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  • Oman reveals Sohar airport and Salalah Thumrait Road plans

    Administrator

    21 September 2026

    Oman is planning a new passenger terminal at Sohar Airport to expand regional air connectivity and strengthen the airport’s role in the national aviation network.

    According to Said Bin Hamoud Al-Maawali, Oman’s minister of transport, communications and information technology, new routes are expected to be announced before the end of the year. Potential destinations include Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Gwadar in Pakistan, and southern Iran.

    The planned terminal and additional routes will give residents of northern Oman more travel options.

    Al-Maawali also provided an update on the long-delayed Salalah-Thumrait truck road, saying the project will be procured through a conventional tendering model rather than a public-private partnership (PPP).

    In August 2023, Oman shortlisted five of eight prequalified teams to compete for the Salalah-Thumrait truck road project, which was set to be the sultanate’s first PPP road project.

    The 67-kilometre road project is specially designed for heavy vehicles. 

    The road is a key link in Dhofar’s transport network, connecting Thumrait with Salalah and supporting movement between the interior and the governorate’s main urban and economic centre.

    READ THE SEPTEMBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Nuclear power ambitions gather pace; Kuwait keeps dealmaking alive despite war; Region invests in raising gas processing capacity.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19794881/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Saudi Arabia tenders Dariya-Afif road dualisation

    Administrator

    21 September 2026

     

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Transport has launched an estimated SR1.1bn ($296m) tender for the dualisation of the Dhariya-Afif road over approximately 65 kilometres, alongside the reconstruction of sections of the existing roadway.

    The bid submission deadline is 1 October.

      MEED understands that the bidders include:

      • Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting (local)  
      • Alomaier Trading & Contracting Company (local)  
      • Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company (local)  
      • Al-Rawaf Contracting (local)  
      • Alshalawi International (local)  
      • Almabani (local)  
      • Alyamama (local)  
      • El-Seif Engineering Contracting (local)  
      • FCC Construction (Spain)  
      • Hassan Allam Construction (Egypt)  
      • Kolin Construction (Turkiye)  
      • Mohammed Ali Al-Swailem Group (Masco) (local)  
      • Saudi Pan Kingdom (Sapac) (local)  
      • Shibh Al-Jazira Contracting (local)

      The scheme covers the construction of a dual carriageway on the Dhiba/Sakaka/Afif route.

      The works include reconstructing parts of the existing road and connecting at-grade intersections in line with approved design plans and cross-sections.

      The project scope also includes the construction of bridges and culverts at multiple locations, including:

      • Station 935+44 with a length of 300 metres
      • Station 455+56 with a length of 250 metres
      • Station 335+76 with a length of 550 metres

      Local firm Euro Group Engineering Consultancy is the project consultant.

        The Roads General Authority is the project client.

        The contract duration is 47 months from the construction start date.

        According to UK analytics firm GlobalData, Saudi Arabia’s construction industry is expected to grow by 3.6% in real terms in 2026, supported by an increase in foreign direct investment and continued investment in the housing and manufacturing sectors.

        The infrastructure construction sector is expected to grow by 4.3% in real terms in 2026 and to record an average annual growth rate of 5.2% from 2027 to 2030, supported by government investment in transport infrastructure projects to improve regional connectivity.

        READ THE SEPTEMBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

        Nuclear power ambitions gather pace; Kuwait keeps dealmaking alive despite war; Region invests in raising gas processing capacity.

        Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
        To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
        https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19790270/main.jpg
        Yasir Iqbal
      • ADES completes acquisition of Saipem’s Saudi drilling business

        Administrator

        18 September 2026

        Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

        Al-Khobar-based ADES Holding Company has completed a transaction to acquire Italian oil and gas contractor Saipem’s shallow-water drilling subsidiary based in Saudi Arabia.

        Under the deal, ADES Saudi, an indirect subsidiary of Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul)-listed ADES Holding, will acquire Saudi Arabian Saipem, which operates a fleet of five jack-up rigs.

        The fleet includes three owned rigs – Perro Negro 7, Perro Negro 8 and Perro Negro 10 – as well as two leased rigs, Perro Negro 11 and Perro Negro 13. Four of the acquired rigs operate in Saudi Arabia, while Perro Negro 10 operates in Mexico under a charter structure and retains a valid contract in Saudi Arabia.

        ADES began the transaction to acquire Saudi Arabian Saipem in June, when it was estimated to be valued at about $285m. The deal was structured on a debt-free, cash-free basis, which was to be settled entirely in cash upon closing.

