FIDIC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) aimed at helping to support the development of the construction sector in the kingdom and promote the adoption of best practices in contract management.

The three-year collaboration agreement between FIDIC and the SCA will also support the two organisations’ shared goals and objectives with regards to effective contract management and governance, capacity building, professional certification and dispute avoidance.

Under the terms of the agreement, the SCA, which plays a key role in organising and developing the contracting sector within the kingdom by creating a secure and regulated environment for both national and foreign contractors operating in Saudi Arabia, will collaborate with FIDIC in areas that support the development of the construction sector and promote the adoption of best practices in contract management.

Accordingly, FIDIC and the SCA will collaborate in the following key areas:

• Use of FIDIC contracts in Saudi Arabia.
• Capacity building, training, and professional certification, localisation of the programmes.
• Establishing a joint task force for guidance alignment and advisory.
• Dispute avoidance, resolution support and contract governance.
• Participation in events, knowledge sharing and organising joint workshops and seminars.
• Exchange of expertise, best practices and sharing studies, research, statistics and innovations related to contract management and the contracting sector.

The three-year agreement was signed earlier this month at a meeting in Paris following discussions between a FIDIC delegation and the SCA. FIDIC was represented by chief legal and contracts officer Daduna Kokhreidze and CEO Susanna Zammataro, who signed the agreement with Mohammed AlAjlan, chairman of the Saudi Contractors Authority (pictured above).

Commenting on the signing of the MoU, FIDIC CEO Susanna Zammataro said: “We are delighted to have signed this important collaboration agreement with the Saudi Contractors Authority and to be working in collaboration with them over the next three years. This is great news for FIDIC and also the construction sector in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we look forward to working closely with the SCA over the coming months and years as it looks to build a secure and regulated environment for both national and foreign contractors operating in Saudi Arabia.”

Pictured above are FIDIC CEO Susanna Zammataro and Mohammed AlAjlan, chairman of the Saudi Contractors Authority following the signing of the three-year collaboration agreement between their two organisations.