Security firm awarded contract for Mecca site
A HUGE property development near the Great Mosque of Mecca is being supported by a Guernsey-headquartered company.
Private security company West Sealand International, in conjunction with its partner Arabian Security & Safety Services Company (AMNCO), has been chosen by Jabal Omar Development Company to provide security master planning for its flagship project, Jabal Omar in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from this month.
The Jabal Omar development covers 2.2m. square metres of land near the mosque.
The site will include 38 hotels, providing 13,500 rooms, 40 high-rise towers, a large residential development and Saudi Arabia’s largest shopping mall with more than 800 commercial outlets and in excess of 4,000 car parking spaces. The hotels and malls, when constructed and opened, will be used all-year round – including during the Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
International hospitality brands such as Marriott, Hyatt, the Blackstone Group, Hilton Hotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will be present within the development.
‘WSI sets itself apart from its competition through our assertion that in order to be effective, security must be comprehensive, addressing four essential interrelated components – architecture, technology, operations and cyber security,’ said WSI partner Mike Allen.
‘None of these components can be effective alone and all must be coordinated and integrated so that they function together efficiently and effectively.’
Fellow WSI partner Nicholas Corden-Lloyd said: ‘Our continued success is built upon decades of experience working within the Middle East.
‘We develop relationships that enable an intelligence-led approach, ensuring an appropriate response to identified risk, where security migrates from cost to economic enabler.’
Fahad M. Al Guthami, chief executive officer of AMNCO, said: ‘Together with WSI, we are delighted to be awarded this prestigious contract.
‘It is validation of our strong partnership and the trusted consultancy and advice we provide to our clients.’
Delivery of the consultancy will commence this month. A joint AMNCO and WSI team will deploy to the project site in Mecca to undertake the security research needed to support the delivery of an effective security master plan.
