Read the July 2024 MEED Business Review
28 June 2024
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The GCC aims to position itself as a global frontrunner in the data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) era.
There are clear examples of AI becoming a key part of government policy and significant investments are being made as the GCC takes advantage of abundant, cheap energy and capital vigour.
Traditional businesses in the Gulf are seizing AI’s potential, too. In March 2024, for example, Saudi Aramco introduced Aramco Metabrain, a generative AI model trained on data accumulated over the past 90 years. The private sector, meanwhile, also recognises AI's benefits.
With AI promising to be a $1tn market by 2030, MEED takes an in-depth look at the GCC's proactive stance in our latest issue of MEED Business Review. Read why investment, combined with forward-thinking government policy, will allow the GCC to make a statement with AI here.
This month's exclusive 20-page market report highlights the Levant, where Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are contending with challenges amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
MEED's latest issue is packed with insight and analysis. The team examines how the Gaza conflict is testing diplomatic ties between the UAE and Israel; assesses the ways in which the GCC is striving to boost foreign investment in real estate; looks at how healthy financials are driving business growth for Adnoc Drilling; and discovers that good preparation and planning are key to successfully delivering Saudi Arabia's pipeline of mega-events.
This month's issue also features coverage of MEED's 2024 Saudi Giga Projects Summit, which showcased the schemes that are driving the kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
The July issue also includes an interview with Pierre Santoni, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa for Parsons Corporation, in which he discusses how ongoing infrastructure investment in the region continues to offer strong growth opportunities for the construction industry.
We hope our valued subscribers enjoy the July 2024 issue of MEED Business Review.

Must-read sections in the July 2024 issue of MEED Business Review include:
> AGENDA: Region plays high-stakes AI game; Data centres meet upbeat growth
> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Gaza conflict tests UAE–Israel ties
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INDUSTRY REPORT: |
> OIL & GAS: Healthy financials drive Adnoc Drilling business growth
> INTERVIEW: Ambitious projects rebrand engineering
> LEADERSHIP: Delivering Saudi Arabia’s pipeline of mega-events
> LEVANT MARKET REPORT:
JORDAN
> COMMENT: Jordan manages to maintain its balance
> GOVERNMENT: Jordan policymakers walk tightrope
> OIL & GAS: Jordan refinery project delay is major setback
> POWER & WATER: Jordan's utility sector buckles up
> CONSTRUCTION: Modernisation drives Jordan construction
LEBANON
> COMMENT: Lebanon’s economic fate is in limbo
> GOVERNMENT: Lebanon marks two years without government
> ECONOMY: Lebanon economic recovery postponed
SYRIA
> COMMENT: Syria’s reconstruction agenda stalls
> GOVERNMENT: Gaza conflict reignites violence in Syria
> ECONOMY: Regional diplomacy fails Syrian economy
> MEED COMMENTS:
> Kuwait sends a signal with refinery ceremony
> SLB’s Libyan crisis clouds outlook for oil sector
> Silicon plant boosts UAE industrial and net zero plans
> No time to lose in getting AI right
> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects market continues climb
> APRIL 2024 CONTRACTS: Contract awards value bounces back in May
> MARKET SNAPSHOT: Mena oil and gas industry trends
> OPINION: Italy at centre of new reduced Europe
> BUSINESS OUTLOOK: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts
Exclusive from Meed
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Riyadh seeks contractors for Expo Icon structure22 July 2026
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EtihadWE tenders $150m Ajman substation project21 July 2026
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Chinese contractor appointed for 500MW Oman solar plant22 July 2026
China's Shanxi Installation Group has secured an estimated $222m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the 500MW Al-Kamil 1 solar independent power project (IPP) in Oman.
In a filing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, the company said the deal marks its first major project in the Middle East.
The contract covers the EPC, grid connection, testing and commissioning of the utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, as well as 2.5 years of operations and maintenance.
A consortium comprising France's EDF Power Solutions, Oman National Engineering & Investment Company and OQ Alternative Energy signed the power purchase agreement for the project with Nama Power & Water Procurement Company (Nama PWP) in June.
Nama PWP is the sole procurer of new electricity generation capacity in Oman.
The Al-Kamil 1 solar IPP is EDF Power Solutions' third renewable energy project in Oman, following the 500MW Manah 1 solar PV IPP and the 120MW JBB wind IPP.
As MEED has previously reported, the Al-Kamil 1 project is part of Nama PWP's renewable energy development pipeline, which also includes the 400MW Sinaw and 280MW Marsa solar IPPs.
Nama PWP is currently tendering supervisory services for the Marsa IPP, with a bid submission deadline of 26 July.
The pipeline also comprises the 800MW Mahout and 300MW Duqm 2 wind IPPs, both targeted for commissioning between 2027 and 2029.
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Fluor wins feed contract for key Bahrain aromatics facility22 July 2026
Bahrain’s Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) has awarded US-based consultant Fluor a contract for front-end engineering and design (feed) on an aromatics facility in the country.
The project will be an expansion of GPIC’s existing petrochemicals facility in Bahrain’s downstream complex in Sitra, which produces ammonia, urea and methanol.
The new aromatics facility will utilise “commercially-proven process technologies” to produce approximately 1.2 million metric tonnes a year (t/y) of paraxylene and 500,000 metric t/y of benzene, Texas-headquartered Fluor said.
