Related Articles

• 
  Egypt faces complex economic reality

  13 March 2025

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  MEED’s March 2025 special report on Egypt includes:

  > COMMENT: Egypt battles structural issues
  > GOVERNMENT: Egypt is in the eye of Trump’s Gaza storm
  > ECONOMY: Egypt’s economy gets its mojo back
  > OIL & GAS: Egypt gas project activity collapses amid energy crisis
  > POWER & WATER: Egypt’s utility projects keep pace
  > CONSTRUCTION: Coastal city scheme is a boon to Egypt construction

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  MEED Editorial
• 
  LIVE WEBINAR: GCC Projects Market 2025

  13 March 2025

  Register now

  Topic: GCC Projects Market 2025

  Date & time: 11:00 AM GST, 20 March 2025

  Agenda:

  • Introduction and overview of the GCC projects market
  • Data-driven historical and current performance
  • Top clients and contractors
  • Assessment of main market drivers
  • Summary of the Saudi gigaprojects programme
  • Market overview by country and sector
  • Market pipeline and outlook for 2025 and beyond
  • Key trends, opportunities and challenges
  • Selected major projects to watch
  • Q&A session

  Hosted by: Edward James, head of content and analysis at MEED

  A well-known and respected thought leader in Mena affairs, Edward James has been with MEED for more than 19 years, working as a researcher, consultant and content director. Today he heads up all content and research produced by the MEED group. His specific areas of expertise are construction, hydrocarbons, power and water, and the petrochemicals market. He is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the Mena projects market. He is a regular guest commentator on Middle East issues for news channels such as the BBC, CNN and ABC News and is a regular speaker at events in the region. 

  Click here to register

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  MEED Editorial
• 
  Dubai property market rebounds in February

  13 March 2025

  Property prices in Dubai rebounded in February following a decline in January. Average property prices hit a record high of AED1,505 ($410) per square foot, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 1.41% or a rise of AED20.94 compared to January 2025, according to a statement from property agent Better Homes.

  The report also said there was a 17% increase in sales volume, reaching AED41bn across 14,929 transactions, marking a 15% month-on-month rise. This resurgence underscores Dubai's resilience and enduring appeal as a global property investment hub.

  The rebound comes just a month after a slight decline in property prices, which had marked the first decrease in over two years.

  In January, average prices fell by 0.57% to AED1,484 per square foot, raising concerns about market stabilisation. The February figures indicate that the market has quickly regained its momentum, driven primarily by a surge in off-plan properties, which accounted for 59% of all sales.

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  Colin Foreman
• 
  Siemens Energy wins $1.6bn Saudi deal

  13 March 2025

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  Chinese engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Harbin Electric International has awarded Germany’s Siemens Energy a contract to supply combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) units for the Rumah 2 and Nairiyah 2 independent power projects (IPPs) in Saudi Arabia. 

  The Rumah 2 and Nairiyah 2 CCGT  plants will each have a capacity of roughly 1,800MW, requiring an estimated investment of $2bn each.

  The value of the contract Siemens Energy won is $1.6bn.

  Siemens Energy will supply six SGT6-9000HL gas turbines, four SST6-5000 steam turbines, eight SGen6-3000W generators, two SGen6-2000P generators and associated auxiliary equipment for each site.

  The power plants are designed to replace ageing oil-fired stations, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 60% compared to traditional oil-based power generation.

  The project includes long-term maintenance agreements to support the plants’ operational reliability over the next 25 years, Siemens Energy said.  

  It added: “Core components for the power plants will be manufactured at the Siemens Energy Dammam Hub, which is currently expanding to increase local production capacity and support Saudi Arabia’s energy sector.”

  MEED reported in November last year that a developer consortium comprising the UAE-based Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), Japan’s Jera Company and the local Albawani Company had partnered with Siemens Energy for the projects’ gas turbines contract.

  The consortium tapped Harbin Electric to undertake the projects’ EPC.

  The power generation projects will be developed using a build, own and operate (BOO) model over 25 years, with principal buyer Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) as the sole offtaker.

  SPPC previously indicated that the four power plants will operate using natural gas combined-cycle technology with a carbon-capture unit readiness provision.

  SPPC’s transaction advisory team for the Rumah 1 and Nairiyah 1 and Rumah 2 and Al-Nairiyah 2 IPP projects comprises US/India-based Synergy Consulting, Germany’s Fichtner and US-headquartered Baker McKenzie. 

  Photo credit: Siemens Energy

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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:

  > AGENDA 1: Chinese firms dominate region’s projects market > AGENDA 2: China construction at pivotal juncture > LIBYA: Uncertainty and instability damage Libyan oil sector optimism > UPSTREAM 1: Offshore oil and gas sees steady capex > UPSTREAM 2: Saudi Arabia to retain upstream dominance > BAPCO: Bahrain to benefit from $7bn project by year’s end > MASDAR: Masdar meets renewable’s moonshot challenge > DIRIYAH: Diriyah CEO sets the record straight > SAUDI POWER: Saudi power projects hit record high > AUTOMOTIVE: Saudi Arabia gears up to lead Gulf’s automotive sector > EGYPT: Egypt battles structural issues > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf hits six-month growth streak > CONTRACT AWARDS: High-value deals signed in power and industrial sectors > ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects > OPINION: Trump’s foreign policy shakes global relations

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

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  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  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.

  Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

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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:

  > AGENDA 1: Chinese firms dominate region’s projects market > AGENDA 2: China construction at pivotal juncture > LIBYA: Uncertainty and instability damage Libyan oil sector optimism > UPSTREAM 1: Offshore oil and gas sees steady capex > UPSTREAM 2: Saudi Arabia to retain upstream dominance > BAPCO: Bahrain to benefit from $7bn project by year’s end > MASDAR: Masdar meets renewable’s moonshot challenge > DIRIYAH: Diriyah CEO sets the record straight > SAUDI POWER: Saudi power projects hit record high > AUTOMOTIVE: Saudi Arabia gears up to lead Gulf’s automotive sector > EGYPT: Egypt battles structural issues > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf hits six-month growth streak > CONTRACT AWARDS: High-value deals signed in power and industrial sectors > ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects > OPINION: Trump’s foreign policy shakes global relations

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

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  Colin Foreman