DUBAI (REUTERS) - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has ordered the import of 10 million tonnes of cement to end a shortage in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

King Abdullah wants three to four cement plants to be built over the next three years and has granted 3 billion riyals (S$990 million) towards the scheme, SPA reported, citing trade minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah.

The kingdom has embarked on multi-billion dollar infrastructure and housing construction plans, putting pressure on resources such as cement. SPA did not give an estimate of how large the cement shortage was.