Gulf projects market continues upward climb
22 January 2024
The Gulf projects market has grown for the 10th straight period, rising by 1.3 per cent from 14 December to 12 January – building on a record 21.4 per cent cumulative expansion in value over the course of 2023, which also witnessed the GCC market’s collective value break the $3tn mark.
Over the four-week period, $49.1bn-worth of projects were recorded across the Gulf region, with the activity concentrated in the projects markets of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman within the GCC, accompanied by supportive growth in the projects markets of both the Iran and Iraq.
Top performers
The Saudi projects market added the most value, growing by $16.5bn or 0.9 per cent, led by the revival of activity on phase two of Pilgrim City in Medina under the Public Investment Fund subsidiary Rua al-Madinah Holding.
Progress also got under way on the planned $533m Heart of Mount Uhud resort project in Medina after Al-Mqr Development, the investment arm of the Medina municipality, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Alameriah for Investment and Malaysian Generations Builder for the project’s development.
Saudi petrochemicals firm Sipchem and the National Industrialisation Company also awarded a $500m ethylene cracker expansion project to South Korean contractor SGC eTEC Engineering & Construction.
The UAE projects market meanwhile added $11.8bn or 1.7 per cent in value, led by the resumption of progress on the design of the $3.6bn West Terminal as part of the Al-Maktoum International airport expansion. Ras al-Khaimah’s Utico also signed a $500m MoU with the Dubai-based Yellow Door Energy to provide solar power for a pumping station in Umm al-Quwain.
The Omani project market expanded by the most in the Gulf in percentage terms, growing by 3.9 per cent or $8.4bn in value. The activity in the sultanate was led by the launch of an estimated $3.5bn, 3GW integrated solar and wind energy and storage project in Duqm by Vulcan Green Energy, a subsidiary of Jindal Steel, and Oman’s OQ Alternative.
Iran’s projects market then expanded by 3.4 per cent or $9.1bn, while Iraq’s projects market grew by 1.8 per cent or $5.9bn and the Bahrain projects market inched up by 0.1 per cent or $0.1bn.
The Qatari projects market edged downwards by 0.2 per cent or $0.4bn, while the Kuwaiti market witnessed the greatest percentage and value declines – at 1.3 per cent and $2.3bn, respectively.
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The request for qualifications (RFQs) was issued by the municipality’s Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department (SRPD).
The bid submission deadline is 26 February.
The first scheme under the package is TF-16-C1, which involves upgrading and rehabilitating the stormwater system east of the Dubai Canal.
The second, TF-15-C2, will deliver stormwater links along Umm Suqeim Road to serve the Al-Barsha and Al-Quoz communities.
The third project, TF-13-C1, focuses on developing a drainage system for the Al-Marmum area.
Several engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts have been awarded under the Tasreef initiative, which aims to expand Dubai’s rainwater drainage capacity by 700% by 2033
In January, local firm DeTech Contracting won the main contract to construct a stormwater drainage system in Jebel Ali.
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Separately, Dubai Municipality has opened bidding for EPC contracts to expand and rehabilitate the emirate’s sewerage networks.
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READ THE FEBRUARY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFSpending on oil and gas production surges; Doha’s efforts support extraordinary growth in 2026; Water sector regains momentum in 2025.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the February 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts
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Abu Dhabi-based developer Modon Holding has tendered several contracts as part of the first phase of development at Ras El-Hekma, a planned new city on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
MEED understands that the tenders were issued in January.
These include:
DP3 assets: covering 146 residential villas, 590 three-bedroom townhouses, 356 four-bedroom townhouses, a mall and other associated works.
Bids due on 23 February.
DP4 assets: DP4 includes 54 villas, a clubhouse and other associated infrastructure.
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DP5 assets: The scope covers the construction of two hotels, branded residences, a retail facility and other associated works.
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DP6 assets: This package covers a 200-key Montage hotel, 96-unit Montage-branded residences and related infrastructure.
Bids due on 17 March.
DP7 assets: 120 five-bedroom villas, 230 seven-bedroom villas, 284 branded residential units and other infrastructural works.
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Modon has accelerated development works at Ras El-Hekma this year. In January, MEED reported that Modon Holding had awarded a E£15bn ($316m) contract for the construction of a project at Ras El-Hekma.
The contract was awarded to the local firm Orascom Construction.
The scope of the contract covers the construction of residential units, commercial facilities and a 70-key hotel.
In September, MEED reported that Modon Holding had tendered contracts for the infrastructure works for the first phase of the Ras El-Hekma project.
As part of the first phase, Modon plans to develop more than 50 million square metres (sq m), including hotels and a marina.
Ras El-Hekma is on a spur of land on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coastline, about 240 kilometres west of Alexandria.
Last year, Abu Dhabi-based holding company ADQ appointed Modon Holding as the master developer for the Ras El-Hekma project.
According to an official statement, Modon will act as the master developer for the entire development, which will cover more than 170 million sq m.
Modon Holding will develop the first phase of the project, which will cover 50 million sq m.
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In September 2024, Modon signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with local and international firms to join the development. It signed a framework agreement with Orascom Construction to serve as the primary contractor for the project’s first phase.
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Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB) has provided €58m in credit facilities to local firm Elsewedy Electric for the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in Hungary.
Located in Visonta, the plant will be the largest combined-cycle facility built in Hungary in decades and the country’s first power plant capable of using hydrogen.
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It was awarded by MVM Matra Energia, a subsidiary of Hungary’s state-owned power holding company Magya Villamos Muvek (MVM).
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AD Ports signs Jordan Aqaba port PPP deal
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AD Ports will manage and operate the port under a 30-year concession agreement.
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AD Ports will hold a 70% stake in the joint venture, with the remaining 30% held by ADC.
AD Ports Group will also invest AED141m ($38.4m) in the joint venture.
The signing ceremony was held at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority headquarters in Aqaba on 5 February.
The agreement was signed by Hussein Safadi, CEO of ADC, and Ahmed Al-Mutawa, regional CEO of AD Ports Group.
Aqaba port handles about 80% of Jordan’s exports and 65% of its imports.
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In 2025, the terminal handled over 5.3 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 85,000 car equivalent units of Ro-Ro imports.
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The Al-Madouneh customs centre covers about 1.3 million square metres (sq m) and was inaugurated in June last year.
The announcement followed AD Ports Group’s signing of a shareholders’ agreement in January 2024 between its digital arm, Maqta Gateway, and Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation regarding their existing joint-venture company, Maqta Ayla.
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal
6 February 2026
Beijing-headquartered Metallurgical Construction Corporation (MCC) has won a contract to undertake the steel structure works on the Ceer automotive supplier park in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
The supplier park is located next to Ceer’s electric vehicle (EV) production facility in KAEC.
The automotive supplier park will include production and ancillary facilities for various suppliers and provide the material supply infrastructure for Ceer’s EV plant.
The facilities include:
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Ceer retendered the project in September last year.
The latest contract award is another significant contract win for MCC in Saudi Arabia. In January, MEED reported that MCC had won a contract to undertake the steel structure works on Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium at the Qiddiya City project on the outskirts of Riyadh.
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