Diriyah floats museum tender
8 May 2025
Saudi gigaproject developer Diriyah Company has tendered a contract to build the new iconic museum in the DG2 area of the Diriyah project in Riyadh.
MEED understands that the tender was issued in April, with the bid submission deadline in June.
Diriyah completed the prequalification process for the project in February this year.
Diriyah Company is expected to award more multibillion-dollar contracts this year. In April, MEED exclusively reported that the client had awarded an estimated SR4bn ($1.1bn) contract for a utilities relocation package for the King Salman University (KSU) project located in the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).
The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Beijing-headquartered China Railway Construction Corporation and China Railway Construction Group Central Plain Construction Company.
Last month, MEED also reported that the company had awarded an estimated SR5bn ($1.3bn) construction deal to build the Royal Diriyah Opera House.
The contract was awarded to a joint venture of local firm El-Seif Engineering & Contracting, Beijing-headquartered China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Qatari firm Midmac Contracting.
Tendering activity is also progressing on several other major schemes at Diriyah, including the King Khalid Road project, which passes through the development. The client received bids from firms in the second week of April for the main construction works on this project.
The client is also expected to finalise the contract award shortly for the Arena Block assets in the Boulevard Southwest section in the DG2 area.
Diriyah gigaproject
The Diriyah masterplan envisages the city as a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination. Located northwest of Riyadh’s city centre, it will cover 14 square kilometres and combine 300 years of history, culture and heritage with hospitality facilities.
The company awarded several significant contracts last year, including three contracts worth over SR21bn ($5.5bn). These included an estimated $2bn contract awarded to a joint venture of El-Seif Engineering & Contracting and China State to build the North Cultural District.
In late July, Diriyah also awarded a $2.1bn package to a joint venture of local contractor Albawani and Qatar’s Urbacon to construct assets in the Wadi Safar district of the gigaproject.
In December, MEED reported that Diriyah Company had awarded an estimated SR5.8bn ($1.5bn) contract to local firm Nesma & Partners for its Jabal Al-Qurain Avenue cultural district, located in the northern district of the Diriyah Gate project.
Once complete, Diriyah will have the capacity to accommodate 100,000 residents and visitors.
MEED’s April 2025 report on Saudi Arabia includes:
> GOVERNMENT: Riyadh takes the diplomatic initiative
> ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy forges onward
> BANKING: Saudi banks work to keep pace with credit expansion
> UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level
> DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism
> POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year
> WATER: Saudi water contracts set another annual record
> CONSTRUCTION: Reprioritisation underpins Saudi construction
> TRANSPORT: Riyadh pushes ahead with infrastructure development
> DATABANK: Saudi Arabia’s growth trend heads up
Exclusive from Meed
-
-
US sanctions Iraq’s deputy oil minister8 May 2026
-
-
-
Teams form for Qiddiya high-speed rail PPP7 May 2026
All of this is only 1% of what MEED.com has to offer
Subscribe now and unlock all the 153,671 articles on MEED.com
- All the latest news, data, and market intelligence across MENA at your fingerprints
- First-hand updates and inside information on projects, clients and competitors that matter to you
- 20 years' archive of information, data, and news for you to access at your convenience
- Strategize to succeed and minimise risks with timely analysis of current and future market trends
Related Articles
-
Saudi Arabia tenders Jeddah-Mecca highway PPP8 May 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Roads General Authority (RGA) and the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP) have tendered the contract for the development of the Jeddah-Mecca highway project.
The tender was issued on 19 April, with a bid submission deadline of 19 August.
The scope of the tender is split into two sections: development of motor service areas (MSA) and highway services.
Under the MSA component, the company will develop, permit, finance, design, engineer, procure, construct, complete, test, commission, insure, operate and maintain three MSAs along the highway.
The contract term is 25 years, including two years of the construction period.
Each MSA plot will cover 34,500 square metres and will include facilities such as fuel stations, electric vehicle charging, truck services, tyre and oil change, car wash and repair, retail and food outlets, ATMs, restrooms, mosques, parking, landscaping and other associated utilities.
