meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

MEED’s 2023 top 10 GCC contractors

28 March 2023

> Improved outlook for the Gulf region’s construction market is not reflected in the 2023 contractor ranking

> Nesma & Partners retains its position as the most active GCC contractor, but its total value of work this year is down 22 per cent on 2022

> Part two of this report, Top 10 GCC contractors by country, can be accessed here

 

The GCC’s construction market is back. After enduring half a decade of low oil prices and capital spending cuts, the region is back with a new generation of ambitious projects that are attracting global attention. 

Dubai may have led previous boom periods with its palm-shaped islands and record-breaking towers, but this time it is Saudi Arabia that is taking the lead with 170-kilometre-long mirrored structures, 400-metre-cubed buildings and, if the plans are approved, a 2-kilometre-tall tower that will be more than twice the height of the current world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. 

As the hype builds, the excitement is yet to be reflected in MEED’s contractor ranking for 2023. 

Using data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, the region’s most active contractor, based on contracts under execution, is Nesma & Partners. While the Saudi firm has retained its position as the most active contractor, its total value of work in 2023 is $5.3bn, down 22 per cent on the $6.8bn of work under execution that it topped the ranking with in 2022.

Further falls

Last year’s second-ranked contractor has fallen even further. Saudi Binladin Group was working on $6.5bn of projects at the execution stage in 2022. In 2023, this has dropped to $4bn, and as the firm’s work on the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca is completed, it may not figure in the ranking in the future.

Last year’s third-ranked contractor has also slid down the rankings. In 2022, India’s Shapoorji Pallonji was working on $5.6bn of projects at the execution stage. This year it is working on $2.9bn. 

Altogether five of the top 10 contractors in the GCC this year have less work than they did last year. If an average of the top 10 is taken, then the number in 2023 has fallen 18 per cent to $3.6bn from $4.4bn last year. 

The five firms that have grown their totals are newcomers to the top 10 this year, the highest-ranked of which is Turkiye’s Limak. 

The contractor’s main project in the GCC is the new terminal building at Kuwait International airport, and a Turkish firm’s presence at number two may be a sign of things to come. After settling political differences with Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2022, Turkish companies are expected to play a key role in delivering Saudi Arabia’s growing roster of major projects. 

Riyadh, like Neom, will be an important market for contractors over the coming decade

The other newcomers to the top 10 are three Saudi firms, Alfanar, Almabani and Saudi Baytur; and China Harbour Engineering Construction.

Alfanar’s position in the ranking is mostly due to the contract it won to deliver and operate five clusters of community villages on a public-private partnership basis at Neom. That project shows the scale of the Neom schemes that are moving into construction and signals that firms working on the development will perform well in future rankings.

Almabani has been able to secure major contracts on projects in its domestic market. The most recent is the estimated $1.9bn contract that it won this year to deliver the Zone 6 infrastructure works for the Sports Boulevard project that is being developed by the Royal Commission of Riyadh City. 

Riyadh, like Neom, will be an important market for contractors over the coming decade. The city has plans to double in size and major projects that have been launched so far include King Salman airport, New Murraba, Dirriyah Gate, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, Sports Boulevard, King Salman Park and Qiddiya Entertainment City. 

China Harbour has built its orderbook with project wins in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and is now the second Chinese firm in the top 10. 

The final newcomer is Saudi Arabian Baytur. While it has historical Turkish links, it has been operating as a wholly-Saudi-owned company since 2016.

A significant trend in the GCC ranking is the meagre showing from western contractors

Ranking departures

The five companies that have left the top 10 this year are Qatar’s Urbacon Trading & Contracting Company, Saudi Arabia’s ABV Rock, Kuwait’s Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons, Beijing-based China Railway Construction Company and Kuwait’s Mohammed Abdulmohsin al-Kharafi & Sons.

Urbacon’s departure may be short-lived. The firm has experienced a sharp decline in the total value of its projects at the execution stage this year following the completion of projects in the domestic Qatari market ahead of last year’s World Cup.

As construction activity remains slow in Qatar the firm has begun expanding overseas and this year has secured significant orders from Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven) for the construction of entertainment centres in Saudi Arabia. 

