Jazan City For Primary & Downstream Industries — Jazan, Saudi Arabia

The Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu (RCJY) is the entity responsible for the development and management of several major industrial cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Among these is the 260 km² Jazan City for Primary & Downstream Industries (JCPDI), an industrial mega-project aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This initiative aims to promote economic diversification, enhance private sector contributions, and attract foreign direct investments.

Expanding Into Tourism: The Downtown Area Of JCPDI 

Strategically located, the Downtown area leverages its unique blend of sea, nature, and heritage themes to position itself as a tourist destination. It is the only Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Kingdom, designed as a regional tourism hub. The area’s proximity to the Abha mountains and the UNESCO-recognized Farasan Islands further enhances its appeal. It also benefits from adjacency to environmentally sensitive mangroves, reinforcing its potential for sustainable development.

Since 2018, Parsons and RCYJ have worked as a fully integrated management team within the Technical Affairs Division. The program is developing a greenfield site, which will be the fourth industrial city—a mega-project that will ultimately cover more than 260 sq.km in the Jazan Region. In 2024 the city is set to be the first industrial city to achieve LEED Platinum  certification for its proposed Plan and Design. As one of the first special economic zones in the Kingdom, the program commenced numerous projects in its first three years, ranging from roads to urban development initiatives. Integrated into the client’s office, the program exemplifies a coordinated approach to sustainable and strategic development, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to economic diversification and environmental stewardship.

Comprehensive Planning and Execution by Parsons 

Under the Parsons contract, an integrated team manages the master planning, design, and construction of the 5.6 km² Downtown area for JCPDI. The Downtown area is designed to provide amenities to its 100,000 residents, tourists arriving by cruise ship, road, and air travel as well as Jazan’s wider population of 3.2 million people. The Parsons team has identified key assets to catalyze Downtown development and collaborated with local and regional agencies to provide a unique offering that synergizes with the broader Jazan development, these include:

• An aquapark 
• A conference and exhibition center 
• An amusement park 
• A shopping mall 
• Parks and recreation areas 
• A marina and yacht club 
• A beach resort 
• Various hotel and housing options 

These assets are designed to serve as an economic growth hub for both the local and regional economy and contribute to the growth of tourism in the region.

Construction Milestones 

The construction of the Downtown commenced in 2024 with the award of 830 million SAR in construction projects for site grading, roads, infrastructure, and housing.

Project Overview 

The City Precinct Downtown development covers 732 hectares along JCPDI’s Red Sea coast, featuring a shoreline, mangrove forests, and dunes—with residential, commercial, and special-use spaces.

This multi-year program operates within a structured five-year work plan focused on systematic progress and alignment with key strategic objectives. Parsons is leading a diverse array of projects that collectively form the backbone of JCPDI’s city development. In addition to the downtown development, these mega projects include waterfront development, complete city infrastructure development and wet utilities, buildings, power substations, rough grading, and landscaping.

A Wide Range of Initiatives for JCPDI Downtown 

For Downtown, Parsons has been involved in a wide range of JCPDI initiatives, including but not limited to:

Strategic Planning and Future Prospects

• Economic Analysis: Conducting economic analysis at the planning stage to identify assets and investment options that attract investment, generate growth, and provide a unique regional service offering.
• Project Sequencing: Aligning capital investment projects with preferential asset investments to stimulate Downtown development.
• Asset Layout: Optimizing the layout of assets in Downtown to guarantee their locations maximize their potential.

Cost Savings

Parsons is currently investigating options to reduce costs and maximize capital investment by studying alternative methods for asset construction and location. Additionally, Parsons is conducting Value Engineering workshops on projects at the 30% design stage to guarantee optimal efficiency and effectiveness in project execution.

A Top-Down Approach to Integrating Digital and Smart Solutions

At JCPDI, we adopt a top-down approach to integrating digital and smart solutions, focusing on Building Information Modeling (BIM). By utilizing extensive digital and non-digital data, we develop a comprehensive city-wide digital twin, providing real-time insights such as clash analysis, metrics, economic feasibility studies, and data for strategic decision-making. Our goal is to set the global standard in digital twin technology and BIM innovation, ensuring JCPDI leads in smart city development.

We guarantee seamless project-to-project integration by coordinating and sharing BIM data across multiple projects, streamlining workflows, and enhancing collaboration. Our clash detection protocols identify and resolve conflicts within the virtual model, maintaining the integrity and accuracy of our digital twin.

A Plethora of Sustainable Goals

The JCPDI Downtown development includes a 1 km² Mangrove and Ecological Buffer to conserve existing and future mangrove areas, supporting JCPDI’s sustainable environmental protection strategy. This strategy aims for city-level LEED and Envision certifications, creating a resilient, environmentally friendly, and livable urban environment.

Key initiatives include:

• Pursuing LEED for Cities and Communities certification and Envision Certification for downtown infrastructure.
• Using renewable energy sources in all buildings to generate 15% of their power, reducing carbon emissions.
• Maximizing green spaces and vegetation to improve air quality, biodiversity, and urban aesthetics.
• Implementing dust mitigation and soil improvement techniques.

The 15-Minute City Model guarantees essential services and amenities are within a short walk or bike ride, reducing vehicle dependence and fostering community.

Additionally, a 133 ha mangrove reforestation project aims to plant over 20 million mangroves, enhancing coastal resilience, water quality, and marine ecosystems. The plan also seeks LEED certification for all Royal Commission individual building projects, ensuring high environmental performance and sustainability standards.

Transforming Jazan City: A Vision for Economic Diversification and Tourism Growth Under Vision 2030 

Parsons is engaged in an integrated team to provide technical expertise and mentor and train local staff in support of Saudization. Our core area of service for Downtown is the Technical Affairs Division, where we offer: 

1. Program Management 

2. Technical Service Areas 
   • Master Planning & Industrial Planning 
   • Engineering 
   • Construction 
   • Environmental Protection & Control 

3. Program Support Services 
   • Manpower Planning & Recruitment 
   • Training 
   • Financial Accounting 
   • Quality Control 
   • Document Control 

In addition to our core services, our teams also provide personnel in the following areas: 

• Investment Development 
• Strategic Planning & Performance 
• Contract & Procurement 
• Supply Management 
• Operations & Maintenance 
• Port Operations 
• Industrial Safety & Security 
• Media & Communication 
• Support Services 

A Part Of The Broader Effort 

By providing comprehensive support across various domains, Parsons is committed to contributing to the successful development and sustainability of JCPDI and its Downtown area. This commitment positions JCPDI’s growth as a resilient, future-ready city, advancing economic, environmental, and innovative objectives. 

Since 2018, Parsons and Royal Commission resources have worked as a fully integrated management team within the Technical Affairs Division. The program is developing a greenfield site, which will be the fourth industrial city—a mega-project that will ultimately cover more than 260 sq.km, bringing opportunity and prosperity to the Jazan Region. In 2024 the city is set to be the first industrial city to achieve LEED Platinum certification for its proposed Plan and Design. As one of the first special economic zones in the Kingdom, the program commenced numerous projects in its first three years, ranging from roads to urban development initiatives. Integrated into the client’s office, the program exemplifies a coordinated approach to sustainable and strategic development, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to economic diversification and environmental stewardship. The JCPDI Downtown project is part of an even wider program initiated by the Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu (RCJY). 

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For 80 years, we have specialized in the management of large, complex, multisite, mega mixed-use and urban development programs throughout the world. Our experienced master planning, project management, and asset management professionals work collaboratively to facilitate decision-making processes that make sure our projects are delivered safely and in compliance with local authority agency guidelines, environmental requirements, and international best practice and standards. Learn more.