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• 
  Chinese firm wins Dubai drainage contract

  20 July 2026

  China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has announced it has won a contract to deliver a stormwater drainage pipeline package under Dubai Municipality’s Tasreef programme.

  The contract is for the TF-15-C2 stormwater drainage network project located along Umm Suqeim Road in the Al-Barsha and Al-Quoz areas of Dubai. 

  MEED exclusively revealed in May that the contractor had been selected for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract. The project is estimated to cost $162m.

  The scope of work includes the construction of about 20 kilometres of new stormwater pipelines, together with associated inspection and intake manholes. The project is located west of the Dubai Canal and will connect the Al-Quoz 3 and Al-Quoz 4 industrial areas with Al-Quoz 1.

  It is being delivered as part of Dubai’s Tasreef strategic plan, which supports the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Once completed, the new drainage infrastructure is expected to improve the emirate’s stormwater network, increase flood protection and enhance the resilience of Dubai’s infrastructure.

  In February, the municipality confirmed it had awarded contracts for five new projects under phase two of the programme to expand and strengthen Dubai’s stormwater drainage network.

  These include a separate contract awarded to CSCEC for the TF-11-C1 stormwater drainage project in the Dubailand area.

  Also in February, Dubai Municipality invited consultants to qualify for a contract to supervise construction on the TF-15-C2 stormwater drainage projects along with two other projects (TF-13-C1 and TF-16-C1) under the Tasreef programme.

  According to a source, a consultant has yet to be appointed.

  TF-16-C1 involves upgrading and rehabilitating the stormwater system east of the Dubai Canal, while TF-13-C1 involves building a water pipeline stormwater drainage system at Al-Marmoum, Al-Qudra and Al-Yalayis 2 & 3.

  Bids are currently under evaluation for the EPC contracts for both projects.

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  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Firms given more time for Mid Island Parkway prequalifications

  20 July 2026

  

   

  Abu Dhabi’s Modon Infrastructure has extended the deadline to 31 July for firms to submit expressions of interest and prequalification statements for the next phase of Abu Dhabi’s Mid Island Parkway Project (MIPP), which will be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP).

  The previous deadline was 15 July. MEED understands the prequalification notice was issued in June, following Modon Infrastructure’s invitation in May for firms to register their interest.

  Modon Infrastructure will act as the lead developer and will hold a majority equity stake in the project company. It will award contracts for engineering, procurement and construction; operations and maintenance; and project advisory services.

  Phase two of the MIPP involves the construction of about 11 kilometres (km) of highways, comprising a mix of three-, four- and five-lane sections. The highways will connect the Um-Yifeenah, Al-Jubail, Al-Sammaliyyah and Sas Al-Nakhl islands to Khalifa City and the E10 road.

  The scope also includes the construction of three interchanges – E20, E10 and Dumbbell – on Al-Sammaliyyah Island.

  The project includes several major structures, including the E20 interchange, which will feature cast-in-place box-girder and void-slab bridges, and the E10 interchange, which will feature cast-in-place box-girder bridges. It also includes I-girder bridges between Raha Beach West and Sas Al-Nakhl Island, as well as a causeway at Sas Al-Nakhl Island.

  Further elements include a cast-in-place balanced cantilever bridge between Sas Al-Nakhl Island and Al-Sammaliyyah Island; a tunnel between Al-Sammaliyyah Island and Bilrimaid Island; and a cut-and-cover (open) tunnel on Bilrimaid Island. Another tunnel will connect Bilrimaid Island to Um-Yifeenah Island.

  Abu Dhabi awarded three packages for phase one of the MIPP in 2024. The contract for Package 1A was awarded to a joint venture of Turkish contractor Dogus Construction and UAE firm Gulf Contractors. Package 1B was awarded to a joint venture of Yas Projects (Alpha Dhabi Holding) and China Railway International Group. Beijing-headquartered China Harbour Engineering Company and the UAE’s Agility Engineering & Contracting Company won the contract for Package 1C.

  Phase one starts at the existing Saadiyat Interchange, connecting the E12 to the MIPP, and ends at the recently constructed Um-Yifeenah Highway.

  It comprises a dual main road with a total length of 8km, including four traffic lanes in each direction, two interchanges, a tunnel and associated infrastructure works.

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  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Aramco executive becomes Samref chairman

  17 July 2026

  Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company (Samref) has announced the appointment of Abdullah Bin Saleh Al-Suwailem as the chairman of its board of directors.

  Al-Suwailem serves as senior vice president of Western Region manufacturing at Saudi Aramco.