China Railway’s departure may also be temporary. It has completed work on the UAE’s federal Etihad Rail network, which resulted in it dropping out of the top 10 this year. It may return if it is able to secure work on the raft of regional rail projects that are moving towards the construction phase.  

One other significant trend in the GCC ranking is the meagre showing from western contractors. The only western firm in the top 10 this year is Italy’s Webuild, which has $4.5bn of work at the execution stage. 

With most western contractors continuing to exercise caution when approached to bid on projects in the GCC, it is unlikely that this trend will change in the near future.

Looking ahead to next year’s ranking, Nesma will be a strong contender for the top spot again. In February, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed that it has invested $1.3bn in four local construction companies to support the handling of projects in the kingdom. 

Nesma was one of the firms that the PIF acquired shares in, along with AlBawani Holding Company, Almabani General Contractors Company and El-Seif Engineering Contracting Company.

The PIF said the investment will allow the firms to scale up their capacity, adopt advanced technologies and improve local supply chains. 

At a time when many contractors in the region are still struggling with financial issues, these companies will now be well placed to play a leading role in the rapidly growing Saudi market. As major contract awards are secured over the next year, these firms will likely also be leading the ranking in 2024.

Top 10 GCC contractors by country 

MEED's April 2023 special report on Saudi Arabia includes:

> ECONOMY: Riyadh steps up the Vision 2030 tempo

> CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction project ramp-up accelerates

> UPSTREAM: Aramco slated to escalate upstream spending

> DOWNSTREAM: Petchems ambitions define Saudi downstream

> POWER: Saudi Arabia reinvigorates power sector

> WATER: Saudi water begins next growth phase

> BANKING: Saudi banks bid to keep ahead of the pack

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/10708379/main.gif
Colin Foreman

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Emaar launches Terra Gardens project in Expo City

    5 November 2025

    Dubai-based real estate developer Emaar Properties has launched the Terra Gardens residential project in partnership with Dubai World Trade Centre at Expo City Dubai.

    The development will offer 560 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses.

    Terra Gardens will be located adjacent to Expo Mall.

    The development is part of the Expo Living masterplan, which spans 451,295 square metres. The masterplan comprises five residential communities with a total of 3,555 residential units.

    Terra Gardens follows the launch last month of Emaar Hills, a new masterplanned community adjacent to Dubai Hills Estate.

    Emaar Hills will offer more than 40,000 residential units.

    It will include a limited collection of mansions ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet.

    Emaar Hills will also feature a golf course, retail amenities, and other wellness and leisure facilities.

    Emaar has also purchased a land bank in the Ras Al-Khor area adjacent to its Dubai Creek Harbour masterplan, as disclosed in its H1 2025 financial report. Emaar plans to launch another masterplanned community on that plot in the near future.

    Emaar’s latest project launch reflects increased activity in the UAE real estate market, which has led major developers to report record revenues in recent years. 

    Dubai Financial Market‑listed Emaar Properties reported a net profit of AED7.1bn ($1.9bn) in H1 2025, a 33% increase compared with the same period last year.

    The developer's revenues surged to AED19.8bn in the first half of this year, which is a 38% increase from H1 2024.

    Emaar said that this was driven by “robust performance across development, retail, hospitality and international operations".

    Emaar has sold inventory worth AED46bn in H1 2025, which is 46% higher than the same period last year.

    UK-based data analytics firm GlobalData predicts the UAE construction sector to 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.

    READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15023028/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Egypt launches Red Sea gas exploration round

    5 November 2025

    Egypt’s petroleum ministry has launched a new bid round for oil and gas exploration in four Red Sea blocks, as part of efforts to attract fresh foreign investment into its energy sector.

    The tender, announced by the country’s Petroleum Minister Karim Badawy during the Adipec 2025 conference in Abu Dhabi, will be offered by the state-run South Valley Egyptian Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) via the Egypt Upstream Gateway (EUG) digital platform.

    For the first time, Egypt will apply a profitability-based production-sharing model.

    In a statement, the petroleum ministry said that it believed this would offer more flexible and competitive terms to global energy companies, particularly in deepwater and frontier areas.

    Badawy said: “The new bid round reflects Egypt’s commitment to creating an attractive investment environment and maximising the country’s oil and gas potential.”

    He added that the Red Sea remains one of Egypt’s most promising new exploration frontiers, with several blocks showing high potential for future discoveries that could boost output and enhance energy security.

