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  Consultant wins Jeddah metro design

  22 May 2026

  

   

  French engineering firm Egis has been appointed to undertake the preliminary design consultancy for the Jeddah Metro Blue Line project.

  The project client, Jeddah Development Authority, issued the tender in early January, when MEED exclusively reported that Saudi Arabia had restarted plans to build the Jeddah Metro.

  Engineering consulting firms submitted bids in April, as MEED reported.

  The Blue Line will run from King Abdulaziz International airport and connect to the Haramain high-speed railway station.

  The line will be 35 kilometres (km) long and will include 15 stations.

  Project history

  Plans for the Jeddah Metro were first publicly floated in the early 2010s and were formally packaged into a wider Jeddah public transport programme around 2013-14.

  In 2014, French engineering firm Systra was appointed to complete preliminary engineering for the Jeddah Metro, as MEED reported at the time.

  In the same year, US-based engineering firm Aecom was awarded a SR276m ($74m) contract to provide pre-programme management consultancy services.

  Under its 18-month contract, Aecom was expected to provide staff to support preliminary planning and design work for various phases of the metro project.

  This was followed by the appointment of UK-based architectural firm Foster + Partners in 2015 to design the metro stations.

  The project then stalled as government spending priorities were reset and major capital programmes were reviewed following the fall in oil prices in 2015, with the metro’s scope, cost and delivery model coming under reassessment.

  Early concept designs envisaged a multi-line network integrated with buses and, later, other city-wide mobility upgrades.

  Route details

  According to Jeddah Transport Company’s website, the scheme comprises 81 stations and 197 trains serving more than 161km. The network will have four lines:

  • Orange Line: a 44.8km line running along Al-Madinah Road and Old Makkah Road, with 29 stops including one at Obhur Bridge
  • Blue Line: a 35km line running from King Abdulaziz International airport to the Haramain high-speed railway station, with 15 stations
  • Green Line: a 17km line running through the city centre, from the downtown area to the Haramain railway station, with nine stops
  • Red Line: A 59.7km line running from King Abdullah Stadium north to Old Makkah Street through King Abdulaziz Road and King Abdullah Road, with 25 stops

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  > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …

  

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  Yasir Iqbal
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  Egypt signs gas deal with QatarEnergy and Exxon Mobil

  22 May 2026

  Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources has signed a preliminary gas agreement with state-owned QatarEnergy and US-based Exxon Mobil.

  The memorandum of understanding (MoU) focuses on cooperation in the development of natural gas discoveries in Cyprus.

  The plan involves transporting gas from offshore discoveries in Cypriot waters to Egypt via pipelines.

  In a statement, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources said that the deal would strengthen the North African country’s status as a regional hub for natural gas trading.

  The agreement was witnessed by Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli.

  It was signed by Muhammad Al-Bajouri, from the legal affairs department of the Ministry of Petroleum & Minerals, and Kanan Nariman, vice-president for the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at Exxon Mobil.

  It was also signed by Ali Immunae, director of international exploration and production at QatarEnergy.

  Commenting on the MoU signing, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the minister of state for energy affairs, and president and chief executive of QatarEnergy, said: “This MoU represents an important step in advancing regional energy cooperation across the Eastern Mediterranean through unlocking the long-term commercial potential of natural gas resources across that region.”

  Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources said the agreement paved the way for QatarEnergy and Exxon to take advantage of existing Egyptian infrastructure in the gas sector, especially the country’s existing LNG export terminals.

  Under the terms of the agreement, a study will be conducted to analyse the feasibility of linking the gas discoveries in Cyprus to Egypt’s gas facilities.

  The signatories will also establish a commercial framework aimed at achieving “the maximum possible benefit from natural gas resources in both Egypt and Cyprus”.

  Egypt’s Minister of Oil and Gas Karim Badawi said the ministry has been working with ExxonMobil to explore cooperation on the development of gas discoveries in Cyprus.

  He said the partnership with Egypt would help QatarEnergy and Exxon reduce the cost of developing the discoveries while allowing Egypt to achieve an economic return.