Paraxylene and benzene are critical building blocks for plastics, polyester fibers and packaging materials, supporting global demand for high‑performance consumer and industrial products.
Founded in 1979, GPIC is a joint venture of Bahraini state energy enterprise Bapco Energies, known at the time as Nogaholding; chemicals giant Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic); and Petrochemical Industries Company – a subsidiary of state energy conglomerate Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. The three partners hold equal stakes of 33.3% in GPIC.
GPIC utilises locally available natural gas as feedstock to manufacture high-quality chemicals and fertilisers for domestic consumption and export, including 1,200 metric tonnes a day (t/d) of ammonia, 1,200 metric t/d of methanol and 1,700 metric t/d of granular urea.
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Firms submit bids for second Hassyan SWRO pipeline contract22 July 2026
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has received bids from three contractors for a second pipeline contract relating to the Hassyan seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) network expansion.
Project two requires contractors to supply, install, test and commission glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) water transmission pipelines and associated works for the plant's phase two network.
Local firm Tristar Engineering & Construction submitted the lowest offer of AED792.59m ($215.8m), according to tender results published by the state utility.
Green Oasis General Contracting (UAE) submitted a bid of AED800.02m ($217.8m) and Wade Adams Contracting (UAE) made the other compliant offer of AED989.65m ($269.5m).
In January, Dewa announced that construction of the 180-million-imperial-gallon-a-day phase one of the Hassyan SWRO independent water project was 90% complete.
Earlier in July, eight contractors submitted bids for project one of the Hassyan pipeline network expansion.
Dewa also has a third contract out for tender for GRE water transmission pipeline work related to the Hassyan SWRO phase two network.
Project three was tendered on 26 January and has a bid submission deadline of 29 July.
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Riyadh seeks contractors for Expo Icon structure22 July 2026

Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), which is tasked with delivering the Expo 2030 Riyadh venue, has asked contractors to express interest in the construction of the Icon, one of the key landmarks at the site.
The structure will be located at the entrance of the Expo 2030 Riyadh site, within the Collaboration Precinct.
ERC issued the expressions of interest notice on 20 July. The deadline for submissions of interest is 23 July.
The structure will be connected to the metro station and will serve as a gateway to the event.
It will be 66 metres tall and will comprise an observation platform, food and beverage outlets and other features.
The total built-up area will be approximately 16,279 square metres and it will be able to accommodate more than 1,450 visitors an hour during the event.
The contract duration is 29 months from the start of construction.
ERC tendered the contract for the construction of the Saudi Arabia pavilion at the site in May.
The pavilion is a major asset located within the venue's KSA District, on the eastern side of the Expo 2030 Riyadh masterplan, within the Loop of Nations district.
Construction progress
The tendering of the pavilion structure followed swift progress on the site’s infrastructure development works.
In April, ERC awarded two contracts for the next phase of infrastructure works at the site to local firm Al-Yamama Company.
The scope covered the construction of road networks and infrastructure for water, sewage, electricity, telecommunications and electric vehicle charging.
These awards followed ERC’s January award of an estimated SR1bn ($267m) contract for initial infrastructure works at the site to local firm Nesma & Partners. That scope covered about 50 kilometres of integrated infrastructure networks, including internal roads and essential utilities such as water, sewage, electrical and communications systems, and electric vehicle charging stations.
The overall infrastructure works – covering the construction of main utilities and civil works at Expo 2030 Riyadh – are split into three packages:
- Lot 1 covers the main utilities corridor;
- Lot 2 includes the northern cluster of the nature corridor;
- Lot 3 comprises the southern cluster of the nature corridor.
The masterplan encompasses an area of 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites ever designated for a World Expo event. Situated to the north of the Saudi capital, the site will be located near the future King Salman International airport and will provide direct access to landmarks within Riyadh.
The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, launched ERC – a wholly owned subsidiary – in June 2025 to build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.
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EtihadWE tenders $150m Ajman substation project21 July 2026
The UAE’s Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE) has tendered a contract to build three new substations in Ajman.
Estimated to cost $150m, the project involves the construction of three new 132/11kV substations in the Bahya, Rumaila and Liwara districts. It also includes associated 132kV underground cabling works to connect the substations to the existing transmission network.
The bid submission deadline is 10 August.
According to tender documents, the project will add distribution capacity to support load growth and improve the security of electricity supply in the emirate.
The scope of work includes site preparation, construction of three substation buildings and foundations, installation of 132kV GIS/AIS switchgear, 132/11kV power transformers and 11kV switchgear, as well as protection, control, Scada and telecommunications systems.
Etihad WE is responsible for electricity and water services in Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, Fujairah and parts of Sharjah. The utility has been investing in new substations and transmission infrastructure as electricity demand continues to increase across the Northern Emirates.
This includes a 132/33/11kV substation project on Al-Marjan Island in Ras Al-Khaimah. Construction work is ongoing on the project, with Maetal Dubai serving as the main contractor.
EtihadWE is also finalising a new masterplan that will cover network capacity requirements and expansion priorities for the next 10 to 15 years.
In June, Abdulla Al-Khemeiri, chief operations officer, told MEED: “We are currently reviewing it, and we need to obtain shareholder approval first. Once it is approved, it will be released, hopefully by the end of the year.”
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