The Aknaf Al Khaleej Company has been awarded a construction contract for a residential project situated along the Makkah-Jeddah Expressway. The 580,000sqm project is being developed by Al Balad Al Amin Company as part of its $16bn Makkah Gate housing scheme, according to a report from The Saudi Gazette.

The project will be located 18km from the Grand Mosque in Makkah and 5km from the Qur’an Gate. It is said to be a natural extension of Makkah and will be able to accommodate 800,000 residents. The developer expects the project to be fully complete in 15-years.

Speaking about the development, the Mayor of Makkah, Muhammad Al Quwaihes and the chairman of the board of directors of Al Balad Al Amin Development and Urban Regeneration Company, said that there would be separate residential areas for families and bachelors.

The residential project will have a commercial zone, a large garden and mosque, an international school for all levels of education, a health centre, sports clubs for men and women, tennis courts, artificial lagoons, as well as solar and sewage plants.