King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, laid the foundations of various development projects at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran and King Faisal University (KFU) in Dammam, Saturday. The King praised the presidents and officials of both the universities for undertaking the various development programs. Such new facilities of the two campuses should take major role in establishing a knowledge-based economy for the Kingdom, he said. Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, President of KFUPM, said the KFUPM development projects were aimed at making the university the best in the region. Among the strategic development plans that were inaugurated by the King at KFUPM included the International Consultancy Forum Center, the Research and Educational Program supported by grants from local and international companies, the International Cooperation Program that involves academic leaders from around the world, the Dhahran Techno-Valley, which now has 12 local and international companies undertaking their research and development projects, the e-Education Electric Systems, the Human Resources Development Center, the Advanced Research Centers, the Personal Skilled Development Center and Production and Manufacturing Center. Other projects that were launched by the King were the Air Space Lab, the power generation plant, water desalination plant, Orientation Building, the Faculty of Housing and two phases of student housing in two separate buildings with capacity to accommodate 1,500 each. The most significant of the projects that will usher KFUPM into a center for knowledge-based economy is the Dhahran Techno-Valley (DTV). DTV now has 12 companies that are undertaking R&D, including Schlumberger, Yokogawa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Naizak-Lab/Al Abdulkarim Holding. About 20 more local, regional and international companies have signified their intention to set up their R&D at DTV. The DTV includes the King Abdullah Research Center, Prince Sultan Science and Technology Center (Scitech), the Innovation Center, and the Business Incubation Services. King Abdullah also recognized 11 private companies and business organizations that have supported KFUPM. These are the Abdulrahman Saleh Al-Rajhi, Mohammad Hussein Al-Amoudi, Engineer Abdullah M. Bugshan, the Saudi Binladen Group, Al-Zamil Group, Al-Muhaideb Group, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), Al-Ahli Commercial Bank, and the Saudi British Bank. After visiting KFUPM, the King laid the foundations of the University City of King Faisal University (KFU) and the KFU University Teaching Hospital. Later, King Abdullah left the Eastern Region and arrived in Jeddah, Saturday. The first phase of the University City, already under construction will take extra five years for completion, and it costs SR6 billion. The KFU University, located along the sprawling area at Dammam Corniche, will contain medical facilities, including new colleges, such as the College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Sciences, and the School of Nursing. The medical facilities will house the most modern medical libraries. Also included in these medical wings are facilities for specialized treatment for dentistry, training, and scientific researches that have the most advanced equipment. The KFU University Teaching Hospital is set to undertake expansion program, adding additional buildings and students' housing. __
