Understanding the drivers and needs for mega infrastructure project development in Saudi Arabia

Mega infrastructure projects (MIP) are continuously complicated along their lifespan, they are highly diverse from one another, whether in their planning or execution stages, and require different approaches for their planning and decision-making. The Saudi infrastructure sector is booming and many projects can be classified as Megaprojects, that is they come with a minimum life span of fifty years and a starting price that exceeds GBP 1 Billion. The current investment for infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia approximates to GBP 100 Billion per annum. This paper aims to better understand the leading goals, agendas and driving forces of MIP development in the specific context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to influence a new decision process. Using a Multi Criteria Analysis framework, this study will attempt to provide a ranking of these goals, agendas and drivers utilizing knowledge extracted by questionnaire from a sample of the country’s leading decision makers. These decision makers come from a pool of the Saudi Council of Ministers, the Bureau of Experts, the 'Shura Council' that is, the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and also from representatives of the Ministry of Planning. In addition to questionnaire data, the study will include a historical observation of Saudi’s five-year plan goals and objectives from 1970-2019. The results will facilitate a development of a new decision-making process for Infrastructure planning and procurement the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.