Read the September 2023 MEED Business Review
30 August 2023
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Decarbonisation has increased the stakes for nuclear energy despite the perceived risks.
With the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region set to register a rise of at least 30 per cent in power generation capacity by 2030, a strategy is required to advance energy security while reducing carbon emissions and fossil-fuel dependence.
If hydrocarbons are to be scaled back and battery energy storage remains expensive or untested, nuclear is an obvious solution.
Nuclear energy’s benefits have been consistently recognised in the Middle East.
Iran, despite sanctions, has pressed ahead with its nuclear power projects. On the other side of the Gulf, Abu Dhabi signed contracts in 2009 with a South Korean consortium to build its first nuclear power project in Barakah.
More recently, Egypt has started work on its own nuclear project at El-Dabaa.
More projects are planned. Most notably, Saudi Arabia is advancing early plans for its nuclear power projects.
In the latest issue of MEED Business Review, MEED's energy editor Jennifer Aguinaldo looks at the case for adding nuclear to the energy mix and analyses the progress being made as the Mena region pushes for a nuclear future.
She also discusses small modular reactors and their importance in offsetting concerns about capital expenditure, construction delays and spent-fuel reprocessing.
This month's exclusive 14-page market focus, meanwhile, examines the ambitious plans laid out by Kuwait's new cabinet as it enters office with an expansionary budget and programme of strategic projects.
MEED's latest issue also includes a comprehensive report on the future of engineering, procurement and construction in a sustainable world.
We hope our valued subscribers enjoy the September 2023 issue of MEED Business Review.

Must-read sections in the September 2023 edition of MEED Business Review include:
> AGENDA: Mena pushes for nuclear future
> TECHNOLOGY: Small reactors top nuclear agenda
> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Saudi Arabian economy shows signs of weakness
| INDUSTRY REPORT: The future of EPC in a sustainable world Key highlights from the MEED-Mashreq Contractors Forum on 30 May 2023, which discussed how the engineering and construction sector can enable the delivery of large-scale solar, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage projects in the region. > A new era for EPC contractors > Government support vital for clean energy growth > Private sector vital for sustainable development > Green energy drive requires adequate financing |
> INTERVIEW: Acwa Power zooms in on global water opportunities
> RAIL: GCC's ambitious railway project gains momentum
> REAL ESTATE: UAE real estate construction returns to record highs
> INTERVIEW: EuroChem eyes Mena food security opportunity
> INTERVIEW: Kuwait's Gulf Centre United sets course for expansion
> MARKET TALK: NBK anticipates project revival in Kuwait
> KUWAIT MARKET FOCUS:
> COMMENT: Kuwait lays out ambitious plans
> POLITICS: Stakeholders hope Kuwait can execute spending plans
> ECONOMY: Kuwait enjoys sustained non-oil growth
> BANKING: Kuwaiti banks enter bounce-back mode
> ENERGY: Kuwait’s $300bn energy target is a big test
> POWER & WATER: Warming erodes Kuwait’s power and water reserves
> CONSTRUCTION: Kuwait poised for renewed construction activity
> DATABANK: Kuwait’s headline growth dips
> MEED COMMENTS:
> Mena solar awards trajectory improves
> Abu Dhabi seeks control of pipelines
> Time for Riyadh to prove its mettle
> Dubai plots major projects comeback
> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf index climbs higher in August
> JULY 2023 CONTRACTS: Region records $12bn of deals signed
> MARKET SNAPSHOT: Mena rail projects
> OPINION: Gulf funds help reshape football
> BUSINESS OUTLOOK: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts
Exclusive from Meed
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Egypt approves plans for 869MW wind power plant22 June 2026
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Local firm signs Jeddah drainage contracts22 June 2026
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Qiddiya seeks contractors for indoor arena project22 June 2026
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Egypt signs gas deal with Harbour Energy22 June 2026
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Related Articles
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Egypt approves plans for 869MW wind power plant22 June 2026
Egypt’s Cabinet has approved plans for French renewable energy developer Voltalia to develop an 869MW wind power project.
The scheme will be built on land allocated by the New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), according to a statement posted by the Cabinet following its most recent weekly meeting.
Voltalia will make an initial investment of $53m and has committed to achieving commercial operations by December 2028.
Voltalia already operates the 32MW Ra solar plant at the Benban solar complex in Aswan and is expanding its renewable energy portfolio in Egypt.
Previously, in 2024, it signed a framework agreement with Egypt’s Taqa Arabia to develop a green hydrogen and renewable power cluster near the Ain Sokhna port in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
The green hydrogen development is planned in two phases, each centred on a 500MW electrolyser powered by more than 1.3GW of renewable generation capacity. The project, still in its early stages, is expected to produce up to 350,000 tonnes of green ammonia a year.
Voltalia’s partnership with Taqa Arabia also includes plans for a 3.2GW hybrid wind and solar project to repower the existing 545MW Zafarana wind farm in Suez Governorate. The Cabinet statement did not indicate whether the newly approved 869MW wind project forms part of that proposal.
Meanwhile, the developer won another contract, earlier this year, to develop a 132MW solar power project in Tunisia’s Gabes region.
The project, known as Wadi, marked Voltalia’s third major solar award in the country after the Sagdoud and Menzel Habib projects awarded in 2024.
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Local firm signs Jeddah drainage contracts22 June 2026
Local contractor Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies (AWPT) has announced it has signed two contracts with Jeddah Municipality to operate and maintain stormwater and surface water drainage networks across the city.
The contracts have a combined value of SR202.06m ($53.9m), and each will run for five years.
The first contract, valued at SR108.46m ($28.9m), covers the operation and cleaning of stormwater and surface water networks in the South and Al-Malisa sub-municipalities.
The second contract, worth SR93.59m ($25m), covers similar services for the Airport Sub-Municipality.
In March, MEED reported that the firm had won a long-term contract to carry out work in the airport’s sub-municipality area. The agreement was signed on 16 June.
Elsewhere, construction has yet to begin on phases one and two of the King Abdullah Road-Falasteen Road tunnel project, each valued at about $175m.
According to sources, Jeddah Municipality selected Saudi contractor Thrustboring Construction Company to build the large-diameter stormwater drainage tunnels in 2025. However, an official agreement has yet to be signed.
The municipality was also previously planning to rehabilitate the existing Al-Zahra pumping station. Prequalification for the project began in 2020; however, it is understood that the main contact tender was cancelled last year.
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Qiddiya seeks contractors for indoor arena project22 June 2026

