Jubail Industrial City is the largest industrial estate in the world. It is also home to the Middle East’s largest and world’s fourth largest petrochemical company SABIC.
The project started in 1975 and anchored by a large number of primary heavy industries especially petrochemicals and steelwork. This provided a magnet for secondary industries which utilize the products produced and further down the chain into consumer goods manufacturing. The city has good transport infrastructure such as its own port as well being connected via a six lane highway to King Abdulaziz Port Dammam. The development of residential and commercial areas as well as other incentives have led to a constant expansion of the city which now boasts a population of 280,000.
Jubail Industrial City covers over 1,000 square kilometres and it is estimated that the city accounts for 7% of the kingdom’s GDP.
The project was managed by Bechtel, a US engineering and construction company which also oversaw the further expansion of the city and its residential areas. The company continues to be involved with further development of the city.
Additional Details
- Total area: 1,016 square kilometres
- Year opened: 1975
- Key industrial sectors: Petrochemicals, heavy industries, FMCG