RIYADH: A joint venture company established between Zamil Group Holding Company and Drake and Scull International (DSI), a regional leader in mechanical, electrical and plumbing is set to create about 240 employment opportunities for Saudi nationals during the next three years. DSI Saudi created at a net asset worth of SR120 million was announced here Sunday at a press conference that was jointly addressed by Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, Chairman of Zamil Group, and Khaldoun Tabari, CEO of DSI. Dr. Al-Zamil said Saudi Arabia will witness an estimated SR500 billion construction boom within the next three years. The construction market requires specialized companies to deal with the growing demand in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) fields. The Saudi construction market requires specialized companies that can offer quality work, efficiency and execution of high-tech projects on time, Dr. Al-Zamil said. “(The) joint venture will demonstrate our commitment to serving the home market and it places our companies in a position to meet the growing demand,” said Dr. Al-Zamil. Al-Zamil underscored the significance of trained Saudi workforce that the construction industry would require in the coming years. “Training 120 Saudis is now underway. (They) will occupy various technical and supervisory positions in the newly created company,” Al-Zamil said. Tabari said the new company will create an equal number of employment opportunities for Saudi nationals during the next three years. He said Saudi Arabia offers lucrative business opportunities in a number of areas that include MEP. “The joint venture company will allow both partners to use their experience, talent and values of a well-established organization, with a proven track record of successful operations,” he said. DSI is not new in Saudi Arabia, he said. He said the company has been present in Saudi Arabia since 1970 and executed a number of major projects including those for King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST), Intercontinental Hotel, Tabarjal Hospital, and Mina Hospital. “DSI has a backlog of project worth over SR1.2 billion and with the formation of new company with Al-Zamil the number would double within next three years,” he said.