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

  Global 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:

  > AGENDA: War in the Middle East recalibrates global energy markets > REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG > CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance > IPOs: Regional IPO market dries up amid war  > MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversification > INTERVIEW: Desalination holds steady amid tensions, says Veolia CEO > LEGAL: Force majeure will not cure pre-existing construction industry breaches > BANKS:  GCC banks to feel the strain despite strong buffers > PIF STRATEGY: Public Investment Fund approves 2026-30 strategy

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

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  Wil Crisp
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  Eni makes oil and gas discovery in Egypt

  22 May 2026

  A joint venture of Italy’s Eni and state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has made a major oil and gas discovery in Egypt’s Western Desert region.

  The partnership, known as Agiba Petroleum Company, made the discovery with an exploratory well drilled in the Bustan South block.

  Initial estimates indicate the presence of approximately 330 billion cubic feet of gas and 10 million barrels of condensate and crude oil.

  Together, this is a total of 70 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), making the discovery Agiba Petroleum Company’s biggest in 15 years.

  The new discovery is located only 10 kilometres from existing facilities and infrastructure, which should enable rapid development and connection to production.

  The well revealed several sandstone and limestone reservoirs, according to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources.

  The ministry said: “This new discovery reflects the success of the Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources’ efforts and the incentives it offered to partners to intensify exploration activities in areas adjacent to existing fields.

  “This facilitates new discoveries near existing infrastructure and production facilities without the need for new infrastructure development.

  “This contributes to reducing the cost of producing a barrel, accelerating the integration of discoveries into the production map, and encouraging partners to implement the latest data collection and analysis technologies to increase the chances of successful exploration.”

  Egypt is seeing increased interest in its oil and gas resources due to disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which have significantly reduced oil and gas exports from the GCC and Iraq.

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

  Global 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:

  > AGENDA: War in the Middle East recalibrates global energy markets > REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG > CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance > IPOs: Regional IPO market dries up amid war  > MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversification > INTERVIEW: Desalination holds steady amid tensions, says Veolia CEO > LEGAL: Force majeure will not cure pre-existing construction industry breaches > BANKS:  GCC banks to feel the strain despite strong buffers > PIF STRATEGY: Public Investment Fund approves 2026-30 strategy

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16944815/main.jpg

  Wil Crisp
• 
  Wasl Group launches Cedarwood Estates South villas

  21 May 2026

  Dubai-based real estate developer Wasl Group has announced the launch of Cedarwood Estates South, the newest addition to its expanding freehold portfolio in Dubai.

  The project is located within The Next Chapter, Wasl’s development in the Jumeirah Golf Estates area.

  Cedarwood Estates South features 74 villas in four-, five- and six-bedroom layouts.

  The launch follows Wasl Group’s award of a contract to Beijing-headquartered China State Construction Engineering Corporation to develop the overall infrastructure for The Next Chapter.

  The masterplan spans 4.68 million square metres across six districts: Central Park, The Village, Town Centre & Grand Lake, Golf Course North, Golf Course South and Equestrian Village.

  The development will offer 780 villas, 62 mansions, 97 branded residences, 752 estate homes and 10,654 apartments.

  It will also include a five-star Mandarin Oriental resort, a tennis stadium, an 18-hole golf course and academy, an equestrian centre, a school, retail centres and other associated facilities.

  Wasl Group is one of Dubai’s largest real estate development and asset management entities, established in 2008 by the Dubai Real Estate Corporation.

  The company was set up to consolidate and manage a significant portfolio of government-owned real estate assets.

  Headquartered in Dubai, Wasl operates across residential, commercial, hospitality and mixed-use segments, and is known for masterplanned communities and urban regeneration projects.

  Over the years, Wasl has delivered several mid- to large-scale developments and partnered with international hospitality brands through its Wasl Hospitality arm, helping to expand Dubai’s hotel inventory and support the city’s wider tourism and economic growth agenda.

  According to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, Wasl Group has a portfolio of over 128 projects, valued at about $18bn.

  Wasl’s major developments include Wasl1, Wasl Gate, Wasl Village and Wasl 51.

  Its asset portfolio includes notable landmarks such as the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, One & Only The Palm, One & Only Royal Mirage, Nikki Beach, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Emirates Golf Club.

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  > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …

  

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  Yasir Iqbal
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  Foundations progressing for Iraq gas gathering project

  21 May 2026

  

   

  The construction of foundations is ongoing for the $1.61bn project to develop a gas processing complex at Iraq’s Ratawi oil and gas field, according to industry sources.

  In May last year, China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC) was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work for the project.