The highway services component will include insurance, operation and maintenance of highway assets for 10 years.
The 64-kilometre (km) Jeddah-Mecca highway has four lanes in each direction. The construction works on 51km are complete, while the rest is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2027.
In March, the RGA and NCP prequalified three bidders to develop the project. These were:
- Algihaz Holding / ICA Construction (local/Turkiye)
- Lamar Holding / Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation (Bahrain/China)
- Mada International Holding (local)
The expression of interest notice for the project was first issued in October 2024, as MEED reported.
The project is one of four planned highway schemes in the kingdom’s privatisation and public-private partnership (P&PPP) pipeline.
READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFGlobal energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG> CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance> MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversificationTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16731199/main.jpg -
US sanctions Iraq’s deputy oil minister8 May 2026
The US has sanctioned Iraq’s Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly, in another blow for the country’s oil and gas sector.
In a statement released by the US Treasury, it said that he “abuses his position to facilitate the diversion of oil to be sold for the benefit of the Iranian regime and its proxy militias in Iraq”.
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) has also designated three senior leaders of the militias Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq.
In its statement, it said that the US will continue to hold these groups and other militias in Iraq, such as Kata’ib Hizballah, accountable for their attacks against US personnel and civilians, diplomatic facilities and businesses across Iraq.
Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, said: “Like a rogue gang, the Iranian regime is pillaging resources that rightfully belong to the Iraqi people.”
He added: “Treasury will not stand idly by as Iran's military exploits Iraqi oil to fund terrorism against the United States and our partners.”
Ofac said that it designated Iraq’s deputy minister of oil on 7 May because he had been “instrumental in facilitating the diversion of Iraqi oil products to benefit known Iran-affiliated oil smuggler Salim Ahmed Said, as well as Iran-backed terrorist militia Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH)”.
It added: “For years, Maarij has used his official positions, first as the head of the Iraqi parliament’s oil and gas committee, and then within the Iraq Ministry of Oil, to enrich Said, AAH, and by extension, Iran.”
The US Treasury said that it designated Said in June 2025 for running a network of companies selling Iranian oil falsely declared as Iraqi oil to avoid sanctions.
In its statement, it said: “Integral to this operation was Said’s ability to obtain favoured access to Iraqi oil and procure forged documentation from Iraqi government officials, legitimising illicit oil.
“To that end, Said was responsible for bribing complicit officials in the Iraqi government, as well as reportedly installing Maarij in his official position.”
Since 2018, Maarij has held several positions in Iraq’s Oil Ministry, including head of the licensing and contracts office, deputy minister, and acting oil minister.
The US Treasury said that, in his official capacities, Maarij enabled Said to illicitly procure oil products by granting exportation rights to Said’s companies.
It claimed that Maarij authorised trucking several million dollars’ worth of oil a day from the Qayarah oil field to VS Oil Terminal in Khor Zubayr for export.
The US sanctioned VS Oil Terminal in July last year.
The US Treasury said that VS Oil oversaw the mixing of Iranian oil with Iraqi oil before being shipped to market.
It also said that Maarij is also responsible for falsifying documentation on the provenance of oil for Said’s network, enabling it to be smuggled to market disguised as purely Iraqi oil.
Neither Iraq nor Iran has responded to the announcement of the new sanctions.
The sanctions were announced as the US and Iran battle over control of the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen significant disruption to shipping since the US and Israel started their war with Iran on 28 February 2026.
Iraq’s oil and gas sector is currently going through a crisis due to the disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the country’s oil exports to collapse.
READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFGlobal energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG> CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance> MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversificationTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16729987/main.png -
Sabic registers profit in first quarter of 20268 May 2026
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) returned to profit in the first quarter of 2026, posting a net income of SR13.2m ($3.52m) compared to a SR1.21bn loss a year earlier.
The Saudi petrochemicals giant posted adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of SR4.15bn for the three months to 31 March, up 25% from the previous quarter.
The company’s revenue fell 6% quarter-on-quarter to SR26.15bn ($6.97m).
Adjusted net income was recorded in at SR816m, compared to a loss in the previous quarter, while adjusted earnings per share stood at SR0.27.
Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes rose to SR1.45bn, an increase of SR1.01bn from the prior quarter.
Sabic said its net position shifted to a debt of SR2.77bn at the end of March, from a net cash position of SR3.61bn at the end of 2025.
“Our transformation journey continues to deliver performance improvements that unlock greater value for our shareholders. We realised $220m at the Ebitda level on a recurring basis during the first quarter of 2026, in line with our planned improvement rate. This keeps us on track towards our cumulative 2030 annual target of $3bn, consisting of $1.4bn in cost excellence and $1.6bn in value creation,” Sabic CEO Faisal Alfaqeer said.
READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFGlobal energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG> CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance> MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversificationTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16719476/main1840.jpg -
Dubai extends bids for Hassyan SWRO pipeline packages7 May 2026
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has extended the bid submission deadlines for two water transmission pipeline packages linked to phase two of the Hassyan seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in Dubai.
The tenders cover the supply, installation, testing and commissioning works for glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) water transmission pipelines. The project will enable potable water to be transmitted from the phase two plant into Dubai’s transmission network.
The tender bond for the first package is AED9.6m ($2.6mn). The tender bond for the second project is AED17.9m. The deadlines for the two projects have been pushed back to 2 June and 4 June, respectively.
Local firms Al-Nasr Contracting, Tristar E&C and Wade Adams, along with UAE firm Binladin Contracting Group, are among the companies expected to submit bids for the main contracts for these projects.
In April, Dewa issued two separate tenders for transmission projects in the emirate.
The first tender covers the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of GRE water transmission pipelines and associated works at several locations in Dubai. The closing date for submissions is 4 June. Bidders are required to provide a tender bond of AED9m ($2.45m).
The second tender relates to 132kV cable works and associated modifications at several substations, including the Autosouq, Crystal and Danaro Road substations. The package also includes a new 132kV cable circuit and cable shifting works linked to the DXB INTRL 400/132kV substation.
The bid submission deadline is 11 June, with a required tender bond of AED17.5m.
In January, Dewa announced that construction of the 180 million imperial gallons a day phase one of the Hassyan SWRO independent water project was 90% complete.
READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFGlobal energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG> CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance> MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversificationTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16716599/main.jpg -
Teams form for Qiddiya high-speed rail PPP7 May 2026

Firms are forming joint ventures as part of a public-private partnership (PPP) package to bid for the upcoming works on the Qiddiya high-speed rail project in Riyadh.
The latest development follows Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Qiddiya Investment Company and the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP receiving prequalification statements from firms by 30 April for the PPP package of the rail project.
The consortiums that are planning to bid for the PPP package are:
- McQuarie / Hitachi / Keolis / Albawani / WeBuild / Hyundai / HyundaiRotem
- Plenary / Siemens / MTR / FCC / Nesma & Partners / Freyssinet
- Vision Invest / CRRC / Mapa
- Mada International / Renfe / Alstom / Hassan Allam Construction / El-Seif Engineering Contracting / China State Construction Engineering Corporation / Limak Holding
- Lamar Holding / Talgo / Mermec / China Harbour Engineering Company / Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting
The prequalification notice was issued on 19 January, and a project briefing session was held on 23 February at Qiddiya Entertainment City.
The Qiddiya high-speed rail project, also known as Q-Express, will cover 84 kilometres, connecting King Salman International airport and King Abdullah Financial District with Qiddiya City.
The line will operate at speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour, reaching Qiddiya in 30 minutes.
There are five stations planned: Qiddiya Grand Central Station, Qiddiya Uptown Station, King Abdullah Financial District, Terminal 6 King Salman International Airport (KSIA) and Iconic Terminal at KSIA.
Last month, MEED exclusively reported that contractors had submitted their prequalification statements for the engineering, procurement, construction and financing package by 16 April.
In November 2023, MEED reported that French consultant Egis had been appointed as the technical adviser for the project. UK-based consultancy Ernst & Young is acting as the transaction adviser, and Ashurst is the legal adviser.
READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFGlobal energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG> CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance> MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversificationTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16716585/main.jpg