New developments will include water and electricity plant and industrial complexes to produce petrochemicals

Saudi Arabia has announced 54.4bn riyal (£9.85bn) of industrial and welfare projects in its eastern province. The new developments include a 12bn riyal water and electricity plant in Marafiq and a second industrial city in Jubail, according to Saudi daily Arab News. The Jubail project will cost 232bn riyal and include 20 industrial complexes that will produce 70 million tonnes of petrochemicals per year.

The British embassy in Saudi estimates the government has $400bn earmarked to be spent on construction projects over the next five years, and about $1 trillion worth of projects in the pipeline.