Nine companies have been prequalified to bid to design, build, commission, finance, maintain and transfer sixty schools (comprising kindergartens, elementary, intermediate and secondary) located in Jeddah and Makkah, in western Saudi Arabia.

The nine companies are Alfanar Group, Macquarie Group, Al-Rajhi Bank, Bouygues Construction, Mohammed I. Alsubeaei & Sons Investment Company (MASIC), Ajyad Knowledge, Al-Yamama, El Seif Engineering and Al Blagha Holding For Investments Co.

The tender process is being conducted by Tatweer Buildings Company (TBC), on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

The project is the first in a planned public-private partnership (PPP) programme that will cover schools across the country.