meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

2024 breaks all project records

10 January 2025

 

Register for MEED's 14-day trial access 

Last year was the best year on record for the GCC projects market as the region continues to enjoy unprecedented levels of capital expenditure across all sectors. 

According to data from the MEED Projects project-tracking platform, a total of $264bn-worth of contracts were awarded last year, some 6.5% higher than the previous record of $248bn set in 2023, and more than double 2022’s $124bn number.

Saudi Arabia was once again the largest market, with $144.3bn-worth of contracts let, the highest total ever recorded by a single country in the region. This represented a rise of 22.3% on the $118bn-worth of contracts awarded in 2023 – itself a record – and underlines the kingdom’s commitment to its transformative Vision 2030. 

The UAE was the second-largest market in the GCC, with $81.3bn-worth of contract awards. This marked a decline of 12.1% on the previous year, but was still its second-highest annual total and far above its $46.9bn 10-year average.

The other four GCC projects markets recorded much lower contract award totals, although Kuwait and Oman, at $9.2bn and $11.3bn, respectively, posted their best numbers since 2017.

By sector

In terms of sectors, construction remains the single-largest market segment, with $72.8bn-worth of signed contracts, a fall of 10.5% from 2023’s record number. It was almost matched by the power sector, which had the highest number of deals ever, at $64.4bn, driven primarily by a considerable increase in new renewable energy schemes.

Record levels of expenditure were also seen in the transport and infrastructure and oil segments, with respective project totals of $32.3bn and $28bn.

New paradigm 

Last year’s performance dispels any notion that the sharp rise in project expenditure in 2023 was an outlier and demonstrates the region’s new paradigm for projects activity. 

The sole exception remains Qatar, which has struggled to repeat the levels of spending seen in advance of the 2022 Fifa World Cup. In 2024, it awarded some $15.7bn-worth of contracts, below its $17.5bn 10-year average.

The past two years have been marked by a unique convergence of heavy hydrocarbons, real estate and utilities spending, ensuring that stakeholders across all market segments have benefitted from the increased expenditure.

This has been reflected by the sectoral diversity of 2024’s largest projects.

Leading the way was the $5.6bn contract to design and build Dubai Metro’s Blue Line, which was awarded in December to a Turkish/Chinese consortium. It was closely followed by a $5.5bn deal to build Adnoc’s liquefied natural gas terminal in Ruwais, while the $4.7bn Trojena main dam contract at Neom, awarded to Italy’s Webuild, rounded off the top three. 

Other top 10 signed projects last year include the second phase of Qatar’s North Field Production Sustainability programme ($4bn), the high-voltage direct current scheme interconnecting the three major Saudi Electricity Company operating areas ($3.7bn), the 3,600MW Qurrayah combined-cycle power plant ($3.6bn), also in the kingdom, and its National Housing Company’s 20,000 housing unit deal ($3bn).

Leading contractors

In terms of the top contractors by value of work won in 2024, China’s Sepco 3 led the way in the oil, gas, power, water and industrials market segments, with an estimated $9.1bn-worth of awarded contracts. 

This is the first time a Chinese contractor has ranked first in any given year, reflecting the increasing dominance of Chinese firms in the GCC projects market. 

Other international engineering, procurement and construction contractors in the top 10 include Italy’s Saipem, India’s Larsen & Toubro, South Korea’s Samsung E&A and Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas.

Two regional contractors appear in the rankings. Saudi Arabia’s Alfanar Projects is in sixth place at $5.5bn, followed by Abu Dhabi’s NMDC in ninth position at $4.1bn.    

On the civil construction side, covering the construction and transport sectors, China State Construction Engineering Corporation is ranked first with $5.2bn of awarded work. In second and third place are Saudi Binladin Group and its compatriot Modern Building Leaders, with $3.5bn and $2.5bn, respectively. 

Rounding off the top five are two other Chinese firms: CRRC Corporation and China Harbour Engineering Company. 

Gigaproject expenditure

Another notable feature of the market last year was the performance of Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects. While the $850bn-plus gigaprojects programme has made headlines in recent years, spending on Public Investment Fund subsidiary and other similar major government expenditure drives was actually down on 2023. 

After year-on-year growth in the five years up to 2023, when just under $33bn-worth of gigaproject contracts were awarded, in 2024, the total fell by 40% to just $20.2bn. This confirms the slowdown in gigaproject activity following the pause and reprioritisation in the programme reported early last year.

At this stage, it is unclear if the programme will continue at its previous pace, with some observers saying Riyadh will focus on its event-driven developments, such as the 2030 World Expo and 2034 Fifa World Cup. 

However, if gigaproject expenditure does accelerate from its 2024 levels, then Saudi Arabia and the regional projects market as a whole could potentially reach even greater heights in 2025.

Published on 31 December 2024 and distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the MEED Yearbook 2025 includes:

> GIGAPROJECTS INDEX: Gigaproject spending finds a level

The MEED Yearbook 2025 country data files include:

Algeria databank

Bahrain databank

Egypt databank

Iran databank

Iraq databank

Jordan databank

Kuwait databank

Morocco databank

Oman databank

Qatar databank

Saudi Arabia databank

Tunisia databank

UAE databank
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13248230/main.gif
Edward James

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Chinese firm wins Emaar Address Zabeel contract

    17 October 2025

    Beijing-headquartered China State Construction Engineering Corporation has been awarded a contract by UAE-based developer Emaar Properties to build a multi-tower complex in Dubai’s Zabeel area called Address Residences Zabeel.

    The development will comprise four towers offering more than 1,700 one- to four-bedroom residential units, 2,600 square metres of retail space and parking for 2,000 cars. The towers will be 50, 58, 52 and 54 storeys high.

    The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

    The latest contract award from Emaar follows the start of construction activity at the Dubai Square mall, which will be connected to the upcoming Dubai Creek Harbour tower within Emaar's Dubai Creek Harbour development.

    MEED recently reported that Dubai-based contractor Dutco Construction had started mobilising for the main works on the project.

    Dubai’s heightened real estate activity has led to record-breaking announcements from several UAE-based real estate firms. 

    In February this year, Emaar reported a total revenue of AED19.1bn ($5.2bn) in 2024, a 61% increase from 2023. It said it recorded a net profit before tax of about AED10.2bn ($2.8bn), a 20% rise compared to 2023.

    According to data published earlier this year by the Emirates News Agency (Wam), the total value of real estate transactions in the UAE reached AED893bn, with more than 331,300 transactions recorded last year.

    UK analytics firm GlobalData forecasts that the UAE construction industry will register an annual growth of 3.9% in 2025-27, supported by investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, oil and gas, housing, industrial and tourism projects.

    READ THE OCTOBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Private sector takes on expanded role; Riyadh shifts towards strategic expenditure; MEED’s 2025 power developer ranking

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > AGENDA 1: A new dawn for PPPs
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14892821/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Chinese company to build tyre plant in Morocco

    17 October 2025

    Chinese tyre manufacturer Shandong Yongsheng Rubber has launched a $675m project to build a tyre factory in Morocco.

    The plant will initially produce 6 million semi-steel radial tyres annually, with plans to gradually increase capacity to 12 million units per year, according to a company statement.

    The tyres manufactured will be primarily destined for export to European, African and American markets.

    Shandong Yongsheng Rubber also plans to capitalise on preferential tariffs offered through Morocco’s free trade agreements with numerous jurisdictions, including the European Union, the US and several West African countries, the company said.

    The factory, to be developed in Morocco’s Diouch province, will produce tyres that meet technical standards for developed markets.

    Preliminary administrative procedures, including regulatory registration, have already been completed for the project.

    Increased investment

    Chinese companies in the automotive sector have increased investments in Morocco and neighbouring Algeria in recent years.

    In August, Chinese automotive interior materials manufacturer Kuntai announced plans to establish a production facility in Morocco through its subsidiary Kuntai Hongjing.

    The project represents a total investment of RMB100m ($13.7m) and will focus on manufacturing car floor mats and carpets for vehicles.

    In March, Great Wall Motor, one of China’s top 10 car manufacturers, announced plans to build its first factory in Algeria, joining other companies in the country, including Fiat, Peugeot and Kia.

    Last November, the Algerian Ministry of Industry & Pharmaceutical Production announced that it had granted permits for six new vehicle manufacturing factories in the country.

    In March 2023, Dutch carmaker Stellantis announced plans to spend more than €200m ($213m) to manufacture several Fiat models in Algeria.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14889877/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Two cement plants to be built in Egypt

    17 October 2025

    Egypt is planning to issue two new cement plant licences before the end of the year, with the aim of cubing rising prices in the country.

    The two new licences were approved during a recent meeting between local cement producers and Kamel El-Wazir, Egypt’s minister of trade and industry, according to a news report by Asharq Business, which cited an anonymous official.

    “The two permits are expected to be released before the end of the year, with each licence including its own production line,” the official said.

    The two new plants are expected to add 1.5-2 million tonnes a year of production to Egypt’s cement output.

    The cement project approvals from Egypt’s government come amid heightened concerns about the cost of construction projects in the country.

    Importing materials and equipment for projects has become increasingly expensive over recent years due to Egypt’s currency weakening. Over the past 12 months, the price of cement has increased by almost 50%.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14889881/main2139.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Kuwaiti contractor submits lowest bid for oil project

    17 October 2025

    Ahmadi-based Spetco International has submitted a low bid of KD88.2m ($288.7m) for the contract to develop the planned Mutriba remote boosting facility in Kuwait.

