Friday, April 25, 2025
2:48 PM
Doha,Qatar
Saudi BinLadin Group

Saudi builder Binladin says govt started to pay dues

The Saudi finance ministry has resumed payments to Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), the kingdom's biggest construction firm, for its work on government projects, Saudi Okaz newspaper reported on Thursday, citing an adviser to the chairman.
SBG was hard hit last year as low oil prices forced the government - its chief customer - to cancel or suspend projects and delay payments.
It was then barred from receiving new state contracts after one of its cranes toppled into Makkah's Grand Mosque during a storm, killing 107 people, though that ban has now been lifted.
"With the series of payments to follow from the ministry of finance, the entire rights of 10,000 contractors, suppliers, traders that deal with SBG will be met," adviser Abdullah Basodan told the newspaper.
He said SBG chairman Bakr Binladin had met employees to reassure them about the future of the company.
The firm has been the leading builder in the kingdom for several years, delivering a number of major buildings including the expansion of the Grand Mosque.
But its lofty status has come under threat from government spending cuts and economic reforms as well as its temporary suspension from new state contracts.
A cash squeeze left it struggling under an estimated $30bn in debt owed to local and international lenders, an amount large enough to cause potential stress for the Saudi banking system.
The company has laid off about 77,000 foreign workers and plans to cut thousands of jobs held by Saudi nationals, a local newspaper reported in May.
On Tuesday, sources told Reuters SBG had requested a second extension on an 817mn riyal ($218mn) Islamic loan being used to fund construction at the Grand Mosque.

Comments
  • There are no comments.

Add Comments

B1Details

Latest News

SPORT

Canada's youngsters set stage for new era

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.

1:43 PM February 26 2017
TECHNOLOGY

A payment plan for universal education

Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education

11:46 AM December 14 2016
CULTURE

10-man Lekhwiya leave it late to draw Rayyan 2-2

Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions

7:10 AM November 26 2016
ARABIA

Yemeni minister hopes 48-hour truce will be maintained

The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged

10:30 AM November 27 2016
ARABIA

QM initiative aims to educate society on arts and heritage

Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.

10:55 PM November 27 2016
ARABIA

Qatar, Indonesia to boost judicial ties

The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.

10:30 AM November 28 2016
ECONOMY

Sri Lanka eyes Qatar LNG to fuel power plants in ‘clean energy shift’

Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.

10:25 AM November 12 2016
B2Details
C7Details