Related Articles

• 
  Egypt contractor secures €58m loan for Hungary power plant

  6 February 2026

  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.

  Once complete, hydrogen will be able to supply up to 30% of the plant’s fuel needs.

  The project is being developed through a consortium comprising Energy Projects, a subsidiary of Elsewedy Electric, and local firms Status KPRIA and West Hungaria Bau (WHB).

  It was awarded by MVM Matra Energia, a subsidiary of Hungary’s state-owned power holding company Magya Villamos Muvek (MVM).

  As MEED understands, the plant is expected to have a power generation capacity of between 500MW and 650MW.

  Total investment in the scheme is estimated at about €700m, with CIB acting as the sole financier for Elsewedy Electric’s portion of the project.

  Construction officially began last September, with commercial operations scheduled for 2028.

  The scheme also represents Elsewedy Electric’s first major investment in Europe, adding to other foreign investment interests.

  Last May, it was reported that Elsewedy Electric intends to build a $100m electrical cable manufacturing plant in Iraq. This project has yet to advance beyond the initial stages.

  In 2024, the contractor connected three additional hydro turbine generators to Tanzania’s national power grid in partnership with The Arab Contractors.

  This brought the total power supply from the Julius Nyerere hydroelectric power project to 705MW.

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

  Spending 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:

  > AGENDA: Mena upstream spending set to soar > AGENDA: Global upstream spending to grow  > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED's GCC water developer ranking > INDUSTRY REPORT: Pipeline boom lifts Mena water awards > MARKET FOCUS: Qatar’s strategy falls into place > CURRENT AFFAIRS: Iran protests elevate regional uncertainty > CONTRACT AWARDS: Contract awards decline in 2025 > LEADERSHIP: Tomorrow’s communities must heal us, not just house us > INTERVIEW: AtkinsRealis on building faster > PORTS: DP World underpins Dubai’s economic growth strategy > INTERVIEW: Parsons says projects market will show resilience  > LEADERSHIP: Energy security starts with rethinking waste > LEADERSHIP: Why 2026 is a breakthrough year for Middle East construction

  To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15593289/main.jpg

  Mark Dowdall
• 
  AD Ports signs Jordan Aqaba port PPP deal

  6 February 2026

  Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group has signed an agreement with Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) to manage and operate the Aqaba multipurpose port.

  AD Ports will manage and operate the port under a 30-year concession agreement.

  Under the agreement, AD Ports and ADC will establish a joint venture to oversee port operations.

  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.

  It serves as a key transit point for Jordan’s neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The port has an annual handling capacity of 11 million tonnes, supported by nine berths, a quay length of 2 kilometres and a draft of 13.5 metres.

  In 2025, the terminal handled over 5.3 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 85,000 car equivalent units of Ro-Ro imports.

  Abu Dhabi has been deeply involved in making investments in Jordan’s infrastructure sector. In February last year, AD Ports Group signed an agreement to manage and operate the Al-Madouneh customs centre in Amman, as MEED reported.

  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.

  The joint venture company will upgrade operations at the Aqaba port complex in Jordan by implementing a port community system “that leverages Maqta Gateway’s expertise, also marking the first-ever export of Abu Dhabi’s key port digitalisation solution”, AD Ports said in a statement.

  AD Ports Group operates the Aqaba cruise terminal, and selected Dubai-based real estate developer Mag Group to lead the first phase of the Marsa Zayed mixed-use project.

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

  Spending 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:

  > AGENDA: Mena upstream spending set to soar > AGENDA: Global upstream spending to grow  > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED's GCC water developer ranking > INDUSTRY REPORT: Pipeline boom lifts Mena water awards > MARKET FOCUS: Qatar’s strategy falls into place > CURRENT AFFAIRS: Iran protests elevate regional uncertainty > CONTRACT AWARDS: Contract awards decline in 2025 > LEADERSHIP: Tomorrow’s communities must heal us, not just house us > INTERVIEW: AtkinsRealis on building faster > PORTS: DP World underpins Dubai’s economic growth strategy > INTERVIEW: Parsons says projects market will show resilience  > LEADERSHIP: Energy security starts with rethinking waste > LEADERSHIP: Why 2026 is a breakthrough year for Middle East construction

  To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15592973/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  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:

  • Cold stamping, body-in-white assembly and stamping facility – Shin Young (South Korea)
  • Hot stamping, sub-frames and axles subsystem supply facility – Benteler Group (Austria)
  • Façade and exterior-trim supply facility – JVIS (US)
  • Instrument panel, trims and console supply facility – Forvia (France)
  • Seat supplier – Lear Corporation (US)

  Earlier this week, MEED exclusively reported that Ceer had awarded a contract to build the automotive supplier park to Jeddah-based construction firm Modern Building Leaders (MBL).

  Netherlands-based engineering firm Arcadis is the project consultant, and Pac Project Advisors is the project management consultant.

  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.

  The 45,000-seat stadium will feature a fully combined retractable pitch, roof and LED wall.

  The stadium’s main construction works are being undertaken by a joint venture of Spanish firm FCC Construction and local firm Nesma & Partners.

  In January, MCC won another contract to undertake steel structure works for the expansion of Medina airport in Saudi Arabia.

  The scope covers work on boarding bridges, Terminal Two and the renovation of Terminal One.

