Market snapshot of Saudi’s stadium and expo projects
25 January 2024
Key points:
> STADIUM PACKAGES: In July 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ministry issued a prequalification notice for the construction or expansion of five stadiums – three in Riyadh and two in the Eastern Province.
> COST: The work on the stadiums is estimated to be worth SR10.1bn ($2.7bn)
> TRAINING SITES: Training facilities are also planned, with construction due to start in July 2024
> NON-SPORTS MINISTRY STADIUMS: Another set of stadiums is proposed outside of the Sports Ministry’s remit, falling instead under the PIF’s gigaprojects programme. These include stadiums at Neom, Jeddah Central and Qiddiya
> 2030 WORLD EXPO: The circular expo site will be located north of Riyadh, close to King Khalid International
airport (KKIA), and is likely to be served by an extension to the Riyadh metro, a dedicated station and a link with KKIA
> BUDGET: An official budget of $7.8bn has been set for the expo, of which some $400m will be offered to developing nations to support their pavilions
Exclusive from Meed
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Firms submit Saudi customs warehouses PPP bids7 November 2025
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Turkish contractor wins Aldar Verdes by Haven project7 November 2025
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Procurement begins for Abu Dhabi light rail transit7 November 2025
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UAE unveils $46bn road and rail spending plan6 November 2025
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Egypt awards contracts for 1,200MW solar plants6 November 2025
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Firms submit Saudi customs warehouses PPP bids7 November 2025

Three Saudi-based firms submitted bids on 29 September for a contract to build new customs warehouses in Saudi Arabia.
The project is being tendered as a public-private partnership (PPP) on a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer basis, with a contract duration of 15 years, including the construction period.
The bidders include:
- Al-Drees Petroleum & Transport Services Company
- Lamar Holding
- Mada International Holding
The contract scope covers the development of 13 warehouses – including the design and construction of 12 new facilities and the renovation of one – across 13 different points of entry in the kingdom, along with the maintenance of all sites.
The contract also includes the supply of equipment, as well as logistical support and cleaning services, for all new and existing warehouses at 38 points of entry across the kingdom.
In January, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Zatca), through the National Centre for Privatisation and PPP (NCP), prequalified five companies to bid, MEED reported.
The client issued the expressions of interest (EOI) and request for qualifications (RFQ) notices for the project in October last year.
PPP plans
In April 2023, Saudi Arabia announced a privatisation and public-private partnership (P&PPP) pipeline comprising 200 projects across 16 sectors.
The P&PPP pipeline aims to attract both local and international investors and ensure their readiness to participate in the schemes tendered to the market.
The initiative supports the kingdom’s efforts to enhance the attractiveness of its economy and increase the private sector’s contribution to GDP.
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Turkish contractor wins Aldar Verdes by Haven project7 November 2025

Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer Aldar Properties has appointed Turkish firm Nurol Construction as the main contractor to build its Verdes by Haven residential complex in the Wadi Al-Safa 5 area of Dubai.
Aldar is developing the project in partnership with Dubai Holding.
Verdes by Haven is a multi-building complex featuring 1,050 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
The broader Haven development will include 2,428 residential units and cover 1 square kilometre. The first phase comprises 462 residential units, including three- and four-bedroom townhouses and three- to six-bedroom villas.
Construction of the first phase began last year, and the project is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2027.
The project is located opposite the Al-Habtoor Polo Resort on the Dubai-Al-Ain road.
Dubai-based architectural firm Dewan Architects & Engineers is the lead design consultant for the project, working alongside US-based OBM International, the architectural design consultant.
UK-based data analytics firm GlobalData predicts that the UAE construction sector will grow by 4.2% in real terms in 2025, driven by infrastructure, energy, utilities and residential construction projects. It is also estimated that projects worth more than $323bn are in the execution or planning stages in the UAE.
The construction industry is expected to register an annual average growth of 3.8% in 2025-28, supported by investments in transport, housing and renewable energy projects.
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Procurement begins for Abu Dhabi light rail transit7 November 2025

