Take a look at Saudi Arabia's top 15 transport, utility projects

The total value of the top 15 transport and utility projects in Saudi Arabia is estimated at $6.83 billion, according to data shared by research consultancy BNC Network with Argaam.

The Fourth Ring Road in Makkah, expected to be completed in 2018, tops the list with a projected value of $2.04 billion. This is followed by $650 million Wind Power Plants project in Riyadh, expected to be completed in 2019 and $587 million Wastewater Treatment Plants at the Northern Border in Jeddah slated for completion in 2019.

In December, Saudi Arabia unveiled its 2018 budget - its largest ever, allocating SAR 54 billion in infrastructure spending for 2018 compared to SAR 52 billion this year, an increase of 3.5 percent.

Earlier in the year, the Public Investment Fund and US private equity firm Blackstone said they plan to create a $40 billion vehicle to invest in infrastructure projects.

Argaam has compiled a list of 15 top transport and utility projects in the Kingdom.

1) Fourth Ring Road, Makkah - $2.04 billion

The project involves construction of a 65-kilometer-long and 100 meters wide road which will consist of four traffic lanes in each direction of the dual carriageway and will be integrated with the Makkah road network and bus and train services. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.

2) Wind Power Plants, Riyadh - $650 million

The project involves the construction of a 400-megawatt wind power plant located in Tabuk in the north-western part of the country. The cost of generating power from this renewable source is expected to be among the lowest in the world. The expected date of completion is in 2019.

3) Wastewater Treatment Plants, Jeddah - $587 million

This involves construction of wastewater treatment plants in the Northern Border of Jeddah, which will cover provinces such as Turaif, Arrar and Saqaqam. The project is likely to be completed in 2019.

4) 400 MW Wind Power Plant, Dowmat Al Jandal, Sakaka - $500 million

This 400 Megawatt wind power plant will be located in Dumat Al Jandal. It will become the Kingdom’s first utility-scale wind project, which is part of round one of the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP). The 300 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Sakaka has already been tendered under the same initiative.

With both NREP round one projects set for deployment in the Al Jouf Province, Northern Saudi Arabia, the area is set for a significant direct and indirect economic boost from renewable energy investment and development over the next few years. The Dumat Al Jandal and Sakaka projects are both 100 percent private IPP programmes, which will be backed by 20- and 25-year power purchase agreements, respectively.

The NREP is a long and systematic path to energy and economic diversification for Saudi Arabia. The expected date for completion is 2020.

5) Najran New Airport, Riyadh - $300 mill ion

A new airport will be built in Najran with a total built up area of 6,84 million square metres. The anticipated date of completion is 2020.

6) Redevelopment of Hail Airport, Hail - $300 million

Hail Airport will be revamped to accommodate more passengers. The expected completion date is 2020.

7) General Authority of Civil Aviation Building, King Khalid International Airport Riyadh - $300 million

The project involves construction of an aviation building, and will likely be complete in 2019.

8) Power Plant by Nadec, Riyadh - $300 million

Nadec will generate power using cow dung. The project is anticipated to be finished in 2019.

9) Solar Power Plants, Al Jouf, Sakaka - $200 million

This includes the development, design, permitting, engineering, financing, procurement, construction, commissioning, testing, completion, ownership, insurance, operation and maintenance of a greenfield solar PV plant near the city of Sakaka, in the northern region of Saudi Arabia. It is expected to have a total capacity output at interconnection not exceeding at any time 300 megawatts capacity of electricity generation.

Saudi Arabia’s first ever utility scale Solar PV power plant will be the first of 60 greenfield projects tendered over the course of the next seven years as the Kingdom pursues a target of 9.5 gigawatts of renewables by 2023 in line with Vision 2030. The expected date of completion is 2019.

10) Pumping Stations & Water Pipeline Systems, Al Taif - $263 million

The project involves construction of pumping stations and water pipeline systems between Arafat and Al Taif. The project includes three groups, the first of which is for the implementation of a 60-inch diameter pipeline with a length of 46,033 km. The second group is to carry out two pumping stations (c) and (pse2), administrative building and accessories, housing at (pse3) at Taif station, Tunnel works in diameter (8.4) m and length (12.5) km. The project is expected to be completed in 2021.

11) Phase 3 of Shuaiba Seawater Desalination Plant, Jeddah -$255 million

The project involves expansion of Shuaiba Desalination Plant 3. to increase the quantities of desalinated water by 250,000 cubic meters per day. It will supply potable water to more than a million residents in the cities of Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. The anticipated date of completion is 2019.

12) King Abdulaziz Road Project, Makkah - $200 million

This road network will pass through five districts of the city: Al-Rusaifa, Al-Tandabawi, Al-Zuharain, Al-Hindawiyah and Jabal Ghurab. It will facilitate transportation for pilgrims and visitors to the holy city. The estimated year of completion is 2019.

13) Site Preparation for Jazan Refinery & Terminal, Jizan - $300 million

The project involves site preparation in Jazan Refinery and Terminal located at Jazan Economic City, Saudi Arabia. The scope of work includes excavation, backfilling and earth works. Jazan Refinery & Terminal is designed to treat 400,000 barrels per day (20 million t/y) of Arabian Heavy crude oil and Arabian Medium crude oil. The expected year of completion is 2018.

14) North South Rail, Al Arar - $300 million

The project involves the construction of 200 kilometer rail network linking Waad Al Shamal, Turaif and Al Jouf. The expected completion date is 2020.

15) Zulfi to Al Majmaah Passenger Railway, Riyadh - $150 million

The railway involves construction of a track linking Zulfi to Al Majmaah. It is likely to be completed in 2020.