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Safeguarding Investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


Control Risks analyses and treats business risks and operations’ security in Saudi Arabia


The Saudi economy has seen a boom - particularly since its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2005 - with the Kingdom keen to diversify its economy whilst remaining a leading oil producer. As part of this strategy, infrastructure development has been a focus for the Saudi government and attracted many foreign investors. According to government figures, overall spending on social infrastructure is set to surpass US$155 billion over the next decade. Commitments include US$37 billion for the construction of schools and universities and US$35 billion for the development of hospitals and other healthcare facilities.


As with any investment, business risks exist while security issues remain a significant consideration for anyone investing in the Middle East. The terrorist threat to the region as a whole remains, however in 2011, it has somewhat abated. The Kingdom’s success in building a secure investment environment has relied in large part on a thorough and balanced assessment of the risks to major enterprises and investments in adequate measures to mitigate them. Control Risks’ market-leading reputation is based on its ability to help clients assess these risks and design solutions to mitigate them throughout the enterprise life- cycle, from pre-entry decision making through to technical security design and operations to diversification or market exit.


Integrity Risk Management and Due Diligence With architectural engineering and construction companies making the step into Saudi Arabia, managing the integrity risks of entering this new market is crucial. Informed integrity risk assessments placed in the hands of senior corporate decision makers is an essential part of risk management, as well as significant source of competitive advantage.


Control Risks works with its construction and infrastructure sector clients by conducting due diligence and business intelligence assignments. They help clients assess the reputation and integrity of their counter-parties to protect them from exposure to international and local anti-corruption legislation and exposure to fraud and other commercial and reputation risks. Their work complements that of accountants and lawyers; looking beyond contracts and financial statements to help uncover undisclosed risks and gain optimal value from the considerable opportunities that Saudi Arabia offers.


Global Risk Analysis Control Risks’ Global Risk Analysis team is the leading political, operational and security analysis and forecasting capability in its field. Their dedicated Middle East analysts provide tailored assessments, briefings and workshops on political, business and security risk issues which could affect investments or operations in Saudi Arabia and the broader region. The team provides contextual background and analyses the immediate and longer-term importance of unfolding national and international developments on client interests in Saudi Arabia. They also enable clients to better anticipate future incidents and monitor evolving trends with confidence.


Security Design Solutions Following the work undertaken by their analytical team, the multi-skilled design consultants, work on engagements ranging from hotel and mix-use complexes, up to large scale infrastructure projects for the oil and gas sector. In most cases, projects are new build constructions.


Control Risks offers design services with expert knowledge and advice, guiding clients from concept definition until final acceptance and witness testing of systems. Control Risks integrates with the client’s professional teams to deliver projects in accordance with industry standard design methodologies such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE).


Engineering solutions have included: • Crime Prevention through Environmental Design / Secure by design advice • Blast analysis, including modelling of blast propagation through a building • Probable maximum loss studies & estimated maximum loss studies • Hostile vehicle mitigation • Perimeter defence and detection • Intruder detection and remote signalling • Control Room Design • CCTV design and number plate recognition techniques • Access control system design


Market entry support into Saudi Arabia for major architectural engineering firm


Control Risks was commissioned by a multinational architectural engineering firm for the integrated advice on entering the Saudi construction sector and permanently establish a joint venture with a local company. Saudi Arabia was familiar territory to the client where they had previously provided remote consultancy on large scale projects with a number of leading local companies.


Because of this experience, the client had already identified a number of possible candidates, but despite the client’s knowledge of these companies, they wanted confirmation that their credentials and probity were in line with the client’s internal requirements and goals. Control Risks additional identified with the client other potential companies that met the client’s criteria.


Control Risks drew upon in-house expertise, market knowledge and our extensive network of contacts to complete a comparative assessment of strengths and weaknesses of the potential candidates. Control Risks carried out in-country research in Riyadh and Jeddah and conducted over thirty interviews with construction sector specialists, senior members of the government and the private sector to provide a detailed and authoritative account of the market position of each company. On completion of this strategic review, Control Risks proceeded to conduct a due diligence assessment on the shortlisted companies, providing further insight into their commercial resources, professionalism and reputation.


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