Government | Tuesday 29 November, 2016 5:46 am |

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Monday opened several development projects, including hospitals in the Eastern Province.
The launching ceremony was held in Aziziyah Palace in Al-Khobar, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

King Salman watched a video presentation about the projects of the Ministry of Health in the region.

Minister of Health Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said the new ministry projects included 500-bed Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Dammam, 500-bed Al-Amal Health and Mental Health Complex in Dammam, 300-bed Saud Bin Jalawi Hospital in Al-Ahsa, 200-bed King Faisal General Hospital in Al-Ahsa and 100-bed Al-Omran Hospital. These hospitals are estimated to cost around SR1 billion.

“I am very happy to be with you to celebrate the event of launching of these projects that serve our nation and citizens,” the King said.

“I praise Almighty Allah for giving us this wealth and before that security and stability for this nation, which is the land of the Two Holy Mosques.
We all are honored to serve this nation.

“Ours is a nation that serves Islam and the Two Holy Mosques, and we are proud to serve our nation and citizens with the responsibility given to us,” the King added.

King Salman inaugurated several multibillion power, water, sewage, transport, flour mill, and education projects.

These include two power generation and three transmission projects. They are Hajr power plant, which is considered as the largest power plant in the world, and Qurayyah IPP, which is a large gas and fuel oil fired combined cycle power station.

Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Faleh explained about the projects.

Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdul Rahman Al-Fadli said the King inaugurated several water and sewage projects, as well as expansion of the wheat mills at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, wheat stock and flour production mills in Al-Ahsa, fishing harbors in Qatif, Al-Khobar, Al-Zour and Darain. The King also launched the first phase expansion of Dammam University City and university hospital and Hafar Al-Batin University projects. The King announced changing the name of Dammam University into Imam Abdurahman Al-Faisal University to honor Imam Abdurahman Al-Faisal, father of King Abdul Aziz.

The King also launched some transport projects in the region.

The King also inaugurated several projects costing a total of SR2.7 billion at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran. These include 480 villas and residential units, 47 residential buildings that can accommodate 8,000 students, four mosques, 19 bus stations, and five shaded parking areas with a capacity of 6,000 vehicles.

Prince Saud Bin Abdullah Bin Thunayyan, president of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, said that King Salman will launch some of the world’s largest projects in the Eastern Province on Tuesday.