meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Another bumper year for Mena projects

25 December 2024

 

The Middle East’s projects market in 2024 has been fuelled by the same heady cocktail of favourable oil prices, continued investment into oil and gas projects, government infrastructure spending, the energy transition, real estate investment and economic diversification that propelled the total value of awards in 2023 to record levels.

By the end of October 2024, there were $262bn of contract awards across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects. By the end of the year, the 2024 total may top the $290bn recorded in 2023. 

While economic diversification is a priority for governments across the region, oil and gas remains a key sector for project awards. The three largest contract awards in 2024 were from the sector.

The top-ranked contract by value was a $20bn deal awarded to Iranian companies Petropars, Oil Industries Engineering & Construction, Khatam Al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters and Mapna Group for the South Pars gas field pressure-boosting project in Iran by Pars Oil & Gas Company.

Next was the $8bn deal won by China’s Hualu Engineering Technology Company for delivering the Al-Faw refinery in Iraq for Southern Refineries Company.

The third-largest award was a $5.5bn contract won by a joint venture of France’s Technip Energies, Japan’s JGC Corporation and the UAE’s NMDC Group for the Ruwais low-carbon liquefied natural gas terminal project by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).

These contract awards mean that the oil and gas sector accounted for 32% of the $262bn total that was recorded in the Mena region by the end of October 2024.

Breaking down the sector into oil and gas separately reveals a telling trend. Oil accounts for 12% of awards, while gas accounts for 20%. These numbers reflect the growing importance of gas as a transition fuel that is cleaner and more environmentally friendly than oil, but still provides the dependable energy that many renewable alternatives still do not offer. 

Strong performances

Construction is the second-largest sector after oil and gas, accounting for 23% of awards. Its significance has dropped in 2024 compared to 2023, when it accounted for 32% of contract awards. 

In terms of value, there were $68bn of contract awards in 2024 until the end of October. If the same pace is maintained during November and December, the 2024 total is expected to be about $81bn, which falls short of the 2023 total of $97bn. 

While the total value of contract awards may have dropped, there was the largest construction contract award on record in 2024 – a $4.7bn deal secured by Italian contractor WeBuild for the construction of three dams for the Trojena mountain resort at Saudi Arabia’s Neom gigaproject. 

The power sector accounted for 18% of the total awards during the period, the largest of which was the $5.3bn contract won by Saudi Arabia’s Alfanar Projects and China Electric Power Equipment & Technology Company for the 7,000MW Saudi Central, Western and Southern Regions high-voltage direct current overhead transmission lines project being developed by Saudi Electricity Company.

When analysed by country, Saudi Arabia and the UAE dominate the market, and together they account for over 60% of contract awards across the region in 2024 up to the end of October. 

As the region’s largest economy, it is unsurprising that Saudi Arabia accounts for the largest share, with 38.6%, followed by the UAE, which had 22%. The next most significant country was Iran, which came in a distant third with 8% of contract awards. 

The outsized contribution of Saudi Arabia and the UAE reflects the relative economic stability found in the GCC compared to other countries in the region that are grappling with the impact of conflict and other associated financial pressures. 

Looking beyond the contract awards numbers, the biggest project announcement in 2024 came in April, when Abu Dhabi investment vehicle ADQ released details of plans to invest $35bn in Egypt. The plans involve ADQ acquiring the development rights for Ras El-Hekma, a planned new city on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coast, for $24bn. 

The development has been billed as having the potential to attract over $150bn in investment.

In October, ADQ appointed its subsidiary Modon Holding as the master developer for Ras El-Hekma. Modon will act as the master developer for the entire development, which covers more than 170 square kilometres (sq km). 

Modon will develop the first phase, which covers 50 sq km, and the remaining 120 sq km will delivered with private developers.

Key partners for delivering the project have already been found. For construction, Modon has signed a framework agreement with Egyptian firm Orascom Construction to serve as the primary contractor for the project’s first phase. 

Modon also signed a deal with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) for developing, financing and operating greenfield utility infrastructure projects, water desalination projects, electricity transmission and distribution projects and wastewater projects at the Ras El-Hekma development.

While economic diversification is a priority for governments across the region, oil and gas remains a key sector for project awards

Future prospects

Looking ahead, the performance of the projects market in 2025 will depend  on the favourable macroeconomic conditions remaining in the GCC, which if the other four members of the six-nation bloc are added, accounted for nearly 72% of the Mena region’s total contract awards during the first 10 months of 2024. 

