Struggling construction firm Saudi Oger shuts down – report

Struggling construction firm Saudi Oger – owned by the family of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri – ended operations on Monday after 39 years in the business, local Arabic daily Okaz reported.

The company, hit hard by the slowdown in the kingdom’s construction sector and delays in government payments, was forced to lay off thousands of workers – many of whom were not paid wages – and sell off many of its assets in recent months.

While most of its assets have been transferred, it still has three projects, the Okaz report claimed.

The projects include a 15-year maintenance and operation contract for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; the king’s palace in Tangier; and a project in Mecca.

A source also told Okaz that the university contract had been taken over by another construction company that is owned by Saad Al Hariri’s brother-in-law.

Last month, it was reported that employees of Oger would be transferred to other firms, amidst reports that all of its workers would be laid off on July 31.

The labour ministry said at the time that the firm employed 1,200 Saudis among a total of around 8,000 workers.

The ministry said it planned to transfer 600 Saudi employees to other facilities and that it was also working with Oger to transfer around 6,000 foreign workers to other companies.

Read more: Saudi to transfer employees from troubled Oger construction firm

In early June, reports also claimed that Saudi Arabia’s Executive Court had issued a verdict forcing Oger to pay wages owed to employees.

The court was in the process of forcing the company to pay the dues owed to employees through sequestration of its properties and assets, local reports said.

Oger’s debt to local banks was estimated at SAR13bn in November and it was speculated at the time it could seek a substantial debt restructuring deal.

Read more: Saudi Oger forced to pay owed worker wages by court – report