Abha Meeting Explores Contracting Opportunities

The Saudi Contractors Authority, in cooperation with the Abha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held a meeting on opportunities and challenges in the contracting sector.

Attendees included SCA Chairman Eng. Osama bin Hassan Al-Afaliq; Deputy Chairman Mohammed Hizam bin Fahdah, who is also an Abha Chamber board member; SCA Board Member Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Bassami; and SCA Secretary-General Eng. Thabet bin Mubarak Al-Suwaid.

The Chamber was also represented by Deputy Chairman Eng. Ibrahim Falqi; Board Member and Council of Saudi Chambers Representative Mahdi Al-Hadban; Board Members Khuzam Al-Huwaizi and Saeed bin Qamash; and Secretary-General Dr. Riyadh Al-Aqran. Owners, managers and representatives of contracting companies in Asir attended as well.

Mohammed bin Fahdah opened the meeting by welcoming participants. He thanked the SCA delegation for explaining the Authority's work and its role in supporting and regulating contracting. He expressed his hopes for progress in developing the sector and its workforce.

Al-Suwaid presented the main challenges facing contracting in Saudi Arabia and the relevant goals of Saudi Vision 2030. He outlined SCA's roadmap, implementation steps and recent achievements.

During the discussion, the Board heard the views of Asir contractors on SCA's work and objectives, as well as the problems they faced. SCA representatives highlighted opportunities in national projects, particularly for small and medium-sized companies, and explained how the Authority could support these emerging businesses.

Abha Chamber Chairman Hassan bin Mujib Al-Huwaizi discussed the challenges facing a sector with more than four million workers and over 200,000 establishments. He cited delayed payments, fees and penalties for late project delivery as pressures on businesses.

He stressed SCA's role in protecting and developing this important part of the economy in line with Saudi Vision 2030. He also highlighted investment opportunities for contractors in future national projects.

Key challenges included access to finance, shortages of qualified subcontractors, labor and recruitment fees, and a shrinking share of projects in both the public and private sectors. Financing difficulties were threatening some large contracting companies.

Al-Huwaizi said the sector offered substantial employment opportunities for Saudis if it was well organized. He called for qualified subcontractors to be central to its restructuring. While relationships between main contractors and subcontractors faced several problems, subcontracting also offered significant opportunities for Saudi workers.

The Saudi Contractors Authority was established under Council of Ministers Resolution No. 510, dated 23/11/1436 AH, approving its governing regulation and membership for those interested in the contracting profession.