The key metric to watch in 2025 will be the oil price. In mid-November, the price of Brent Crude was $72 a barrel, which is below what many in the region, including Saudi Arabia, require if they are to maintain their project spending plans. 

The outlook for oil prices is uncertain and after oil producers’ group Opec cut its global demand growth forecasts for both 2024 and 2025 for the fourth time, highlighting economic weakness in China, India and other regions, there are concerns prices will dip in 2025. 

The election of Donald Trump as US president adds to those concerns. He has promised to “drill, baby, drill”, and a sharp uptick in output from the US could cause oil prices to soften further.

Trump is also a protectionist and has said ‘tariff’ is his favourite word. Most of his new tariffs are expected to be aimed at China, which could mean that Chinese companies look to other markets that remain open to them, including the Middle East.

The appeal is clear to see. Chinese contractors already command a dominant position in the region – particularly in North Africa and Iraq – and Chinese companies will find great appeal in affluent markets such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which can offer large-scale project opportunities.

The other metric that will drive the projects market in 2025 is real estate. In the UAE, much of the ongoing development work is supported by the buoyant property market, particularly in Dubai, which has grown strongly throughout 2024. 

According to a report by data and analytics company Reidin, property sales in the UAE reached AED46.52bn ($12.7bn) in October 2024, marking a 55% year-on-year increase. Demand also remains robust, with 19,500 transactions recorded in October, reflecting a 72% rise compared to the same period in 2023. 

Looking ahead to 2025, Reidin says that the outlook remains optimistic as sustained demand, rising property values and steady inventory turnover are all expected to continue driving growth. 

While the forecast supports a positive outlook for construction in the UAE, those who have seen Dubai’s property market collapse before will be keenly watching the data in 2025.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13024940/main.gif
Colin Foreman

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

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Developers prepare Jordan solar EoIs

    8 July 2025

     

    The Jordanian Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources has extended the deadline to 12 August for the submission of expressions of interest (EoIs) for a contract to build and operate a new 200MW solar plant.

    The solicitation of interest was issued by the ministry in mid-May with an original deadline of July. 

    It is unclear why the deadline has been extended, given the relative conciseness of the required documents. However, it is likely that the interested developers are still forming joint ventures in advance of submitting any EoI.

    The photovoltaic facility’s procurement is unusual in that no specific land allocation has yet been set by the government. Instead, approved applicants will sign an initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the ministry, under which they will be requested to identify a suitable site within a designated location in advance of final proposal preparation and submission.

    In parallel, the MoU calls for them to proceed with measurement campaigns, feasibility studies, technical integration plans for connecting to the transmission network, as well as other preparatory and due diligence work, such as negotiating access to land and financing for the proposed project.

    Proposed projects must cover local electricity demand only, with no provision for electricity export.

    The developer or developer group which subsequently submits the lowest proposed tariff will be named the preferred bidder for the independent power plant (IPP) project, which has a concession period of between 20 and 25 years under the build-own-operate (BOO) contractual model.

    Jordan has a total electricity generation installed capacity of about 7.1GW as of 2023, according to data published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).

    Solar and wind power plants account for over 30 per cent of the total installed capacity, which is one of the highest, if not the highest, renewable energy installed capacities in the Middle East and North Africa region, compared to overall generation capacity.

    Work has been under way to enable the successful integration of renewable power into the electricity grid. 

    According to MEED Projects data, roughly $3.3bn-worth of power projects are under way or planned in Jordan, with generation facilities accounting for 59% of the total.

    MEED’s July 2025 report on Jordan includes:

    > ECONOMY: Jordan economy nears inflection point
    > GAS: Jordan pushes ahead with gas plans 
    > POWER & WATER: Record-breaking year for Jordan’s water sector
    > CONSTRUCTION: PPP schemes to drive Jordan construction
    > DATABANK: Jordan’s economy holds pace, for now

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14219682/main.jpeg
    Edward James
  • Saudi authority awards Salboukh data centre contract

    8 July 2025

     

    The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has awarded a contract to build a new data centre in the Salboukh area north of Riyadh.

    The contract was awarded to the local construction firm Albawani.

    MEED understands that the tender notice was first issued in August last year. The bids were submitted on 31 October.

    The planned data centre facility is expected to have an overall IT load capacity of 20MW.

    The project is anticipated to cost $140m-$150m.

    Saudi Arabia is experiencing an increase in data centre project activity as the government and private enterprises prepare to meet the demand arising from artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

    The SDAIA is leading the kingdom’s drive to become a major AI player by attracting AI-related investments into the country and fostering an AI startup ecosystem.

