The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—may God protect him—in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, inaugurated the first phase of the Waad Al-Shamal Industrial City in Turaif Province, valued at 55 billion riyals, He—may God support him—will also lay the cornerstone for the second phase of the city’s projects and facilities, valued at 30 billion riyals, during his visit to the Northern Border Region.
The Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, Engineer Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, affirmed that the efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince —may God preserve them—to support the Kingdom’s development and continue strengthening the national economy in line with Vision 2030 are a source of pride and appreciation for all citizens and a source of admiration for the entire world.
Development of National Industry and Logistics
Minister Al-Falih added that the Kingdom’s strategic direction, as embodied in the National Industry and Logistics Development Program—one of the most important programs for implementing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—paves the way, with the launch of this industrial complex, for a new phase of sustainable development, economic prosperity, and diversification of income sources by laying the groundwork for creating high-quality investment opportunities in the mining sector and mining industries specifically, a sector that the Kingdom is working to make the third pillar of the Saudi economy, alongside the oil and petrochemical industries,“ noting that ”Promise of the North” will also serve as a key springboard for enhancing the economic and social renaissance of the Northern Border Region.
Al-Falih explained that supporting the mining, industrial, energy, and logistics sectors—the four main sectors of the National Industrial and Logistics Development Program—through integrated economic development projects and balanced development spending, reflects the wise leadership’s—may God preserve them—commitment to the citizen, who is the focal point of development. He noted that the “Wa’ad Al-Shamal Industrial City” will—God willing—be a cornerstone of the national economy’s resilience, ensuring the achievement of the desired development goals.
Launch of “Wa’ad Al-Shamal”
He noted that the launch of “Wa’ad Al-Shamal” reflects the wise policies and ambitious initiatives and programs stemming from Saudi Vision 2030, as the city implements the strategy of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Services Program by empowering the logistics, energy, mining, and industrial sectors to achieve the maximum economic impact expected from them, The program aims to contribute 1.2 trillion riyals to GDP, create 1.6 million jobs, and attract investments estimated at 1.6 trillion riyals by 2030.
He emphasized that the completion of this project demonstrates that the wise government is determined to promote comprehensive and sustainable development across all regions of the Kingdom, starting with the least developed areas, and to develop economic sectors that contribute to job creation, supporting them with educational and training programs.
An Attractive Environment for Manufacturing Investments
It is worth noting that Waad Al-Shamal Industrial City is located 15 kilometers from the city of Turaif in the Northern Border Region,
Waad Al-Shamal Industrial City includes the necessary infrastructure for industry and social facilities,
making it attractive to other manufacturing investments,
An area of 290 km² has been allocated for the city’s development,
In addition, an adjacent area of 150 km² has been allocated for the Ma’aden Phosphate Industries project, which serves as the city’s main hub, as well as for its future projects.
Upon completion of the city’s second phase, the Kingdom’s production will rise to nine million metric tons annually.
It is expected that the Kingdom will become the second-largest producer of phosphate fertilizers in the world.
Waad Al-Shamal City includes a services area and a center for unconventional gas production.
an industrial zone.
a residential city.
a mining institute.
In addition to infrastructure that includes the administrative buildings of the "Madin" Authority.
and the integrated combined-cycle power plant.
water treatment plants and projects, and is connected to three marine berths built and designated for the city at Ras Al-Khair Port.
on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, and a railway connecting it to Saudi Aramco’s Wasit refineries and the Ras Al-Khair Industrial City.
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