  Prior to being appointed chairman, Al-Suwailem had been a member of the Samref board since .

  Samref is the downstream joint venture of Aramco and US oil and gas producer ExxonMobil. The entity owns a crude refining facility located in Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, which entered operations in November 1984.

  The Samref refinery has a capacity of 400,000 barrels a day (b/d) and mainly produces propane and several grades of automotive diesel oil, two grades of marine heavy fuel oil and sulphur.

  In a , Samref said that Al-Suwailem “brings more than 30 years of leadership across the refining and petrochemicals sectors, having led some of the kingdom's most significant industrial joint ventures”.

  “We expect his deep expertise in governance and large-scale operations to be invaluable as Samref continues its journey of growth and operational excellence. We look forward to his leadership in steering the board's strategic direction,” Samref added.

  Aramco and ExxonMobil signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in May 2025 to evaluate a significant upgrade of the Samref complex and expand the oil refining facility into a world-class integrated petrochemicals complex.

  The MoU between Aramco and ExxonMobil to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and convert the facility into an integrated refining and petrochemicals complex was signed at the Saudi-US Investment Forum held in Riyadh on 13-14 May 2025, during US President Donald Trump’s state visit to Saudi Arabia.

  MEED understands that the Samref petrochemicals expansion project is one of the schemes that comprise Aramco’s $100bn liquids-to-chemicals programme.

  Aramco has divided its liquids-to-chemicals programme into four main projects and has taken steps forward this year by signing joint-venture investment agreements with foreign partners for these schemes:

  • Conversion of the Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery Company (Sasref) complex in Jubail into an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex through the addition of a mixed-feed cracker. The project also involves building an ethane cracker that will draw feedstock from the Sasref refinery. Front-end engineering and design (feed) on the project is under way and is being performed by Samsung E&A, although progress has been slow.
  • Conversion of the Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (Yasref) complex in Yanbu into an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex through the addition of a mixed-feed cracker. China’s Sinopec is a joint-venture partner in the project.
  • Conversion of the Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company (Samref) complex in Yanbu into an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex through the addition of a mixed-feed cracker. US oil and gas producer ExxonMobil, Aramco and Samref signed a venture framework agreement in December to begin preliminary feed work on the project.
  • Building a crude oil-to-chemicals complex in Ras Al-Khair in the Eastern Province. Progress on this project remains slow.

  The central aim of the strategic programme is to derive greater economic value from every barrel of crude produced in Saudi Arabia by converting 4 million b/d of Aramco’s oil production into high-value petrochemicals and chemicals feedstocks by 2030.

  Aramco and its subsidiary Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) were tasked with establishing 10-11 large mixed-feed crackers by 2030. These petrochemicals crackers, which included greenfield developments and expansions of existing facilities, were to be built both in Saudi Arabia and in overseas markets.

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

  Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

  Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

  > AGENDA: Gulf aviation ambitions face uncertain future > AIRPORTS: Dubai and Riyadh reaffirm airport ambitions > MARKET FOCUS: Levant recovers in three speeds  > INDUSTRY REPORT: Dubai eyes tourism sector recovery > INTERVIEW: EtihadWE prepares roadmap for future projects  > PROJECTS MARKET: Mena project momentum holds despite conflict  > DATA CENTRES: Big Tech falls short on data centre promise > SAVINGS: Retirement creates multibillion-dollar opportunity for region   > LEADERSHIP: Aramco’s citizen developers accelerate digital change

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

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  Indrajit Sen
• 
  Accor expects Dubai hotel recovery by mid-2027

  17 July 2026

  

   

  Paris-headquartered hotel operator Accor expects Dubai’s hotel market to return to pre-conflict occupancy levels by the end of the first quarter or early second quarter of 2027, with room rates lagging the volume recovery by several months.

  Duncan O’Rourke, chief executive for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific at the hotel operator (pictured right), said the group had maintained profitability across its Dubai portfolio during the conflict period through cost control and revenue management, but acknowledged that rates and occupancy had fallen materially from January and February levels.

  “There is no question that this crisis affected Dubai,” O’Rourke said at a media briefing in Dubai on 26 June. “As for occupancy in Dubai, we managed – through profit protection and cost control – to keep the hotels in a positive position, so we weren’t losing money.”

  He said the arrival of the summer low season provided a degree of relief. “If there is a time to slowly slide out of this crisis, it is the right time, which is now. What I see going forward is that volumes will come back. You will not have the rates immediately that you had in January and February. By the end of Q1 or Q2 next year, I think you will get close to where we were.”

