Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone for King Salman Energy City (SPARK), which is designed to be a global centre for energy, industry and technology.
The first phase of the construction of the 50-square-kilometre city will be completed in 2021. Located between Dammam and Al-Ahsa, in the Eastern Region, the first phase of the city project covers 12 square kilometres with investments of SR6 billion.
Saudi Aramco is developing, operating, managing and maintaining the city's infrastructure, in partnership with the Saudi Organization for Industrial Estates and Technology Zones (MODON).
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Eng. Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih said that the city project aims to strengthen the Kingdom's position as a regional and global energy hub, by developing a competitive Saudi industries and services sector globally, and support the Kingdom's strategic initiatives.
SPARK is expected to contribute to the Kingdom's GDP by more than SR22 billion and to provide labour market with up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.