An expansive construction boom is underway in Saudi Arabia, amplified by the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative promoting global engagement, enhanced quality of life, and economic diversification beyond petroleum.
Mega-projects pioneering the way include The Line, a linear smart city that is only 200 meters (220 yards) wide, towers 500 meters (550 yards) above sea level, and stretches 170 kilometers (105 miles) from the Neom 26,500-square-kilometer (10,200 sq. miles) urban area across desert valleys to the Red Sea.
sports and tourism investment
An unprecedented investment also includes sports and tourism and has attracted the attention of major players in the construction industry, who are gathering at the Big 5 Construct Saudi exhibition in Riyadh.
The event enables attendees to connect with government representatives and other visitors involved in Saudi Arabia’s gigantic construction projects.
HVAC systems
HVAC systems play a major role in the construction boom, including the construction of new district cooling plants
Given the hot climate, HVAC systems play a major role in the construction boom, including the construction of new district cooling plants and an enormous number of data centers, which require extensive cooling systems to operate.
HVAC R Expo is one of the “Big 5” categories at the exhibition, enabling companies access to top contractors, project managers, distributors, and engineers involved in growth opportunities across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
Victaulic’s grooved solutions
Victaulic, the mechanical pipe joining specialist, is a major supplier playing a role in the Saudi expansion, which also includes a future Vision 2040 plan that will begin in 2027.
Active in the Saudi market for 25 years, Victaulic’s grooved solutions are used throughout the burgeoning Saudi construction industry, including in the commercial, fire protection, water, oil and gas, and mining sectors.
multitude of applications
Victaulic’s prefabrication and modularization services accelerate the installation process even further
In the HVAC sector specifically, Victaulic solutions serve a multitude of applications from district cooling to data centers to cooling systems for large skyscrapers. Victaulic’s grooved couplings can be installed quicker than traditional welded or flanged joints and without specialist labor.
By reducing the work carried out on the job site, Victaulic’s prefabrication and modularization services accelerate the installation process even further. This is important for keeping up with the fast pace of construction projects in Saudi Arabia while ensuring the highest quality and reliability.
Sustainability
Sustainability is another priority for Vision 2030 projects in the Kingdom. Because there is no welding required to join pipes with Victaulic’s technology, energy consumption and emissions are significantly reduced during the installation process.
The couplings themselves are made from 98% recycled content in electric induction furnaces that emit 85% less CO2 per ton than a traditional blast equivalent. And they are infinitely reconfigurable, reusable, and recyclable as buildings are extended or repurposed in the future.
one-stop solution provider
Cooling such a tall building involves multiple chiller stations connected with building riser solutions (pipes)
At the Big 5 event, Victaulic aims to showcase its abilities as a one-stop solution provider for pipe joining. However, given the raft of high-rise construction in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Riyadh and Jeddah, cooling systems for tall buildings will naturally be in focus.
For example, the Jeddah Tower, currently under construction, will be 1 kilometer (3,280 feet) tall and become the tallest building in the world when it is completed. Cooling such a tall building involves multiple chiller stations connected with building riser solutions (pipes) that run the entire span of the building.
use of expansion joints
Traditionally, in a tall building, thermal expansion and contraction require the use of expansion joints that accommodate the impact of changing temperatures on the pipes.
Victaulic’s couplings, however, are inherently flexible to a degree, which eliminates the need for space-consuming expansion loops or expansion joints that can fatigue over time. This improves the reliability of the system as well as keeping shafts as narrow as possible to maximize sellable floor space.
investment focus
Continuing investment by banks and trust funds in key Saudi projects encourages Victaulic
Continuing investment by banks and trust funds in key Saudi projects encourages Victaulic to continue its commitment to the region. “This region has committed to continuous investment,” says Zeyd Ammoura, Victaulic Division Manager for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.
“These projects translate into a massive need for products, and they have a vision as more investment focuses on the region. Our vision is to walk parallel hand-in-hand with the Saudi 2030 vision.”
Reason for Big 5 exhibition participation
“They need a lot of data centers, and they need a lot of district cooling plants,” adds Ammoura, “so that's also something that is getting a lot of our attention. And that's one of the major reasons we are going to be participating in the Big 5 exhibition.”
While historically population centers in Saudi Arabia were mostly concentrated, the new vision includes development throughout the large country including areas where infrastructure did not previously exist and must be created. Thousands of new cooling systems will be needed for the new buildings, data centers, stadiums, and other facilities.
Infrastructure development
Investment is also being made to expand the infrastructure to accommodate future waves of construction
In addition to near-term construction projects, investment is also being made to expand the infrastructure to accommodate future waves of construction.
“They are building now to serve expanded projects in the future,” says Ammoura. “Saudi Arabia is our top priority for the next five to 10 years in the region.”
Air conditioning (AC) usage
A stadium, planned as part of The Line, will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and other big events. With scorching summers and limited natural cooling, Saudi Arabia has the highest air conditioning (AC) usage globally. This intense cooling demand accounts for nearly 50% of the country's annual electricity consumption, reaching 70% during peak periods.
These factors drive the need for district cooling systems, which distribute cooling capacity in the form of chilled water or other medium from a central source to multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes for use in space and process cooling.
Reducing fossil fuel use
Victaulic is furnishing a large exhibition booth at the Big 5 event to highlight their technical solutions
Saudi Arabia is seeking to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for energy production, and district cooling systems can be powered by renewable energy sources like solar, further contributing to sustainability.
In addition to promoting its profile at Big 5 Construct Saudi, Victaulic is increasing its number of local employees and is looking into opening a local facility in the area to support the big growth in business. Victaulic is furnishing a large exhibition booth at the Big 5 event to highlight their technical solutions.
piping and flow control systems
Ammoura says that Victaulic’s capabilities expand beyond the manufacture of piping and flow control systems. The company also pledges to be a delivery partner and engineering company that builds solutions.
“We help to design and optimize the project and help to build better construction,” says Ammoura. Victaulic has participated in many Saudi district cooling plants so far and plans to continue to be a part of building engineering and construction capacity.
BIM (building information modeling)
Victaulic utilizes BIM to provide 3D visualization of systems before they are built and installed
Victaulic utilizes BIM (building information modeling) to provide 3D visualization of systems before they are built and installed.
The company’s virtual design and construction department works with companies and allows customers to “walk through a project” virtually and optimize design and innovation, thus taking out the guesswork before a needed change becomes overly expensive and delays the project.
reassurance and reliability
“The challenges in any project cycle, regardless of scale, means owners, general contractors, and construction teams require reassurance and reliability from designated partners, and Victaulic has expanded offerings to become a comprehensive one-stop solutions provider, including design, fabrication, spooling, and quality control."
"We are committed to being a partner for our customers and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s construction boom as efficiently, reliably, and sustainably as possible,” Ammoura says.