  ---

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

  Spending 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:

  > AGENDA: Mena upstream spending set to soar > AGENDA: Global upstream spending to grow  > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED's GCC water developer ranking > INDUSTRY REPORT: Pipeline boom lifts Mena water awards > MARKET FOCUS: Qatar’s strategy falls into place > CURRENT AFFAIRS: Iran protests elevate regional uncertainty > CONTRACT AWARDS: Contract awards decline in 2025 > LEADERSHIP: Tomorrow’s communities must heal us, not just house us > INTERVIEW: AtkinsRealis on building faster > PORTS: DP World underpins Dubai’s economic growth strategy > INTERVIEW: Parsons says projects market will show resilience  > LEADERSHIP: Energy security starts with rethinking waste > LEADERSHIP: Why 2026 is a breakthrough year for Middle East construction

  To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15592955/main.gif

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Dubai Municipality tenders water pipeline projects

  5 February 2026

  

   

  Dubai Municipality has opened bidding for four separate engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts to expand and rehabilitate the emirate’s recycled water and sewerage networks.

  MEED understands that the largest project is the upgrade of old recycled water pipes – phase 1 (RW108-C1) project.

  The contract involves replacing approximately 45 kilometres of asbestos cement pipelines along Jumeirah Beach Road, Sheikh Zayed Road and in Deira.

  The package requires a tender bond of AED1m and the bid submission deadline is 26 February.

  The remaining tenders include:

  Package two: Network for Dubai-Al Ain Road, Bukhedra-Sheikh Zayed (IN103-C1 RW), covering the construction of approximately 33 kilometres of new recycled water pipelines, including lines serving Al-Nakheel communities, connections from the Warsan sewage treatment plant, and works near several major interchanges.

  Package three: Main recycled water network for Sheikh Zayed Road Interchange 7 to 4 (IN107-C1), involving upgrades about 18.2 kilometres in length of existing mains along Sheikh Zayed Road.

  Package four: Execution of remaining works for the Jebel Ali industrial sewerage and drainage system (DS188-C2), focusing on completion, rehabilitation and rectification of earlier works to meet municipal standards.

  A request for proposals (RFP) has been issued for all four contracts. The bid submission deadline for contracts two, three and four is 19 February.

  It is understood that the recycled water packages (one, two and three) require microtunnelling and horizontal directional drilling, construction of launch and reception shafts, dewatering and protection of existing services.

  Contractors will also be responsible for traffic diversions, reinstatement works and testing of completed networks. 

  Dubai Municipality said bidders are required to submit qualification, technical and commercial proposals for all four contracts.

  Packages two, three and four require tender bonds of AED800,000, AED500,000 and AED50,000, respectively.

  ---

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

  Spending 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:

  > AGENDA: Mena upstream spending set to soar > AGENDA: Global upstream spending to grow  > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED's GCC water developer ranking > INDUSTRY REPORT: Pipeline boom lifts Mena water awards > MARKET FOCUS: Qatar’s strategy falls into place > CURRENT AFFAIRS: Iran protests elevate regional uncertainty > CONTRACT AWARDS: Contract awards decline in 2025 > LEADERSHIP: Tomorrow’s communities must heal us, not just house us > INTERVIEW: AtkinsRealis on building faster > PORTS: DP World underpins Dubai’s economic growth strategy > INTERVIEW: Parsons says projects market will show resilience  > LEADERSHIP: Energy security starts with rethinking waste > LEADERSHIP: Why 2026 is a breakthrough year for Middle East construction

  To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15585433/main.jpg

  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Aramco defers bid submissions for Safaniya onshore project

  5 February 2026

  

   

  Saudi Aramco has postponed the bid submission deadline for a project to construct onshore surface facilities to boost productivity at the Safaniya offshore oil field development in Saudi Arabia.

  The Safaniya field is the world’s largest offshore oil field, with a production capacity of nearly 1.2 million barrels a day (b/d). Discovered in 1951, the field is located in the Gulf waters, approximately 265 kilometres north of Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran.

  Aramco has pushed back the bid submission deadline for the Safaniya onshore surface facilities project until 17 March, according to sources. The earlier bid submission date was 31 January.

  Aramco issued the main tender for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works on the Safaniya onshore surface facilities project on 9 July last year. Contractors were initially given deadlines of 24 October and 7 November to submit technical and commercial bids for the project, MEED previously reported.

  Prior to that, Aramco is understood to have issued the solicitation of interest document for the Safaniya field onshore surface facilities project in May, with contractors submitting responses by 28 May.

  The EPC scope of work has been divided into two packages:

  • Package 1 – Water treatment and injection plant:
    • Building new water injection units
    • Expansion of gas-oil separation plant one
    • Building storage tanks, transfer pumps and substation
    • A central processing facility at the Zuluf field development, including water transfer pumps, chemical injection skids and other components
       
  • Package 2 – Produced water utilities:
    • Fire water system
    • Potable water units
    • Utilities
    • Nitrogen generation system
    • Site buildings
    • Electrical infrastructure
    • Security systems
    • Telecommunications networks

  In addition to pursuing the onshore facilities project to boost Safaniya’s productivity, MEED also previously reported about Aramco issuing three key offshore tenders last year for the field’s next expansion phase.

  Contractors in Aramco’s Long-Term Agreement pool of offshore service providers submitted bids for the three tenders – Contracts Release and Purchase Order (CRPO) numbers 154, 155 and 156 – by 31 August. Aramco is evaluating bids for the three tenders and is expected to award contracts within the first quarter.

  ALSO READ: Aramco to finalise long-term agreements with engineering firms

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15582695/main5945.jpeg

  Indrajit Sen