  The Ratawi gas processing complex is one of four projects constituting Iraq’s Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), which is being developed by French energy major TotalEnergies and its partners. TotalEnergies is the main operator of the GGIP scheme. Basra Oil Company (30%) and QatarEnergy (25%) are the other stakeholders.

  The consortium formalised the investment agreement for the project with the Iraqi government in September 2021.

  The GGIP is estimated to have a total value of $27bn, and the first phase of the project is worth about $10bn.

  When commissioned, the planned facility is expected to process 300 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas. Its capacity is expected to double when a second expansion phase comes online.

  The Ratawi gas processing facility project aims to improve Iraq’s electricity supply by capturing associated gas that would have otherwise been flared at several oil fields, including:

  • Luhais
  • Majnoon
  • Ratawi
  • West Qurna 2
  • Tuba

  Large volumes of gas are flared from these oil fields, causing significant environmental damage. Collecting and processing flared gas will generate increased hydrocarbon revenues and reduce ecological damage.

  The gas tapped and processed from the oil fields will then be used to supply power plants, helping to reduce Iraq’s power import bill.

  As well as supplying to Iraq’s national gas network to generate electricity, the Ratawi gas processing complex will increase the production of gas products, including liquefied petroleum gas and condensates.

  US-based consultant KBR has performed the front-end engineering and design work on the project.

  GGIP masterplan

  The GGIP programme is focused on developing four major projects in Iraq:

  • The Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP)
  • The Ratawi gas processing complex
  • A 1GW solar power project for Iraq’s electricity ministry
  • A field development project at Ratawi, known as the Associated Gas Upstream Project (AGUP)

  The CSSP is designed to support oil production in Iraq’s southern oil and gas fields – mainly Zubair, Rumaila, Majnoon, West Qurna and Ratawi – by delivering treated seawater for injection, a method used to boost crude recovery rates and improve long-term reservoir performance.

  In August last year, TotalEnergies awarded China Energy Engineering International Group the EPC contract for the 1GW solar project at the Ratawi field. A month later, QatarEnergy signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to acquire a 50% interest in the project.

  Civil works and piping work have started for the project to develop a second central processing facility (CPF) at Iraq’s Ratawi oil and gas field as part of the AGUP portion of the GGIP.

  In September, Turkiye’s Enka signed a contract to develop the second CPF at Iraq’s Ratawi field as part of the second phase of the field’s development.

  Enka has yet to give a value for the contract, but it is believed to be worth more than $1bn.

  In November, US-based KBR was selected by Enka to provide detailed design services for the project.

  Enka’s contract covers the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning of the CPF for the project.

  The aim of the project is to process oil and associated gas from the Ratawi oil field to increase production capacity to 210,000 barrels a day of oil and 154 million standard cf/d of gas.

  The 1GW Ratawi solar scheme will be developed in phases, with each phase coming online between 2025 and 2027. It will have the capacity to provide electricity to about 350,000 homes in Iraq’s Basra region.

  The project, consisting of 2 million bifacial solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers, will include the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the photovoltaic power station site and 132kV booster station.

  Separately, in June, TotalEnergies awarded China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering an EPC contract worth $294m to build a pipeline as part of a package known as the Ratawi Gas Midstream Pipeline.

  Also, TotalEnergies awarded UK-based consultant Wood Group a pair of engineering framework agreements in April 2025, worth a combined $11m, under the GGIP scheme.

  The agreements have a three-year term under which Wood will support TotalEnergies in advancing the AGUP.

  One of the aims of the AGUP is to debottleneck and upgrade existing facilities to increase production capacity to 120,000 barrels a day of oil on completion of the first phase, according to a statement by Wood.

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

  Global 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:

  > AGENDA: War in the Middle East recalibrates global energy markets > REGIONAL LNG: War undermines business case for Middle East LNG > CAPITAL MARKETS: Damage avoidance frames debt issuance > IPOs: Regional IPO market dries up amid war  > MARKET FOCUS: Conflict tests UAE diversification > INTERVIEW: Desalination holds steady amid tensions, says Veolia CEO > LEGAL: Force majeure will not cure pre-existing construction industry breaches > BANKS:  GCC banks to feel the strain despite strong buffers > PIF STRATEGY: Public Investment Fund approves 2026-30 strategy

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16934508/main.png

  Wil Crisp