    Egypt is currently working to boost its upstream oil and gas production capacity while promoting itself as a regional energy hub.

    In October, it announced a five-year exploration plan worth $5.7bn to drill 480 new oil and gas wells in several regions.

    READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15017808/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Aramco registers marginal jump in third quarter profit

    4 November 2025

    Saudi Aramco has registered a 0.9% jump in third-quarter 2025 profit on the back of higher production, even as oil prices remained under pressure.

    The Saudi energy giant’s adjusted net income in the third quarter stood at $28bn compared to $27.7bn in the same period of last year.

    The company recorded revenues of $111.5bn in the third quarter versus $109.66bn in the same period last year.

    “We increased production with minimal incremental cost, and reliably supplied the oil, gas and associated products our customers depend on, driving strong financial performance and quarterly earnings growth,” Aramco president and CEO Amin Nasser said.

    The world’s largest oil company reported a free cash flow of $23.6bn compared with $22bn a year earlier.

    Aramco’s board also declared the 2025 base dividend of $21.1bn and performance-linked dividend of $200m to be paid in the fourth quarter.

    Aramco’s capital expenditure (capex) in the third quarter of 2025 stood at $12.55bn, a marginal year-on-year increase of 2%. For the first nine months of the year, the firm registered capex of $37.41bn, an increase of 3.38% compared to the same period of last year.

    The company had earlier announced a capital investment guidance in the range of $52bn to $58bn for 2025, excluding around $4bn of project financing.

    The results come as Aramco faces a profit squeeze amid weaker oil prices, except for a short-lived surge in the second quarter triggered by tensions between Israel and Iran.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15013288/main5503.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Construction begins on Emirates Float Glass project

    4 November 2025

    Local investment firm Dubai Investments has begun construction to expand its Emirates Float Glass (EFG) facility in the Kezad industrial area of Abu Dhabi.

    The estimated AED600m ($164m) expansion will add a second production line at the EFG facility.

    The main construction works are being undertaken by Dubai-based firm Mar Contracting.

    Dubai Investments’ subsidiary, Emirates Building Systems, will support the main contractor with the design and erection of steel structures for the project.

    Local firm Design House Engineering Consultancy is the project consultant.

    Germany-based Horn Glass Industries is providing the technology for the expansion.

    Cyprus-headquartered DG Jones & Partners is the contract administrator and cost consultant for the project.

    The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.

    According to an official statement, “The expansion will establish EFG as the only glass manufacturer in the GCC operating dual float lines.”

    The new production line will increase EFG’s production capacity from 600 tonnes a day to 1,200 tonnes a day and introduce what the company calls “ultra-clear, low-iron glass” — a first-of-its-kind capability in the Mena region.

    READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15013566/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Diriyah tenders conference and exhibition centre

    4 November 2025

     

    Saudi Arabia’s gigaproject developer Diriyah Company has issued a tender inviting contractors to bid for the construction of a conference and exhibition centre in the second phase of the Diriyah project.

    MEED understands that the main contract tender was issued in October.

    Technical bids are due on 9 November, while commercial bids must be submitted by 17 December.

    The project covers an area of 29,000 square metres in Diriyah’s Northern Community.

    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.

    This year, the company has awarded several main construction contracts worth over SR18bn ($5bn).

    Just days after Webuild announced that it had won the $600m contract for package three of the Diriyah Square project, Beijing-headquartered China Harbour Engineering Company won a SR5.7bn ($1.5bn) contract to build the Arena Block assets in the Boulevard Southwest section of the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).

    In April, Diriyah awarded an estimated SR4bn ($1.1bn) contract for a utilities relocation package for the King Saud University project located in DG2. The contract was awarded to a joint venture of Beijing-headquartered China Railway Construction Corporation and China Railway Construction Group Central Plain Construction Company.

    Earlier in the same month, a SR5.1bn ($1.3bn) construction deal 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 to build the Royal Diriyah Opera House.

    Also in April, a consortium of Saudi Arabia-based contractors Almajal Alarabi and Man Construction won an estimated SR915m ($244m) contract to build King Salman Grand Mosque in Diriyah.

    Once complete, Diriyah will have the capacity to accommodate 100,000 residents and visitors.

    READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15013053/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal