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• 
  Kafd monorail in Riyadh to commence operations in 2027

  25 August 2025

  Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company (Kafd DMC) is expected to begin monorail operations in 2027.

  According to local media reports, Faddy Alaql, chief asset delivery officer at Kafd, said construction is anticipated to begin by the end of this year, with the project ready for commissioning by 2027.

  The scope of work includes the construction of a 3.6-kilometre elevated monorail in a loop configuration, with six elevated stations and six trains – each consisting of two carriages.

  The monorail will connect public buildings within Kafd and integrate with the Riyadh Metro system.

  It is expected to carry up to 3,500 passengers an hour during peak times.

  In October last year, MEED exclusively reported that Kafd DMC had awarded an estimated SR1.2bn ($320m) deal to complete its monorail project at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.

  The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Egyptian contractor Hassan Allam and Chinese rolling stock provider CRRC.

  French engineering firm Systra is understood to have updated the technical and supervision studies for both systems and civil engineering works.

  Project background

  According to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, the scheme was put on hold in 2016 after a decade of planning.

  In 2010, Bombardier, now part of French firm Alstom, won a $241m contract to build the monorail.

  Bombardier, in partnership with local contractor Saudi Oger, was selected to provide its Innovia operation and maintenance services for the system over a 10-year period.

  Located in Riyadh, Kafd is a mixed-use development managed by Kafd DMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

  The district was previously managed by Rayadah Investment Corporation.

  Construction contracts for several towers in the district were awarded in 2009.

  The project stalled when work was approximately 70% complete and later resumed in 2018, after the PIF took over from the Public Pension Agency in 2016-17.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14535623/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Iraq deploys Turkish power ships to ease electricity shortfall

  25 August 2025

  Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity has begun deploying electricity-generating ships to bolster the national power system. The first Turkish vessel, capable of producing 125MW, arrived at Umm Qasr Port on Thursday.

  Minister of Electricity Ziyad Ali Fadhil told the Iraqi News Agency that the ships are part of a government plan to add 600MW to the national grid while reducing reliance on imported fuel.

  “The Council of Ministers has taken decisions related to purchasing energy through barges to enhance the electricity system’s production and reduce dependence on imported fuel,” he said.

  The second vessel, Orka Sultan, arrived at Khor Al-Zubair Port in Basra province on Saturday. It docked at berth 13 and has the same capacity of 125MW, bringing the combined output of the two vessels to 250MW.

  Fadhil said the first barge will be fully docked at the quay within seven days of fuel delivery and will begin generating electricity within the same period. 

  Preparations are under way to supply gas oil fuel for the operation of both stations once the operating company takes over.

  The vessels are part of a project led by BKPS, a Karpowership affiliate, to deploy its signature powerships to support Iraq’s energy security.

  The deployment comes as Iraq faces near-nationwide blackouts, with recent temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) driving electricity demand for air conditioning.

  The country periodically suffers from power outages, especially during the summer months, when increased cooling requirements overwhelm its power plants and electricity grid.  

  The country’s power shortfall has been exacerbated by underinvestment in infrastructure, repeated heatwaves and disruptions to gas imports from neighbouring Iran.

  The Turkish vessels are part of a broader model of floating power stations, often deployed by companies such as Karpowership to countries needing electricity but lacking the time or resources to build permanent onshore capacity.

  Karpowership said in a statement that it will “provide electricity for an initial contract period of 71 days”, helping to stabilise the national grid and meet demand.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14534752/main.jpg

  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Acwa Power, SEC and Kepco close $4bn Saudi IPP deals

  25 August 2025

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  Acwa Power, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) have achieved financial close for the 3,600MW Rumah 1 and Nairyah 1 independent power producer (IPP) projects in Saudi Arabia. The two projects represent a total investment of about SR15bn ($4bn).

  Saudi Power Procurement Company is the principal buyer for the projects, responsible for tendering and power offtake. Ownership of the project companies, Remal Energy Company for Rumah 1 and Naseem Energy Company for Nairyah 1, is split between Acwa Power (35%), SEC (35%) and Kepco (30%).

  The projects form part of the Saudi Energy Ministry’s plan to maximise local power supply in line with Vision 2030.

  They also support the kingdom’s net-zero 2060 target and allow for future integration of carbon capture facilities.

  Financing was secured from a syndicate of local, regional and international lenders, including Export Import Bank of Korea, Saudi National Bank, Saudi Investment Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation.

  MEED reported in Novemeber that the Acwa, SEC and Kepco consortium had won the contracts to develop the two combined-cycle gas turbine IPPs. Tokyo-headquartered Mitsubishi Power was to supply the gas turbines to power the plants.

  The team offered a levelised electricity cost of 4.5859 $cents a kilowatt-hour ($c/kWh) for Rumah 1 and 4.6114 $c/kWh for Nairiyah 1.

  Rumah 1 involves the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine plant with a capacity of 1,800MW in Riyadh Province. The project will be developed by Remal Energy Company with an investment of SR7.5bn ($2bn).

  Nairyah 1, also with a capacity of 1,800MW, will be built in the Eastern Province and developed by Naseem Energy Company. The investment value is about SR7.5bn ($2bn)

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14534558/main3558.jpg

  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Riyadh Metro Line 2 is a bellwether for Saudi construction

  25 August 2025

  Commentary
  Colin Foreman
  Editor

  Speaking to MEED at the end of the first quarter of this year, one of the region’s most active construction companies identified a bellwether project for 2025: the expansion of Riyadh Metro’s Line 2.

  At the time, much of the conversation in the market centred on the reprioritisation of projects in Saudi Arabia and expected budget cuts to some of the kingdom’s largest developments. The reasoning was that if the Line 2 project proceeded, it would signal that Riyadh remains committed to delivering key infrastructure.

  On 18 July, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City awarded the Arriyadh New Mobility Consortium the estimated $800m-$900m contract. A few weeks later, Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants, a joint venture of US-based Parsons and French engineering firms Egis and Systra, was confirmed as the project management and construction supervision consultant. 

  The 8.4-kilometre (km) extension, comprising 1.3km of elevated track and 7.1km underground, includes two elevated stations and three underground stations.

  It will run from King Saud University (KSU) to new stations at KSU Medical City, KSU West, Diriyah East and Diriyah Central – where it will interchange with the planned Line 7 – and finally to Diriyah South.

  The alignment is important as it provides a vital transport link for the $63bn Diriyah project and builds on the popularity of the existing metro network, which opened at the end of 2024.

  It also shows contractors that while there is talk of a reprioritisation, opportunities for work on major projects remain.

  

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• 
  Emaar appoints contractor for Dubai Creek Harbour tower

  22 August 2025

  

   

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  UAE firm Engineering Contracting Company has won a contract to build the Palace Residences Creek Blue residential development at Dubai Creek Harbour.

  The 50-storey tower is located in the second phase of the development's Bridge District and covers an area of over 98,000 square metres.

  The contract was awarded by Dubai-based real estate developer Emaar Properties.

  Dubai-headquartered Mirage is the project consultant.

  Construction work has started, with local firm Dutch Foundation carrying out the enabling works.

  The project is scheduled for completion by 2028.

  In March, MEED reported that Emaar Properties was set to relaunch its efforts to build Dubai Creek Tower – which was once touted to become the world’s tallest tower – along with a mall in Dubai’s Creek Harbour area.

  According to local media reports, the firm has earmarked a budget of about AED14bn ($3.81bn) to develop both projects.

  The developments are fundamental to Emaar’s plans to spend about AED65bn ($18bn) over the next five years.

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

  In February, 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 a report published by Emirates News Agency (Wam) earlier this year, the total value of real estate transactions reached AED893bn, with over 331,300 transactions recorded in the UAE 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.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14521666/main.png

  Yasir Iqbal