        Following completion, ADES operates a fleet of 128 units, comprising 88 offshore units – including 51 premium units – and 40 onshore rigs.

        The transaction also marks ADES’ entry into Mexico, extending the company’s international footprint to 21 countries, and adds approximately SR3.7bn ($992.9m) in backlog as of the completion date.

        The purchase of Saudi Arabian Saipem by ADES Holding follows the company’s takeover of Dubai-based, Oslo-listed Shelf Drilling in November last year, in a transaction valued at $379m. Following the completion of the cash merger, Shelf Drilling was wholly delisted from the Oslo Stock Exchange.

        The combined Shelf Drilling-ADES entity has been operating as a global player in shallow-water drilling in the world’s most prolific basins, with a fleet of 83 offshore jack-ups, including 46 premium jack-ups and 40 onshore rigs. The acquisition expanded ADES Holding’ global footprint from 13 to 19 countries, allowing entry and deeper operational integration into Southeast Asia, India, West Africa, the North Sea and the broader Mediterranean.

        Saudi Arabian Saipem generated revenues of SR636m ($170m) in 2025, highlighting the scale of the business being transferred.

        The divestment aligns with Saipem’s broader industrial strategy of reducing exposure to mature shallow-water drilling markets and concentrating resources on deepwater and harsh-environment offshore projects, where technical complexity and barriers to entry are generally higher.

        These segments have attracted growing investment in recent years as operators pursue offshore developments in regions such as the North Sea, Brazil, West Africa and the US Gulf of Mexico.

        For ADES, the acquisition further expands its presence in the Middle East offshore drilling market, particularly in Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest offshore jack-up rig markets, driven by activity from Saudi Aramco.

        Saipem previously said proceeds from the transaction will be used in accordance with the objectives outlined in its industrial plan. The Milan-listed company was advised on the transaction by Moelis & Company as financial adviser and Clifford Chance, together with AS&H Clifford Chance, as legal counsel.

        READ THE SEPTEMBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

        Nuclear power ambitions gather pace; Kuwait keeps dealmaking alive despite war; Region invests in raising gas processing capacity.

        Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
        To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
        https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19795697/main5616.jpg
        Indrajit Sen
      • SAR tenders design review consultancy for GCC rail link

        Administrator

        18 September 2026

         

        Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

        Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a design management and review consultant to oversee engineering works on the GCC railway network, the latest step in advancing the long-delayed regional rail link.

        The RFP was issued on 9 September, with a submission deadline of 18 October.

        The tender seeks a consultant to manage, audit and verify deliverables produced by SAR's separately appointed design services consultant, rather than carry out the design itself. The tendering for the design services consultancy is currently in progress.

        Construction will be tendered separately through competitive bidding once designs are approved.

        The GCC railway will run for about 672 kilometres (km) inside Saudi Arabia, linking the kingdom's existing network to Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain, with four sections of about 141km, 200km, 151km and 21km, respectively.

        The line is planned as a single-track, non-electrified corridor for mixed freight and passenger traffic, with a maximum axle load of 32.4 tonnes and passing loops for bidirectional working.

        The appointed consultant will develop a design management and review plan covering governance, interdisciplinary coordination and stage-gate approvals, and will issue formal review and audit reports against SAR's requirements and international standards.

        The scope also covers stakeholder engagement, interface management and oversight of land acquisition activity tied to the design consultant's land acquisition plan.

        Key design stages are expected to take about 16 months: four months for concept design, six for preliminary design and six for issued-for-construction design, each with four weeks of contingency.

        SAR has asked bidders to mobilise a core team from day one. These must include a project director, engineering and design manager, stakeholder manager and lead document controller, all based at SAR's offices, with minimum experience thresholds ranging from three years for junior operators up to 25 years, including 15 in rail, for the project director role.

        GCC railway line

        Under the overall plan, the railway will run from Kuwait, pass through Dammam in Saudi Arabia, reach Bahrain via a planned causeway, and continue from Dammam to Qatar, the UAE and, ultimately, Muscat via Sohar in Oman. The railway is reported to cover about 2,186km in total.

        The route length within each member state is as follows:

        • UAE – 684km
        • Saudi Arabia – 672km
        • Oman – 306km
        • Qatar – 283km
        • Kuwait – 145km
        • Bahrain – 36km

        The railway is designed for passenger trains travelling at 220 kilometres an hour (km/h) and freight trains operating at 80km/h–120km/h.

