The project was announced back in the days (not so long ago) when companies out of Dubai were planning to build the biggest of everything. The project isn't only a bridge, two entire cities were going to be built, one at either end. How viable the project is in today's environment is, of course, anyone's guess; I haven't heard much about it lately... but with oil at $80 there is enough money to do it, and if they want to spend it there, why not? Lots of contracts, lots of jobs, wherever it all ends up.

I don't think the bin Laden connection means much; the family construction firm is both conservative and close to the Saudi royal family, and I doubt they've much to do with the prodigal one. UBL doesn't produce a whole lot of business for them.