Read the May 2025 MEED Business Review

30 April 2025

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Global stock markets suffered some of their worst days on record following US President Donald Trump's announcement of his 'Liberation Day' tariffs on 2 April. Although a 90-day pause was quickly announced for most trading partners, the 10% baseline import duty and levies on aluminium and industrial metals led to selloffs across regional indices. Oil prices also took a hit, as Brent crude dropped to under $60 a barrel for the first time since 2021.

The GCC is well positioned to survive the trade wars, however. Oil, energy and various petrochemicals products remain exempt from US tariffs, and with low regulatory barriers and the capacity to engage in manufacturing-intensive activities, the region's economies pride themselves on being trade-friendly. By building on the strong relations that regional leaders enjoy with the Trump administration, GCC states can hope to emerge from the assault relatively unscathed.

In the May edition of MEED Business Review, we take an in-depth look at how regional governments hope to avoid the worst of the hits from US tariffs, examine the impact of the tariff regime on Gulf stock markets and assess the additional damage that falling prices will cause for oil exporters across the Middle East and North Africa region.

MEED's latest issue also includes a 17-page market report on the UAE, which explores how solid fiscal and macroeconomic fundamentals will help the country ride out the global uncertainty caused by the imposition of US tariffs. UAE financial institutions remain on a strong growth heading, and an expected increase in oil production, continued chemicals sector growth, expansionary government spending on infrastructure and renewed investment in real estate will all help the UAE to weather the storm.

In addition, this month's issue features MEED's 2025 GCC Contractor Ranking, which reveals an increase in orders across the region in the past year. While the GCC’s most active contractor is Saudi Arabia’s Nesma & Partners, with $13.9bn of work at the execution stage, Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corporation has continued to grow strongly to secure second place this year, just $300m behind Nesma with $13.5bn.

This issue is also packed with analysis. We examine the steps that are being taken by Damascus to reassure regional partners and lay the groundwork for the reconstruction of war-torn Syria; look at what Saudi Arabia and Oman are doing to attract local and international miners; and learn how UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala is investing in a low-carbon future.

In the May issue, the team also speaks exclusively to Walter Simpson, the former managing director of CC Energy Development (CCED), about the oil producer’s plans for growth in Oman; and Iain McBride, head of commercial for gigaproject multi-asset developer Roshn Group, who lays out the procurement strategy that is enabling the company to navigate the challenges presented by Saudi Arabia’s construction boom.

We hope our valued subscribers enjoy the May 2025 issue of MEED Business Review

 

Must-read sections in the May 2025 issue of MEED Business Review include:

AGENDA: 
GCC shelters from the trade wars

Gulf markets slide as US tariff shockwaves hit
Lower oil prices raise Gulf’s fiscal pressure

> CURRENT AFFAIRS:
Syria makes progress towards reunification

INDUSTRY REPORT:
2025 GCC contractor ranking 
Contractors take on more work in 2025

> MINERALS: Saudi Arabia and Oman open up their minerals potential

> INTERVIEWS:
> CCED seeks growth in Oman’s hydrocarbons sector

> A case study in procurement 

LEADERSHIP: Rethinking investments for a lower-carbon future

> UAE MARKET REPORT: 
> COMMENT: UAE is poised to weather the storm
> GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY: UAE looks to economic longevity
> BANKING: UAE banks dig in for new era

> UPSTREAM: Adnoc in cruise control with oil and gas targets
> DOWNSTREAM: Abu Dhabi chemicals sector sees relentless growth
> POWER: AI accelerates UAE power generation projects sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Dubai construction continues to lead region
> TRANSPORT: UAE accelerates its $60bn transport push
> DATABANK: UAE growth prospects head north

MEED COMMENTS: 
Opec+ shows defiance in the face of sliding oil prices

Corruption may hinder Iraqi oil pipeline reopening
Mall of the Emirates sets trends again with $1.4bn revamp
Abu Dhabi infrastructure entity will help forge partnerships

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index inches upwards

> MARCH 2025 CONTRACTS: Region records $70.3bn of deal signings in first quarter of 2025

> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects

> OPINIONTrump’s new world order

BUSINESS OUTLOOK: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts

To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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MEED Editorial
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    Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has named Talal Al-Marri as the CEO to lead the newly-launched Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC).