    The project was originally tendered by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) earlier this year, with a bid submission deadline of 29 June.

    The deadline was extended several times before three Kuwait-based companies submitted bids.

    The details of the bids submitted for the project are as follows:

    • Spetco International – KD88,209,236 ($288.7m)
    • Combined Group Contracting – KD123,000,000 ($402.5m)
    • Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting – KD129,450,000 ($423.7m)

    The project’s scope includes:

    • Development of the Mutriba oil field
    • Installation of the degassing station
    • Installation of manifolds
    • Installation of condensate facilities
    • Installation of wellhead separation units
    • Installation of the pumping system
    • Installation of wellhead facilities
    • Installation of oil and gas treatment plants
    • Installation of a natural gas liquids plant
    • Installation of a water and gas injection plant
    • Construction of associated utilities and facilities

    The onshore Mutriba oil field is located in northwest Kuwait and is being developed as part of Kuwait’s wider strategy to boost the country’s upstream capacity.

    Commercial output from Mutriba officially began on 15 June this year, after several wells were connected to KOC’s production facilities.

    The field, in a previously undeveloped part of Kuwait, covers more than 230 square kilometres and lies outside the area of fields already operated by KOC.

    In September, Kuwait’s Oil Minister Tareq Al‑Roumi said that the country’s oil production capacity had reached 3.2 million barrels a day (b/d), its highest level in more than 10 years.

    Despite the higher capacity, Kuwait says it will continue to abide by Opec+ agreements and will produce 2.559 million b/d.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14892763/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Power market reshapes contractor landscape

    16 October 2025

    Commentary
    Mark Dowdall
    Power & water editor

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    The number of UAE-based power projects awarded under the traditional engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model has fallen to its lowest level in the past decade.

    Admittedly, this does not include the Covid year of 2020, but the point stands. Across the GCC, capital is still flowing into the sector at record levels. What has changed is how that capital is being deployed.

    In a recent analysis, I revealed 2025 to be a record-breaking year, with the UAE’s power market recording its highest annual total for contract awards on record. Yet instead of a broad spread of smaller contracts, governments and utilities are concentrating investment in fewer larger and more complex schemes that are reshaping how the region’s energy systems are built and financed.

    In 2025, a single solar and battery storage independent power project (IPP) in Abu Dhabi accounts for 67% of the country’s total power contract value. EPC contracts, once the mainstay of the market, have been eclipsed by developer-led models as the preferred route for large-scale power generation.

    Saudi Arabia is moving in the same direction, albeit at a different pace. While EPC work remains central to grid expansion, the kingdom’s largest investments are now in utility-scale IPPs backed by the Public Investment Fund.

    In my recent annual ranking of private power developers across the GCC, the surge in power generation capacity owned by Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power was telling. Not only did the firm’s net equity grow by 70% in a single year, but it now eclipses the combined equity of the other leading developers in the region, a direct result of its dominant role in PIF-backed schemes. These projects, including multi-gigawatt solar and wind developments, are redefining the scale and structure of procurement.

    Behind this shift is a combination of market maturity, financing strategy and energy transition goals. Developer-led projects concentrate capital and risk in fewer hands, streamline procurement timelines and align closely with long-term policy objectives.

    For governments, they deliver capacity without requiring large upfront capital commitments. For developers, they offer stable, long-term returns through secure offtake agreements.

    But this concentration also narrows the field of opportunity. Where dozens of smaller EPC packages once supported a broad ecosystem of contractors and suppliers, today’s market is increasingly revolving around a handful of mega deals.

    Competition is intensifying for fewer projects, and entry barriers, ranging from balance sheet strength to technical capabilities, are rising.

    Smaller EPC contractors, once central to power delivery across the GCC, risk being pushed to the margins. Some will adapt by partnering with larger developers, but others may find fewer opportunities to participate.

    Which takes me back to the UAE. In the water sector, 2026 is already shaping up to be a landmark year, with nearly $31bn-worth of projects in tender. A single project, Dubai’s $22bn Strategic Sewerage Tunnel scheme, accounts for over 70% of this total.

    It will follow a public-private partnership (PPP) delivery model that consolidates the entire scope under one consortium, streamlining delivery. However, this approach significantly reduces the number of prime contracting opportunities, with smaller EPC firms more likely to find themselves competing for limited subcontracting roles rather than leading bids.

    It is important to note that while large-scale projects tend to dominate during major build-out phases, attention inevitably turns to smaller, more distributed schemes.

    However, this alone does not necessarily mean a return to the EPC-heavy landscape of the past. For now, as these large projects set the pace, the region’s energy transition may accelerate, but it will also decide who gets to reshape and build it.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14884161/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall