With the participation of more than 35 speakers from experts and specialists, Majid Al-Bawardi, Deputy Minister of Commerce and Investment, recently opened the International Contracting Conference and Exhibition, which was held from September 16-17 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center. In his speech, Assistant Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs for Planning and Development Ghanem Al-Mohammadi stressed the ministry's keenness to develop and activate all applicable laws and regulations that contribute to achieving the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and improve the quality of services as the Kingdom is expected to witness great development and urban prosperity in various regions and cities.

Initiative to develop a classification system for contractors

Development of Contractor Classification System Initiative

Ghanim Al-Mohammadi explained that the Ministry's "Contractor Classification System Development" initiative includes developing the current contractor classification criteria and adopting more transparent, accurate, simplified and sustainable classification procedures and incentivizing contractors to improve their performance, noting that this event is the first practical step for the developed contractor classification system.

Ghanim Al-Mohammadi

He pointed out that the development of the advisor system for the classification of contractors was based on international and regional standards and systems and best practices for artificial intelligence, pointing out that this system aims to improve the procedures to know the classification score, automate the advisor system for the classification of contractors, efficiency of procedures and shorten the time to know the classification score for no more than several minutes, motivate contractors to improve their performance, print a detailed report for the contractor to improve the scores and financial limits for classification, and stimulate transparency and sustainability practices.

This event is the first practical steps of the developed contractor classification system.

Rising performance of new contractors

For his part, Engineer Osama Al-Afaleq, Chairman of the Saudi Contractors Authority, revealed that the number of registered workers in the sector with the Authority is about 142 thousand, while about 4 thousand are registered with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

He pointed out that the difference between the classification of contractors from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Authority is that the General Agency for Classification at the Ministry is concerned with developing the quality of work and performance, while the Authority is concerned with evaluating and qualifying everyone who works in the sector and developing the capabilities of contractors.

Al-Afaleq, Chairman of the Saudi Contractors Authority.

Afaleq expected the positive impact of the classification of contractors by increasing the performance of new contractors and those with little experience, by qualifying the novice contractor with the work of main contractors and those with experience, indicating that the evaluation determines the capabilities of each person and his potential, and the minimum required to obtain a large work, as there is a marketing mechanism through a platform that serves beneficiaries to search for qualified contractors.

Afaleq said.

35 speakers from experts and specialists

During the opening day, the Secretary General of the Saudi Contractors Authority, Thabet Al-Suwaid, made a presentation to the participants explaining that the Authority serves the sector through six areas of work, most notably mining services, waste and treatment, building construction, specialized construction, building services, and civil engineering.

Over the course of two days, more than 35 expert speakers discussed contemporary issues such as updates on mega projects in Saudi Arabia, initiatives related to the Kingdom's Vision 2030, innovations in the contracting sector, human development and capacity building.

Al Suwaid explained that more than 35 speakers from experts and specialists discussed contemporary issues such as updates on mega projects in Saudi Arabia, initiatives related to the Kingdom's Vision 2030, innovations in the contracting sector, and human development and capacity building. Al Suwaid explained that the role of the Authority is to regulate and develop the contracting sector in the Kingdom and enable it to build specialized capabilities and raise the standards produced by the sector, thus creating a safe and secure work environment.

Al Suwaid explained that the role of the Authority is to regulate and develop the contracting sector in the Kingdom.

Al Suwaid added that the aim of the conference is to find solutions, encourage creativity, promote communication and education, and provide facilities and protection not only for the members of the Authority, but for the construction sector as a whole.

Figures in the Saudi contracting sector

142 thousand workers in the sector are registered with the Saudi Contractors Authority.

142 thousand workers in the sector are registered with the Saudi Contractors Authority.

4 thousand are registered with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

4 thousand are registered with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

13% Saudization rate in contracting-related fields.

13% Saudization rate in contracting-related fields.

200 thousand establishments operating in the sector.

200 thousand establishments operating in the sector.

2086 organizations have obtained membership of the Contractors Authority.

2086 organizations have obtained membership of the Contractors Authority.

94 % of registered contractors are Saudi nationals.

% of registered contractors are Saudi nationals.

96% of small and micro enterprises sector organizations and companies.

96% of small and micro enterprises sector organizations and companies.

4 million workers are employed in small real estate establishments.

4 million workers are employed in small real estate establishments.

4 % of companies operating in the sector are classified. 96% lack classification.

550K Saudi workers in real estate sector establishments.

550K Saudi workers in real estate sector establishments.