    The SDAIA’s research unit, the National Centre for AI, has developed a 7 billion-parameter large language model, known as Allam, which is designed to be an enabler of government services.

    Major Saudi enterprises, including Saudi Aramco, are also developing AI applications to boost the efficiency and productivity of their assets and employees.

    Evolving data sovereignty laws, which require personal and customer data to be stored within servers located in the kingdom, are further driving data centre construction activity.

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

    UAE and Turkiye expand business links; Renewed hope lies on the horizon for trouble-beset Levant region; Gulf real estate momentum continues even as concerns emerge

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

    > PROJECTS MARKET: GCC projects market collapses
    > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index continues climb
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14218516/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Second train commissioned at Iraqi oil field

    8 July 2025

    A second oil processing train has been successfully put into production at Iraq’s West Qurna-2 oil field, according to a statement from China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC).

    US-based ExxonMobil awarded a $316m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the second and third crude processing trains at the field to CEPCC in February 2022.

    ExxonMobil has since exited Iraq, handing over its stake in the West Qurna-1 field to PetroChina, the listed arm of state-controlled China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

    In its latest statement, CPECC said that the project to develop the second train, which it calls OT2, included a total of 46 systems and 174 subsystems, involving 16,613 checklists.

    It said: “The project department has overcome multiple challenges such as the harsh natural environment by carrying out labour competitions and strengthening management.”

    The company stated that during the project’s execution, it completed 13 screw cast-in-place piles a day and poured more than 500 cubic metres of concrete a week for eight consecutive weeks.

    It also said that it welded 1,000 inches of pipe a day and hoisted five modules of large pipe gallery modules a day.

    The flare of the oil processing train was lit on 28 June 2025 after more than 900 days of work by 1,000 workers, according to CPECC.

    The company said that on 29 June, all of the units of the facility were connected and it became fully functional.

    It added: “At present, the OT2 unit is running stably, with a daily crude oil output of 60,000 barrels, and will gradually increase to 105,000 barrels per day.”

    CPECC’s project department in West Qurna-1 is now expected to focus on the production and operation of OT2, as well as the trial operation and commissioning of the third oil processing train, known as OT3.

    After OT3 is put into production, the crude oil processing project is expected to achieve a daily crude oil output of 210,000 barrels.

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

    UAE and Turkiye expand business links; Renewed hope lies on the horizon for trouble-beset Levant region; Gulf real estate momentum continues even as concerns emerge

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

    > PROJECTS MARKET: GCC projects market collapses
    > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index continues climb
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14217387/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Slow year for Maghreb power and water awards

    7 July 2025

     

    The Maghreb region has experienced a slow 2025 in terms of power and water project contract awards. Hopes for the year now rely on a strong second half if the sector is to match the performance of previous years.

    As of early July, the total value of power project contract awards had reached $663m, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects. This means that by the end of the year, the market is expected to fall significantly short of the peaks of $3.8bn in 2023 and $4.5bn in 2024. 

    Libya’s recovery was a major driver in 2023, accounting for $2.9bn of the total for that year, while Algeria contributed $430m and Morocco $210m. There are no recorded power contract awards for Algeria or Libya in 2025. Morocco and Tunisia contributed $353m and $310m, respectively. 

    The total value of contract awards for water projects has also declined significantly. For the first six months of 2025, the total reached $189m, which is tracking behind the $815m of water project contract awards recorded in 2024.

    Both 2025 and 2024 are far behind the peak of $3.6bn registered in 2022, when Algeria alone accounted for $1.8bn of contract awards, followed closely by Morocco with $1.6bn. 

    For upcoming power and water contract awards, there are over $6bn of contracts in the bid or prequalification stage that are expected to be awarded within the next year. 

    In the water sector, Libya leads with $210m of soon-to-be-awarded contracts, followed closely by Tunisia at $260m. In the power sector, Morocco stands out with an impressive projected contract value of $5.3bn, while in Tunisia, there are $300m of upcoming power contract awards.

    Xlinks disappointment

    There have been some notable project developments in the power and water sectors across the Maghreb region over the past year. Most recently, at the end of June, the UK government withdrew its support for the Xlinks Morocco-UK power project.

    The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero decided not to consider a contract for difference for this large-scale renewable energy initiative, which aimed to deliver 3,600MW of renewable energy from Morocco to the UK via a 4,000-kilometre high-voltage direct current cable system.