  Luxury first

  O’Rourke said the luxury and upper-upscale segment was likely to lead the recovery, consistent with the pattern observed after previous crises.

  “Generally, when you have a crisis, the first segment to click back quicker is the high-end luxury. People then think: it is not about whether I should go – it is, let’s go. We saw that in Covid. Fairmont is well positioned to do that, and the Sofitel and Maison brands are in the stage of recovery going forward.”

  Jean-Jacques Morin, group deputy chief executive at Accor (pictured right), said the UAE’s underperformance had been contained within Accor’s broader international portfolio that continued to grow.

  “The Middle East is about 10% of the network,” he said. “That also explains why my tone on the capability of the results is so positive – not only do you have the hedging across geographies, but it is also, in the end, only one part of the business.”

  Rate outlook

  Morin dismissed concerns that the conflict had structurally weakened Dubai’s pricing power, drawing a parallel with the period following Covid-19.

  “When we came out of Covid, everybody said those prices would never hold. The question at every analyst call was always the same: your pricing strategy is unsustainable. Guess what? Nothing changed. The prices now, three or four years later, are still the same.”

  He argued that consumers consistently prioritise travel expenditure when reallocating budgets. “What you see when the economy goes sideways is that people reallocate disposable income differently. People are basically redirecting the way they do things and keeping the same amount they want to spend, but spending it differently.”

  Morin also said Dubai has a track record of outpacing expectations after previous disruptions. “The first part of the world, post-Covid, that came back to positive RevPAR was the Middle East – it was Dubai. People forget that. The capacity of this part of the world to rebound, and the capacity of the industry to rebound in general, is always misunderstood.”

  No pullback

  Accor said it had not paused or cancelled any development commitments in the region as a result of the conflict. “We did not change anything from a strategic perspective,” Morin said. “The last thing you want is to pull back, because this is going to rebound.”

  The group has also used the period to accelerate planned refurbishments and redeploy staff across the region rather than reduce headcount.

  “We have 380 hotels here – we are the largest player in the Middle East. Where we accelerated refurbishments, we were able to take key employees and move them to larger hotels elsewhere in the region. What people learned during Covid was the cost of layoffs afterwards – bringing people back and retraining them. There was a massive learning curve. This time, discussions with partners about layoffs were less challenging; it was more about accommodating staffing needs during that period,” O’Rourke said.

  ---

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

  Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

  Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

  > AGENDA: Gulf aviation ambitions face uncertain future > AIRPORTS: Dubai and Riyadh reaffirm airport ambitions > MARKET FOCUS: Levant recovers in three speeds  > INDUSTRY REPORT: Dubai eyes tourism sector recovery > INTERVIEW: EtihadWE prepares roadmap for future projects  > PROJECTS MARKET: Mena project momentum holds despite conflict  > DATA CENTRES: Big Tech falls short on data centre promise > SAVINGS: Retirement creates multibillion-dollar opportunity for region   > LEADERSHIP: Aramco’s citizen developers accelerate digital change

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17695301/main.gif

  Colin Foreman
• 
  CCC selected for $600m Damascus Financial Centre

  17 July 2026

  Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

  Syrian developer Souria Holding has selected Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) as the exclusive design-and-build contractor for the $600m Damascus Financial Centre (DFC) in Syria.

  The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding on 6 July. The agreement covers design management, engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning, handover and defects liability services. Souria Holding chairman Haytham Joud and CCC chairman Samer Khoury signed the agreement.

  Souria Holding is developing the project in partnership with the Governorate of Damascus. The developer says the scheme is intended to support the city's long-term economic revitalisation and urban development.

  The mixed-use development sits on Plot 47 in the Western Hejaz regulatory area of Damascus' Baramkeh district. The site covers about 32,000 square metres (sq m) and the development will have about 380,000 sq m of built-up area, making it one of the largest mixed-use schemes planned in Syria.

  The DFC comprises a five-star hotel, including furnished apartments and serviced apartments; two residential towers; three grade-A office towers on a core-and-shell basis; retail and commercial space at ground and underground levels; and four basement levels for parking and supporting infrastructure.

  The first phase of construction involves the delivery of three office buildings with a total above-ground built-up area of 72,000 sq m. The completion deadline is the fourth quarter of 2028.

  Lebanon’s Dar Al-Handasah is the frontrunner for the design consultancy role, working for CCC as the design-and-build contractor.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17695284/main5621.jpeg

  Colin Foreman