AECOM Arabia, a joint venture between AECOM and Xenel, is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest urban design and civil infrastructure firms, with roots dating back to its founding in 1976.
Originally established as Resource Science Arabia Limited, the company initially focused on engineering consultancy, supporting the Kingdom’s rapid construction growth during the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the company shifted its focus to supplying skilled manpower to the oil, gas, and industrial sectors, serving major clients such as Saudi Aramco, Petro Rabigh, and SABIC.
Following a series of strategic mergers and acquisitions in the mid-2000s, the company rebranded as Cansult Maunsell and, by 2007, emerged as AECOM Arabia through a partnership with AECOM, a NYSE-listed engineering leader among the top three globally. This alignment elevated AECOM Arabia’s resources and reputation, expanding its influence in Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and development landscape.
Today, AECOM Arabia boasts more than 1,600 staff within Saudi Arabia, supported by AECOM’s global offices. It plays a pivotal role in helping Saudi cities prioritize projects and plan for sustainable growth. AECOM Arabia has been instrumental in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, modernizing airports, enhancing clean water supply reliability in Riyadh, and implementing strategic urban development projects across cities like Jeddah. The company’s efforts have provided residents with improved access to amenities, employment, and public transportation, supported by advanced city-wide stormwater and metro systems.
Key projects include the NEOM backbone infrastructure design, the Jeddah Stormwater Drainage Program, Tatweer Schools, NEOM Bay Phase 1, the Saudi Customs PMO, King Khalid International Airport, the Red Sea Project, Al Qiddiya Project, and the Al Ula Project. Through these high-impact initiatives, AECOM Arabia continues to redefine urban infrastructure, supporting the Kingdom’s long-term development goals and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.