        With high levels of project activity, governments in spending mode and renewed cooperation under the Al-Ula Declaration, the latest efforts to restart the GCC railway project may make more progress than previous attempts. If completed, the railway could prove transformational for a region that is globally connected but still divided by national borders.

        READ THE SEPTEMBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

        Nuclear power ambitions gather pace; Kuwait keeps dealmaking alive despite war; Region invests in raising gas processing capacity.

        Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
        To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
        https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19783331/main.gif
        Yasir Iqbal
      • Developers bid for Saudi Arabia’s seventh solar and wind IPP round

        Administrator

        17 September 2026

         

        Developers have submitted bids for the latest round of renewables projects being procured by Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) under the kingdom's National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP).

        Round seven comprises four solar photovoltaic (PV) and two wind independent power projects (IPPs) with a combined capacity of 5,300MW. The renewables programme is being led and supervised by the Energy Ministry.

        According to a source, bids for the solar PV and wind IPPs were submitted on 13 September and 14 September, respectively.

        The four solar projects comprise the 1,400MW Tabjal 2, 600MW Mawqqaq, 600MW Tathleeth and 500MW South Al-Ula solar IPPs. 

        The two wind projects are the 1,300MW Bilgah and 900MW Shagra schemes.

        MEED understands that the bidders and bidding consortiums for round seven include:

        • Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar, UAE)
        • Aljomiah (Saudi Arabia) / TotalEnergies (France)
        • EDF (France) / Saudi Energy

        The request for proposals was issued in January, with submissions previously expected by 30 August.

        As MEED reported, 16 developers qualified to bid as both managing and technical members of consortiums for the four solar PV projects. A further six companies qualified to bid as managing members only.

        For the wind IPPs, SPPC qualified 13 developers in the managing and technical members category and a further six companies in the managing members category only.

        The NREP aims to supply 50% of the kingdom’s electricity with renewable energy by 2030.

        Earlier rounds under the NREP have already put in place large capacities. In October 2025, SPPC awarded contracts to develop and operate five renewable energy projects under round six of the NREP.

        These were four solar PV IPPs and one wind IPP, with a total combined capacity of 4,500MW.

        The Aljomaih / TotalEnergies joint venture won the contract to develop the 400MW Al-Sufun solar IPP, following on from its previous award for the Rabigh 2 IPP in round five of the programme.

        Two of the three remaining solar IPPs in round six were awarded to Masdar, while the joint venture of EDF and Saudi Energy was selected to develop the 600MW Samtah solar IPP.

        A consortium of the UAE's Etihad Water & Electricity, Saudi Arabia's Nesma Renewable Energy and Korea Electric Power Corporation (South Korea) won the contract to develop the 1,500MW Dawadmi wind IPP, the only wind project in the round.

        READ THE SEPTEMBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

        Nuclear power ambitions gather pace; Kuwait keeps dealmaking alive despite war; Region invests in raising gas processing capacity.

        Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
        To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
        https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19752843/main.jpg
        Mark Dowdall
      • Contractors prepare Riyadh airport aviation complex bids

        Administrator

        17 September 2026

         

        Contractors are preparing to submit proposals by 8 October for an estimated SR3bn ($817m) contract to build an aviation complex located within the King Salman International airport masterplan in Riyadh.

        Government-owned aviation organisation Saudi Royal Aviation (SRA) tendered the contract in August.

        Phase one of the programme comprised the concept design stage, which has been completed by the design consultant.

        SRA is now seeking to deliver the second phase, which covers design development, detailed design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning and close-out of the works.

        The scope covers 30 landside buildings, including 16 screening areas and gates, in addition to 15 airside buildings, including four gates.

        The assets include maintenance hangars; workshops; office and administrative buildings – including interior fit-out; warehouses; storage, security and catering facilities; aprons and access roads; and site utilities and civil works.

        King Salman International airport will provide primary utilities to designated tie-in points, with the contractor taking responsibility from there.

        While it is within King Salman International airport's boundaries, the site is classified as landside and is a greenfield development. The contractor must therefore meet airport security, safety and access requirements in addition to SRA's own clearance processes.

        Project scale

        The King Salman International airport project covers an area of about 57 square kilometres (sq km), allowing for six parallel runways, and will include the existing terminals at King Khalid International airport. It will also include 12 sq km of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets and other logistics real estate.

        The airport aims to accommodate up to 100 million passengers by 2030. The goal for cargo is to process 2 million tonnes a year by 2030.

