Saudi Contractors Authority

The Saudi Contractors Authority is a non-profit professional organization responsible for managing and developing the contracting industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It aims to enhance productivity and create a safe environment in accordance with international quality standards. It was established by Ministerial Decision No. 510 on September 7, 2015, with its headquarters located in Riyadh City. The authority is supervised by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing.

The Saudi Contractors Authority works towards achieving several objectives, including the development of the contracting sector and empowering the regulatory environment. It also focuses on enhancing innovation and nurturing the skills of individuals working in the field of contracting. Additionally, the authority aims to establish a unified reference point for sector regulation, simplify regulatory relationships, improve the ease of doing business for contractors, and raise quality standards within the sector.

The authority also aims to address the problems and challenges faced by contractors, promote innovation, and enhance communication among relevant parties in the contracting industry. Obtaining membership in the authority is a fundamental requirement for participating in government tenders, contributing to the development of the contracting sector in the Kingdom, and elevating the skills of those working in this profession. The authority is considered a crucial pillar for sector development, driven by principles of transparency, fostering a collaborative environment among stakeholders, enhancing the capabilities of the contracting sector, and promoting innovation while providing high-impact services and solutions within the industry.

The tasks of the Saudi Contractors Authority can be summarized in a set of procedures, including establishing and developing a system for the contracting sector, collecting and publishing statistical data related to the sector, setting indicators for information related to it, such as the pricing of construction tools and materials, and the customary rates for contractors in the market, adopting standardized and unified contract templates for contracting, conducting research relevant to the sector, supporting both national and foreign contracting sectors in the Kingdom, communicating with contractors and informing them about related regulations and instructions, identifying and discussing the obstacles facing contractors and the contracting sector, proposing appropriate solutions, and training and qualifying arbitrators in the field of contracting.

Among the tasks of the authority are resolving disputes and problems that arise between contractors, keeping contractors informed of new investment opportunities, encouraging investment in the contracting sector, organizing and hosting conferences, seminars, and exhibitions related to this sector, and providing technical consultations in the field of contracting in accordance with specified guidelines and standards.

The authority seeks to assist governmental entities and provide them with proposals when establishing regulations related to the sector. It also aims to encourage contractors to localize jobs in the contracting sector and to create electronic registers for contractors containing their information, specializations, and previous works so that the public can gauge their satisfaction with the contractor's performance.

The Saudi Contractors Authority has launched several initiatives and projects; among them is the Projects Platform, which focuses on the contracting market and upcoming projects in the Kingdom. By 2023, over 11,258 Saudi contractors will have benefited from it. Through this platform, 763 projects and job opportunities have been registered. The estimated value of the projects listed on it reached approximately SAR1,490,181,876. The platform offers ease of obtaining price quotations for project owners and promotes increased competitiveness and transparency, leading to improved quality within the sector. It is a comprehensive platform that aggregates projects from private entities and provides an opportunity for contractors to easily access various projects.

The Saudi Contractors Authority, in collaboration with the Public Investment Fund, implemented the pre-qualification program for contractors, specifically for the companies affiliated with the fund. The program offers a range of facilities and services to enable contractors to obtain pre-qualification in line with technical evaluation standards. This contributes to providing the companies affiliated with the fund with a credible benchmark for executing construction projects.

The authority launched a project to study the conversion of the construction sector into an industry. This project aims to lay out a roadmap for the transformation process in the contracting sector, exploring solutions and the possibilities of modern construction technologies in collaboration with relevant entities. The study focuses on how to transfer most of the processes from the site to the factory, which will enhance the ability to utilize modern technologies and produce high-quality products in large and readily available quantities.