50th Edition special: Meet the Top 30 Construction Firms in Saudi Arabia in 2024

This week's newsletter marks the 50th edition of The Construction Digest, and it's a special one. To mark the occasion, we're sharing our roundup of the top 30 construction firms in Saudi Arabia right now.

We also want to thank our newsletter subscribers — all 124,000 of you! — for taking the time to read and share your thoughts every week on what's happening in the construction industry in the Middle East.

In 2024, the annual ranking of the top 30 construction contractors in Saudi Arabia resurfaces, shedding light on the largest and most influential firms in the kingdom.

As timelines tighten and activity surges on the gigaprojects driving Vision 2030, Construction Week Middle East engages with the companies driving Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation away from oil, via their extensive work across thousands of project sites nationwide.

The compilation process involved reaching out to domestic contractors within the kingdom and distributing a questionnaire focusing on four key criteria: notable achievements in the past 12 months, projects completed within the 2023-2024 timeframe, current backlogs, and 2023 revenue.

Subsequently, the editorial team meticulously curated the gathered data, leveraging publicly available information and their own expertise to identify the most dynamic construction firms in the kingdom, culminating in the final rankings.

Please note that the editorial team only considered contractors that are originally established in the kingdom.

From gigaprojects to infrastructure, these are the players you need to know — and collaborate with.

1. Nesma & Partners

Nesma & Partners , a forefront constructor in Saudi Arabia, has seen remarkable growth and achievements throughout the past year, notably with the acquisition of Kent, a global engineering and project management leader in the energy sector, in January 2024. This strategic move not only broadens their market access but also underscores a shared dedication to sustainable development and local content enhancement through initiatives like the Local Supplier Development Program.

Furthermore, the company’s focus on training and development is evident through the Nesma High Training Institute (NHTI), which has equipped over 16,000 Saudi youth with essential skills since its inception in 2012. This further emphasises its role in nurturing local talent and contributing to the kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The company’s commitment to safety has led to over 125 million safe man-hours across various projects, reinforcing its industry leadership in safety standards. Their project portfolio showcases their capability to execute complex projects with precision, including the completed Red Sea Airport Airside and Samhan Carpark, AlUla developments, Trojena Base Camps, as well as vital installations for Saudi Aramco. Projects like the Riyadh Metro Line 3, the MASAR KAAR Project in Makkah, and NEOM Staff Accommodation Villages demonstrate significant progress, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and visionary goals.

Moreover, ongoing endeavours like the Ministry of Defence airbases, the Sindalah Island development, King Salman Park, and the Avenues highlight Nesma & Partners’ versatile project management skills, which aim to improve community, tourism, and the kingdom’s security.

2. El Seif Engineering Contracting

Established in 1975, El Seif Engineering Contracting is one of the oldest and most respected engineering and construction companies with a long, rich history of delivering mega and gigaprojects that have transformed the skylines of the kingdom and the region’s major urban centres.

A world class provider of engineering and construction, El Seif is heavily invested in innovation and digital technologies—first in the country to implement Oracle Fusion, transforming to an efficient back office on cloud to support growth and scale in the future and ensure productive virtual operations.

It is also the first in the country to achieve BIM ISO 19650, a benchmark for excellence in digital engineering and virtual project delivery, and first to implement a company-wide full (AI) EPC digital transformation.

The company specialises in heavy civil and infrastructure, iconic buildings and high rise public works, defence, and special projects.

A leading player in the construction of Vision 2030, El Seif’s diversified portfolio has over 23,000 people currently delivering over $10.7 billion (SAR 40 billion) of reference landmark projects.

Some of El Seif’s iconic and transformational projects include The Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, and more recently, the Diriyah infrastructure and tunnels, the Qiddiya water theme park—largest in the MENA region, and the Formula 1 speedpark gigaprojects, underpass and tunnels at Sports Boulevard, King Salman Park’s recently opened Abu Bakr road tunnel, the longest in the city, design build precast concrete factories including production for NEOM, and Aramco’s PPP project at Tanajib village, in addition to public sector military and defence megaprojects.

7. Construction & Planning Co. (C&P)

Over the past year, Construction & Planning Co. Ltd. (C&P?) has cemented its position as a leading contractor in Saudi Arabia, achieving significant success across a variety of megaprojects and endeavours.

Notable achievements include being appointed as the main contractor for the Riyadh Air HQ megaproject and Osool’s ECI Digital City 02 megaproject, alongside First Avenue’s upcoming business hub in Riyadh, which spans over 34,000m2, and the much anticipated La Perle Mall by Oud in Jeddah.

The company has also completed the design and fit-out of several prestigious headquarters, including Red Sea Global, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Buro Happold, and UCI, amongst others, further showcasing its expertise in delivering highquality, sustainable spaces.

C&P’s commitment to sustainability is evident through its certification of projects with LEED standards, which supports Vision 2030’s sustainability goals. This commitment and the launch of new subsidiaries—CRAFTED, The Joinery Factory by C&P, The Quarry, and BACH United Industrial Co.—highlight its continuous growth and diversification.

With a total built-up area exceeding 252,000m2 for projects delivered over the past 12 months and further portfolio diversification including strategic partnerships such as the one with Ayana Holding, a premium UAE-based company for real estate development, the launch of an aluminium and glass production factory in Riyadh, a new HQ in Egypt, and the acquisition of a logistics company in China, C&P is poised for further success.

8. Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting

Maintaining its position from the past two years, AL-AYUNI Investment and Contracting Company continues to excel as a Riyadh-based contractor since its establishment in 2006. Renowned for its expertise in roads, concrete works, railway, and bridge projects, Al-Ayuni caters to both public and private sectors, boasting a highly skilled and coordinated workforce nationwide.

With a workforce exceeding 8,000 multinational professionals and a fleet of over 6,000 machinery and equipment, Al-Ayuni has successfully delivered over 500 projects for more than 50 clients to date. Among its notable completed projects are the Sharma to Tabuk road upgrade, the Tabuk Madina expressway flyover at Old Madina Road, and the Wadi Hanifa development.

Presently, Al-Ayuni is actively engaged in various projects, including infrastructure and utilities development at Jeddah Oasis industrial area, city center Markaz Al-Idari site development, and Phase 2 of the Dareen East Beach project in Jubail.

17. Saudi Binladin Group (SBG)

Securing the number 17 spot is Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) , headquartered in Jeddah, and renowned for its involvement in some of the most monumental projects across the kingdom.

Established in 1967, SBG originated as a subsidiary of the Binladin International Holding Group (BIHG), formed in collaboration with Istidama Holding Company, an entity associated with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance.

With deep roots in the Binladin family’s illustrious 90-year construction heritage, BIHG was conceived to navigate the family’s extensive portfolio through a new era in Saudi Arabia’s history.

The group is currently undergoing a transformative program aimed at establishing a robust financial and operational foundation to capitalise on the immense market potential for major construction ventures. BIHG has identified a substantial market opportunity, with an estimated $266.6 billion in new contract awards anticipated by 2025 alone.

Among its impressive portfolio are landmark projects such as the Holy Mosque expansion, King AbdulAziz International Airport, King Abdullah Economic City, and the iconic Al-Faisaliyah Tower, among others.

Want to see who else made the list of Top 30 Construction Firms in Saudi Arabia in 2024? Subscribe to Construction Week Middle East.