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Chinese builders go global

13 March 2025

Commentary
Colin Foreman
Editor

Read the March MEED Business Review

It is difficult to fathom the scale of growth experienced by China’s construction sector over the past 20 years. Since 2004, it has grown by over 800%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11% to reach an estimated value of $4.5tn.

That success has created contractors that are now the largest construction companies on the planet. According to GlobalData, seven Chinese companies are among the top 10 largest construction companies in the world, with China State Construction Engineering Corporation topping the list with revenues of $320bn.

In the Middle East and North Africa, Chinese contractors dominated in 2024 by securing $90bn of the $347bn of contracts awarded, according to data from MEED Projects.

The region’s active projects market has created unprecedented demand for contractors. Most notably, project clients in Saudi Arabia have been actively courting international construction companies to come and work in the kingdom.

Many international contractors exited the region over the past decade, which has meant Chinese contractors have had little competition as they stepped in to fill the void and deliver crucial projects.

On top of exploiting the shifting competitive landscape, Chinese successes have been able to meet the budgetary requirements of many projects, offering cost-effective solutions and even providing financing.

At the same time, the maturing Chinese economy has driven contractors to seek opportunities abroad. With a slowing domestic real estate market, they are turning to international markets for growth. The Middle East presents an attractive option due to its wide range of projects, backed by financially secure clients and governments.

The scale of the contractors and the large number of players yet to meaningfully venture overseas means they possess the ability to grow even further in the Middle East and North Africa as the region continues to press ahead with large-scale projects that require vast resources.

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READ THE MARCH MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – clck here to view PDF

Chinese contractors win record market share; Cairo grapples with political and fiscal challenges; Stronger upstream project spending beckons in 2025

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

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf hits six-month growth streak
To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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Colin Foreman

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