Abu Dhabi Transport Company (ADTC) has asked contractors to express interest in a design-and-build contract covering the construction of the first phase of the light rail transit network.
The project's first phase will span 19 kilometres (km) and include 23 stations, connecting Zayed International airport (AUH) with nearby areas, including Yas Island, Al‑Raha Beach and Khalifa City.
The key sections of the tram are:
AUH to Yas Island: The tram will start from Terminal A at AUH and run through the Yas tunnel to Yas Gateway Park. It will serve areas including Yas Bay, Media Zone, Yas Plaza, Yas Drive, Yas Mall, Sea World and Water Edge.
This section covers 13km and includes 13 at-grade stations and one underground station.
Al-Raha: This section will stretch for 4.3km and run along Al-Raha Street. It will serve areas including Al-Zeina, Al-Muneera and Al-Bandar, towards the Aldar head office. The section will include seven at-grade stations.
Etihad Plaza: This section will pass the Etihad Aviation Training Centre and span about 1.7km. It will feature a main depot near the Etihad Airways headquarters, along with two at-grade stations.
The tender also covers the procurement of 25 trams, each with a capacity of 270 people, along with associated systems.
The project was officially launched at the GlobalRail exhibition in Abu Dhabi in early October.
Referred to as Abu Dhabi Tram Line 4, the project will be delivered in three phases.
Construction of the first phase is expected to start next year. The tram is slated to begin operations by 2030.
Future phases will extend towards Khalifa City and serve additional destinations across Yas Island.
The project forms a key part of the recently announced AED170bn ($46bn) package of national transport and road projects to be implemented by 2030.
The announcement was made by the UAE’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Al-Mazrouei, while speaking at the UAE Government Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi on 5 November.
Al-Mazrouei said the projects are part of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing mobility across the country.
The initiatives include expanding major roads, upgrading public transport, and implementing high-speed and light rail projects.
ADTC was established in 2023 to implement, operate and develop transport systems in rural and urban areas across the emirate.
The company is responsible for developing rail systems and related services and operations, and providing integrated transport services, including vehicle and bus rental.
ADTC was established by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
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UAE unveils $46bn road and rail spending plan6 November 2025
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The UAE’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Al-Mazrouei, has announced a AED170bn ($46bn) package of national transport and road projects to be implemented by 2030.
Speaking at the UAE Government Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi on 5 November, Al-Mazrouei said the projects form part of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing mobility across the country.
The initiatives include expanding major roads, upgrading public transport, and implementing high-speed and light rail projects.
Road expansion projects
Road projects include adding six lanes to Etihad Road – three in each direction – increasing its capacity by 60% to a total of 12 lanes.
Emirates Road will be expanded to 10 lanes along its full length, raising capacity by 65% and reducing travel time by 45%.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road will also be widened to 10 lanes, enhancing capacity by 45%.
The plan further includes a study for a fourth federal highway, extending 120 kilometres with 12 lanes and a capacity of up to 360,000 trips per day.
Work has already started on the AED750m Emirates Road upgrade, which is scheduled for completion within two years.
In July, Kuwaiti contractor Combined Group Contracting Company (CGCC) announced that its local subsidiary had secured a AED685m contract to upgrade Emirates Road from the Al-Badea intersection in Sharjah to the E55 intersection in Dubai.
Rail services
For rail, Etihad Rail remains on track to launch its passenger transport services by 2026 and has received bids from contractors for the design-and-build contract covering civil works and station packages for the high-speed railway (HSR) line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The HSR trains will have a design speed of 350km/h and an operating speed of 320km/h.
The proposed HSR programme will be developed in four phases, gradually extending connectivity across the UAE:
The first phase involves constructing a railway line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is expected to be operational by 2030. The second phase will develop an inner‑city railway network with 10 stations within the city of Abu Dhabi. The third phase of the railway network involves constructing a connection between Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain. The fourth phase involves developing an inter-emirate connection between Dubai and Sharjah.
Light rail projects include the Abu Dhabi tram scheme, which was announced by Abu Dhabi Transport Company (ADTC) in October. It will connect Zayed International airport (AUH) with nearby areas, including Yas Island, Al‑Raha Beach and Khalifa City.
Referred to as Abu Dhabi Tram Line 4, the project will be delivered in three phases. The first phase will connect AUH with Yas Island and the residential areas of Al‑Raha Beach. Future phases will extend towards Khalifa City and serve additional destinations across Yas Island.
Construction of the first phase is expected to start next year. The tram is slated to begin operations by 2030.
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Egypt awards contracts for 1,200MW solar plants6 November 2025
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A consortium of Egypt’s Hassan Allam Utilities Energy and Infinity Power has won contracts to develop two major solar projects with a combined capacity of 1,200MW and 720 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage.
The agreements were signed with Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity & Renewable Energy and Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC).
The consortium will develop a 200MW solar plant in Benban, including 120MWh of connected battery storage, which is scheduled to reach commercial operation by the third quarter of 2026.
A second, larger 1,000MW solar plant will be built in Minya, incorporating 600MWh of storage and targeting completion by the third quarter of 2027.
The projects will be developed under the Hassan Allam Utilities Energy Platform, a renewable energy investment vehicle co-owned by Hassan Allam Utilities, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) and France-based investment firm Meridiam.
The platform currently has 2.3GW of projects under development, with a total investment of about $2bn and commercial operation expected between 2026 and 2027.
Its wider pipeline includes 1.65GW of additional projects, comprising 350MW of solar and 1.3GW of wind capacity valued at $1.5bn.
Infinity Power, a joint venture of Egypt’s Infinity and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), said the new projects form part of its strategy to reach 10GW of renewable capacity across Africa by 2030.
The company operates solar, wind and storage projects in Egypt, South Africa and Senegal.
US/India-based Synergy Consulting is providing financial advisory services to the consortium for the project.
The signing took place in the presence of Egypt’s Electricity Minister Mahmoud Esmat. The developments support Egypt’s goal of generating 42% of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2035.
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