Saudi Arabia's Construction Boom
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme has catalysed unprecedented construction investment across the Kingdom. The entertainment, tourism, hospitality, and cultural sectors — previously restricted in the Kingdom — are now the focus of multi-billion-riyal development programmes including NEOM, Red Sea Project, Qiddiya Entertainment City, and numerous smaller regional entertainment destinations. This has created massive demand for structural engineering services across a broad range of structure types: theme parks, observation towers, entertainment complexes, hotels, sports facilities, and supporting infrastructure.
Saudi Building Code Requirements
All construction in Saudi Arabia must comply with the Saudi Building Code (SBC). For structural engineering, SBC 301 (Loads), SBC 303 (Seismic), and SBC 304 (Concrete) are the operative volumes. SBC references and incorporates AISC 360 for steel design and ACI 318 for concrete, with Saudi-specific modifications for wind speed maps, seismic hazard data, and specific occupancy provisions. Structural designs must be prepared by licensed engineers and submitted to the relevant municipal authority for review and permitting.
Our Saudi Arabia Projects
We have delivered structural engineering for two Saudi projects in our recent portfolio: the 150+ ft entertainment steel tower in Dammam (P-2024-117) and the heavy steel supports for cooling fan and pipeline systems at an amusement park in Buwaid (P-2024-103). Both projects required full SBC compliance with documentation prepared for Saudi authority review. The Dammam tower project is one of our most complex commissions — a 150+ ft steel lattice structure in the most severe wind exposure category (Exposure D, Arabian Gulf coastal), requiring rigorous wind load calculations, seismic checks, and detailed anchor rod and foundation design for the demanding Saudi coastal soil conditions.
Saudi Soil Conditions
The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia — where Dammam is located — has soil conditions that require careful engineering attention. Sabkha deposits (salt-encrusted, compressible soils with variable cementation) are common in the coastal zones, and their engineering behaviour can be highly unpredictable: apparently competent when dry, subject to collapse and strength loss when wetted. Foundation design for Saudi projects must identify sabkha presence from the geotechnical investigation and ensure that foundations either bear below this layer or are designed for the sabkha's worst-case engineering properties. Additionally, the saline environment requires concrete mix design and reinforcement protection specifications beyond standard practice.
Engaging Us for Saudi Projects
We provide structural design, connection design, foundation design, and documentation services for Saudi Arabia projects, with deliverables formatted for Saudi municipal authority review. Our experience with both SBC and AISC/ACI means we can produce documentation that satisfies Saudi authority requirements while remaining technically rigorous by international standards. Contact us with your project scope, location, and timeline.