    In an official statement published by the Saudi Press Agency, the PIF said that Al-Marri "is expected to lead the Expo 2030 Riyadh team in delivering a world-class exhibition that reflects the kingdom’s ambitions and rapid development, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030".

    Al-Marri has previously held several senior executive roles at Saudi Aramco, including president and CEO of Aramco Europe, senior vice president of community services and senior vice president of industrial services.

    The announcement follows the establishment of ERC as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the PIF that will build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.

    In a statement, the PIF said: “During its construction phases, Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy are projected to contribute around $64bn to Saudi GDP and generate approximately 171,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once operational, it is expected to contribute approximately $5.6bn to GDP.”

    The masterplan for Expo 2030 Riyadh encompasses an area of 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites designated for a World Expo. Situated to the north of the city, the expo site will be located near the future King Salman International airport, providing direct access to various landmarks within the Saudi capital.

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    The expo is projected to attract over 40 million visitors. After the event concludes, ERC plans to convert the expo's secured area into a global village, to serve as a multicultural centre for retail and dining. This development will also include an international residential community with various amenities, with a focus on sustainable tourism practices.

    Expo 2030 Riyadh will run from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031.

    In mid-May, MEED reported that Riyadh had begun talks with stakeholders in preparation for the start of the construction works for the event.

    The discussions were understood to have been held with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the PIF.

    German architectural firm Lava Architects and US-based engineering firm Jacobs are assisting with the project masterplan and the design of infrastructure for the site.


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  • Adnoc prepares tender for next Upper Zakum field expansion

    23 June 2025

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    Adnoc Offshore is preparing to start the tendering process for the next expansion phase of the Upper Zakum field development in Abu Dhabi, the objective of which is to increase the asset’s oil production potential to 1.5 million barrels a day (b/d).

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    Located 84 kilometres offshore in Abu Dhabi, Upper Zakum is the world’s second-largest offshore oil field and fourth-largest oil field.

    The UZ 1.5MMBD project is the latest crude output expansion project that Adnoc Offshore has undertaken at the Upper Zakum field development.

    Upper Zakum expansion

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    In April last year, MEED reported that Adnoc Offshore had awarded the main EPC contract for the UZ 1.2MMBD EPC-1 project to UAE-based Target Engineering Construction Company. The value of the contract was estimated to be $825m.

    The project’s main scope involves the EPC of several surface facilities and plants at the Upper Zakum offshore development’s four main artificial islands: Al-Ghallan, Umm Al-Anbar, Ettouk and Asseifiya – also known as Central Island, West Island, North Island and South Island, respectively.

    Spanish contractor Tecnicas Reunidas won the contract for the feed works on the UZ 1.2MMBD EPC-1 project in 2019. UK-headquartered Wood Group was appointed as the project management consultant for the EPC phase.

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    Upper Zakum oil production

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    EPC work on UZ 750 began in 2014 and was completed in 2022.

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

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  • Beltone Leasing secures $20m funding from German investor

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    Beltone Leasing & Factoring has signed a $20m funding agreement with Germany-based Finance in Motion to expand lending to small businesses and support green finance initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena).

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    These facilities are supported by the National Automotive & Mobility Investment Company (Tasaru Mobility Investments), which the PIF established in 2023 to develop the kingdom’s local supply chain capabilities for the automotive and mobility industries.

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

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    Bahrain’s Ministry of Works has opened the commercial bids that it received from firms for a contract covering the pre-contract engineering consultancy services for the next phase of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Highway upgrade.

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

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    > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index leaps 4.3%
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