    Sir Dave Lewis, chair of Xlinks, expressed disappointment, emphasising the project’s potential to significantly lower wholesale electricity prices in the UK.

    Power progress

    Other projects in Morocco are proceeding. The Ministry of Energy Transition & Sustainable Development has issued an invitation for expressions of interest for a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure project at Nador West Med Port. This project includes an LNG import terminal, pipelines and a gas power station with a capacity of approximately 1,200MW. The project aims to enhance Morocco’s energy security and diversify its energy sources.

    Additionally, Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water has invited firms to submit expressions of interest for contracts to build three gas-fired power stations with a total capacity of between 300MW and 450MW. These plants are expected to be commissioned by the summer of 2026, further contributing to the country’s energy infrastructure.

    Water advancements

    In the water sector, Algeria has inaugurated the El-Tarf desalination plant, which has a production capacity of 300,000 cubic metres a day. This facility is part of Algeria’s broader desalination programme, which aims to address water scarcity issues exacerbated by climate change. The Algerian government has allocated $3bn for the second phase of its desalination capacity expansion, with plans to build six new plants by 2030.

    Morocco is also advancing its water infrastructure, with Veolia undertaking the detailed design for a new seawater reverse osmosis plant near Rabat. This facility is expected to treat up to 822,000 cubic metres of seawater daily and will cater to regions particularly affected by drought.

    Policy focus

    For policy, governments have been manoeuvring as they respond to the global challenge of climate change. 

    Morocco is progressing with its green hydrogen initiatives, which are closely linked to its water projects. The country has set ambitious targets to produce 52% of its energy from clean sources by 2030, with plans to develop large-scale green hydrogen projects. These projects will require significant water resources for electrolysis, further intertwining the power and water sectors.

    Morocco also aims to increase its renewable capacity to 10,000MW by 2030, with a focus on solar, wind and hydroelectric power. Despite the recent Xlinks setback, the country is also exploring opportunities for exporting electricity to Europe, which could significantly enhance its energy market.

    Algeria is pursuing other avenues in its quest to diversify its energy sources. In April, Algerian Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, Mohamed Arkab, met with Wang Yongge, president of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), in Algiers. The two reviewed the ongoing cooperation between Algeria’s Commissariat for Atomic Energy (Comena) and CNNC, focusing on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, its medical applications and prospects for future development.

    The Algerian government also plans to invest heavily in desalination projects to ensure a sustainable water supply, with desalinated water expected to account for 60% of drinking water by 2030.

    Main image: Noor electric power station close to Ouarzazate, Morocco
     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14212527/main.gif
    Colin Foreman
  • Iraq to retender Baghdad Metro PPP project contract

    7 July 2025

    Iraq intends to retender the contract to develop and operate the Baghdad Metro project, following the award of the estimated $2.5bn contract last year.

    According to local media reports, Nasser Al-Assadi, adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani, stated that the previous developers had overestimated the project budget; therefore, the government will relaunch the entire process to implement the project.

    Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC) awarded an estimated $2.5bn contract to develop and operate the Baghdad Metro project in July last year.

    The contract was awarded to a consortium comprising France’s Systra, Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais (SNCF) and Alstom; Spain’s Talgo and Sener; and Turkish contractors.

    Germany’s Deutsche Bank was the project finance adviser.

    The project will be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme using a design, build, operate, maintain, finance and transfer model.

    Malaysian consulting firms ConsultantHSS and HSS Engineering were working on the project.

    Project scope

    The Baghdad Metro project is one of the largest infrastructure schemes in Iraq.

    It will comprise seven main lines totalling 150 kilometres (km), 64 metro stations, four workshops and depots for trains, two metro train control and management centres and power generation stations.

    The Green Line will extend 19km and run from the Al-Alawi terminal to the Doura terminal. The Red Line will be 27.7km long and will run from the Al-Alwai terminal to Maisaloun Square.

    The Blue Line will run 22km from the Al-Shaab terminal to Al-Zafaraniya. The Purple Line will be 14.5km long and will connect Al-Tayaran Square to Al-Shaab.

    The Yellow Line will extend 30km from Al-Baladiyat to Adan Square. The White Line will be 23km long and will run from Al-Kadhimiya to Al-Bayaa, while the Airport Line will run 12km from Baghdad airport to Al-Qadisiya.

    Each line will comprise a total of eight stations.

    The trains will include a gold-class cabin, a special cabin for women and children, and tourist cabins.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14211465/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal