Leighton Holdings’ Middle East operation is part of a joint venture awarded a $US169 million ($A163.57 million) contract for work on a mine in Saudi Arabia.

Dragados Gulf Construction Company and Habtoor Leighton Group, in which Leighton has a 45 per cent stake, will construct mine-related infrastructure at a bauxite mine in central Saudi Arabia for the Ma’aden Alcoa Aluminium joint venture, Habtoor Leighton said on Thursday.

The project is located in a desert about 200 kilometres northeast of the city of Burayda.

Habtoor Leighton’s share of the contract is worth $US85 million ($A82.27 million).

“We’re delighted to secure our second project in Saudi Arabia this year and are confident of securing other opportunities within the kingdom in 2012,” Habtoor Leighton managing director Laurie Voyer said in a statement.