Bechtel has opened a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Craig Albert, president and CEO of the engineering, construction and project management company, was present at the site for a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Tuesday.
“This new regional headquarters reflects our strong and longstanding commitment to our customers and partners in the region,” he said. “For 80 years, Bechtel has provided training and development opportunities for the local workforce and strengthened local businesses.”
Bechtel has a long history in Saudi Arabia. It completed its first project in the region, the Ras Tanura oil refinery, in 1945.
The Reston, Virginia-based company has a 3,000-strong workforce currently involved in multiple projects in the Middle East, such as the Riyadh Metro Project and an upcoming futuristic city called Neom.
Starting in January 2024, Saudi Arabia will impose a policy to stop doing business with foreign companies that do not have a regional headquarters in the kingdom.