Meshari M. Al-Shaikh Mubarak welcomes some of the more than 300 eligible employees and their dependents at Ad-Diwan. The meeting, held Dec. 4, gave potential residents an opportunity to hear about the new housing options and prepare to bid. To expedite the project, the first batch of 200 villas will be available for occupancy in the first quarter of 2017. All of the residential units are expected to be occupied by mid-2018.
Since the 1930s, Saudi Aramco has operated various residential communities to provide company employees and their families with outstanding environments where they can enjoy productive lives.
These communities have become a major enticement for our employees due to their high quality of life associated with a range of amenities and support services. Recently, due to the company’s growth in various fields, there has been an increase in demand for additional residential units and facilities in Saudi Aramco communities.
To address this need, the Dhahran Community housing area is now expanding by 25% with the addition of the Dhahran Jebel Heights residences. The project will add 1,556 residential units, including 885 family villas and 671 apartments. New community and recreation facilities will include a convenience store, a food court, and a fitness center.
“The Dhahran Jebel Heights will support retaining and attracting the best talent, positioning Saudi Aramco as an employer of choice by providing world-class housing facilities,” said Meshari M. Al-Shaikh Mubarak, acting manager of the Central Community Services Department (CCSD).
Aramcons interested in the new Jebel Heights expansion in the Dhahran community get an up-close look at scale models of the kind of units that will be offered in the plan. Jebel Heights will include 1,156 residential units, including options for four- and five-bedroom villas.
A comprehensive expansion of the Dhahran community will bring an array of world-class homes and facilities to a wide swath of the housing area now called Jebel Heights. Expanding the community by 25%, the expansion will include a total of 1,556 residential units, including 885 family villas, 671 apartments, and new community and recreation facilities, including a convenience store, a food court, and a fitness center.
Working Together for Community
In collaboration with CCSD, the integrated project team representing Community and Public Projects, Community Services Projects, Utilities and Technical Support, Power Operations, Dhahran Area Industrial Security Operations, Loss Prevention, Fire Protection, Information Technology, and Transportation and Equipment Services, has worked hard to advance the delivery date of the project and meet all requirements within a shorter timetable.
To expedite the project, the villas will be delivered in phases over the next two years. The first batch, consisting of 200 villas, will be available for occupancy within the first quarter of 2017.
To provide quick access to the residential units, employees will be able to bid on the villas before they are completed (see sidebar about the virtual bidding process already in progress).
On Dec. 4, CCSD launched an awareness campaign to inform eligible employees about the project with an opening ceremony at Ad-Diwan. More than 300 eligible employees and their spouses were present. It is expected that the residential units in Dhahran Jebel Heights will be fully occupied by mid-2018.
World-Class Homes
The new housing units are being built to meet international standards, with energy efficiency and safety as a priority. Additionally, prior to construction, a team surveyed international building codes and standards that were chosen in consideration of the Kingdom’s climate.
With each residential unit meeting established standards, residents will be able to move into new homes that are world-class in safety, energy efficiency, and durability.
The engineers selected precast concrete panels to maximize the durability of the units and to expedite completion of the project. “They will last,” said Amani Haikal, supervisor of the Engineering and Home Improvement Unit in CCSD. “This is essential to maximize the investment in the company’s property.”
Because the panels are being manufactured in the factory and then transported to the site to be assembled, the time required to build the new homes has been reduced. More importantly, to support the national economy and job creation, Saudi Aramco sourced the panels and various project material from local vendors.
The new homes are being built to meet
international standards, with energy efficiency
and safety being priorities. Before construction,
teams surveyed international building codes
and standards that would best suit the
Kingdom’s climate, and with each residential
unit meeting these established standards,
residents will be able to move into new homes
that are world-class in safety, energy
efficiency, and durability.
Human-Centered Design
In designing the new housing units, CCSD considered the needs of the current residents. As demographics have changed — namely, the increase in the size of families — CCSD has increased the capacity of the new units, which will include the options for four- and five-bedroom villas.
“We really listened to what residents had to say, and we implemented their preference in this project,” said Anna K. Pitta, senior supervisor of Dhahran Housing Operations in CCSD.
The new units will feature additional amenities, such as a separate laundry room and a two-car garage. The Dhahran Jebel Heights residences will also be provided with a fiber optic internet connection. In compliance with the new government regulations, the Dhahran Jebel Heights electrical power will be 220V-240V.
To make the residential units adaptable to a multinational workforce, the new villas have a separate family room and a living room connected to the dining area.
Long-Range Vision
With the company provided housing and outstanding community facilities for employees and their families since the 1930s, the Dhahran Jebel Heights residences will become one of the key factors in recruiting and retaining world-class talent.
The Dhahran Jebel Heights expansion is in the pursuit of Community Services’ long-term goal to build modern residential houses that incorporate the latest trends in construction, sustainability, and energy efficiency while transforming the surrounding acreage into a wholesome community with an exceptional environment.