SPARK to attract 300 industrial, service investments: Aramco official

King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) aims to attract 300 industrial and service investments and create thousands of job opportunity to Saudis, Mohammed Al-Assaf, Saudi Aramco’s vice-president for new business development told Al Ekhbariya TV channel.

Current estimates show that SPARK project will add around SAR 22.5 billion to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP) when completed, he said.

According to data compiled by Argaam, the megaproject will be constructed between the Eastern Province cities of Dammam and Al-Hasa, over a total area of 50 square kilometers.

The first phase of the three construction stages cover 12 square kilometers.

The architectural design for the whole project was 20 percent complete last March, and the first phase is likely to be finalized in 2021.

The project includes five main zones; the industrial zone, the dry port, the business district, the training area, and the commercial and residential zone.

State-run Saudi Aramco on July 12 was awarded a license by the Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon) to develop King Salman Energy Park (SPARK), Argaam previously reported.