        Saudi Arabia plans to invest significantly in its aviation sector. The Saudi Aviation Strategy, announced by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, aims to triple Saudi Arabia’s annual passenger traffic to 330 million travellers by 2030.

        It also aims to increase air cargo traffic to 4.5 million tonnes and raise the country’s total air connections to more than 250 destinations.

        READ THE SEPTEMBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

        Nuclear power ambitions gather pace; Kuwait keeps dealmaking alive despite war; Region invests in raising gas processing capacity.

        Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
        To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
        https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19750881/main.jpg
        Yasir Iqbal
      • Tender issued for Libyan gas project

        Administrator

        17 September 2026

        An invitation to bid has been issued for a contract to conduct environmental assessments for the project to expand the Mellitah oil and gas complex in Libya.

        The bid submission deadline is 2pm today (17 September) Libyan time.

        The scope of the project includes provision of:

        • An environmental baseline study (EBS)
        • An environmental impact assessment (EIA)
        • An environmental management plan (EMP)

        The client is Mellitah Oil & Gas (MOG), which is a joint venture of Italy’s Eni and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC).

        MOG is based in Tripoli and operates both onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities.

        The joint venture owns and operates six major oil and gas fields across the North African country.

        According to the tender documents, the company that is awarded the contract will need to prepare environmental management measures in compliance with:

        • Libyan environmental legislation
        • Ministry of Environment requirements
        • NOC environmental guidelines
        • Applicable international environmental standards and best practices

        The expansion of the Mellitah oil and gas complex is part of a project estimated to be worth $8bn.

        The wider project is known as the Mellitah Complex Expansion & CO2 Management Integrated Development Project.

        It has six main packages:

        • Onshore package
        • Offshore Structure A
        • Offshore Structure E
        • Subsea pipeline package
        • Site preparation work
        • Carbon capture and storage facility

        Security issues and political instability have been a major problem for Libya’s oil and gas sector since the country’s civil war started in 2011.

        Earlier this month, the Mellitah oil and gas complex was forced to shut down temporarily due to a protest over deteriorating public services.

        The existing onshore complex includes housing, processing units, storage facilities and export facilities.

        It also serves as the launch point for the Greenstream pipeline, which delivers Libyan gas directly to Italy.

        The planned expansion of the complex will involve:

        • Construction of a new fourth gas processing train
        • Construction of a third condensate train
        • Construction of a third natural gas liquids fractionation train
        • Construction of a fourth sulphur recovery unit train
        • Installation of a hydrogen sulphide enrichment unit
        • Installation of a sulphur recovery unit
        • Construction of other associated facilities

        The Mellitah complex is located about 100 kilometres west of Tripoli and is a key energy facility in the west of the country.

        https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19748920/main.png
        Wil Crisp
      • Nakheel awards $218m Dubai Islands buildings deal

        Administrator

        17 September 2026

        Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

        Dubai-based developer Nakheel, now part of Dubai Holding, has awarded a main construction contract worth more than AED800m ($218m) for phases one and three of Bay Grove Residences at Dubai Islands.

        The contract was awarded to the local firm Metac General Contracting Company.

        It covers the construction of 537 apartments, comprising one- to four-bedroom units, across seven residential buildings.

        Phase one includes 296 units in four buildings, while phase three comprises 241 units across three buildings.

        The works are scheduled for completion in late 2028.

        Bay Grove Residences will ultimately comprise 1,154 homes across 15 buildings. Planning is under way for the remaining 617 homes in phases two and four, with further contract awards expected.

        In August last year, Nakheel awarded a AED2.6bn ($708m) contract to Abu Dhabi-based Fibrex Contracting to build the Bay Villas project at Dubai Islands. The contract includes constructing 636 villas.

        In April this year, another AED527m ($143m) contract was awarded to local firm Al-Nasr Contracting Company to construct the primary infrastructure and utilities works on Island B at the development.

        The Dubai Islands development consists of five islands spanning 18.6 square kilometres. It features more than 59 kilometres (km) of waterfront and 20km of beaches, as well as parks, golf courses, promenades and cycling paths.

        The offshore island project gained renewed momentum in 2022, when Nakheel unveiled a new masterplan and rebranded it as Dubai Islands.

        The reclaimed islands were originally part of the Palm Deira project, which was partially completed before being put on hold in 2008.

        READ THE SEPTEMBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

        Nuclear power ambitions gather pace; Kuwait keeps dealmaking alive despite war; Region invests in raising gas processing capacity.

        Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
        To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
        https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19748850/main.jpg
        Yasir Iqbal
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