JEDDAH, 3 January — Al-Mabani, a leading contracting company in the Kingdom, together with the German firm Hans Luftbeild, has won the contract for demarcating the Saudi-Yemeni border. The German company, which demarcated the border between the Kingdom and the Sultanate of Oman and between Yemen and Oman, has an excellent record in the field.

Local banking sources revealed that Al-Mabani's had been trying to obtain credit facilities to cover the cost of the contract running to SR1 billion ($375 million). Al-Mabani won the contract staving off stiff competition from other national companies.

The German company was selected for the project from among six other international bidders from France, Japan, Canada, Norway and the United States.

The task includes marking the 1,500-km long land and marine borders between the two countries in strict compliance with the terms and conditions laid down in a border accord signed last June. It also includes demarcation of border crossings between the two countries.

The pact was signed by Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal and his Yemeni counterpart Abdul Qader Bajammal in the presence of Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh in Jeddah.

A technical committee comprising members from both sides determined the border installations to be set up before the completion of the demarcation work. It is not yet known how much time would be required to complete the task. A 600-km stretch of rough terrain between the sea and the Thar Mountains will provide considerable challenges to the contractors. (Asharq Al-Awsat)