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Saudi Arabian gigaproject developer Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has invited contractors to prequalify for a contract to build an indoor sports arena within its Qiddiya entertainment city project.
The invitation was issued on 21 May, with a submission deadline of 28 June.
The multipurpose arena is designed to International Olympic Committee standards.
It will be located in District 18, in the Uptown South area of Qiddiya.
Once completed, the indoor arena will be capable of hosting a wide range of sports, cultural and entertainment events.
The arena will feature numerous sports courts for basketball, handball, futsal, volleyball, tennis, boxing and gymnastics.
It will have a seating capacity of 18,000 spectators.
The project is scheduled for completion by 2030.
QIC’s other major projects include an e-sports arena, the National Tennis Centre, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, a motorsports track, a racecourse, the Dragon Ball and Six Flags theme parks, and Aquarabia.
QIC opened the Six Flags theme park to the public in December last year.
The park covers 320,000 square metres and features 28 rides and attractions, including 10 thrill rides and 18 aimed at families and young children.
The Qiddiya project is a key part of Riyadh’s strategy to boost leisure tourism in the kingdom.
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Egypt signs gas deal with Harbour Energy22 June 2026
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources has signed a new agreement with London-headquartered Harbour Energy.
Under the scope of the agreement, Harbour Energy will drill two new exploration wells and carry out maintenance work for one of the existing wells within the Dsouq-1 development contract.
Harbour Energy committed an initial $6m investment and a $1m signing bonus for the Dsouq concession. Total investment could rise to $18m if commercial discoveries are made.
The signing was witnessed by Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum, Karim Badawi.
He said that his ministry is continuing to implement a package of investment measures and incentives aimed at encouraging partners to increase investments and intensify exploration, development and production activities.
The agreement was signed by Syed Saleem, a member of the executive branch of the state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), and Samah Sabry, the executive director of Harbour Energy for the Middle East and North Africa region.
Harbour Energy drilled two new wells in Egypt during the fiscal year 2025/2026, resulting in the addition of reserves estimated at 35 billion cubic feet of gas.
The company aims to drill three new exploration wells during the fiscal year 2026/2027.
Egypt is currently pushing to boost the production of both oil and gas in its territory.
Earlier this month, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources announced that it had fully settled all outstanding arrears owed to oil and gas companies.
Two years ago, in June 2024, the country owed approximately $6.1bn to partners in the oil and gas sector.
READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFGCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
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Iran invites companies to register for Kharg Oil Terminal development22 June 2026

Iran has invited companies to participate in a project to develop the existing Kharg Oil Terminal, according to documents released by the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company and Iranian Oil Terminals Company.
The project focuses on developing units capable of receiving, storing and exporting extra-heavy West Karun crude oil at a rate of 700,000 barrels a day.
The scope of the project includes design, purchase, installation and commissioning of the new facility.
The contract will use the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model, according to the tender documents.
The project aims to use existing oil storage tanks and reconstruct the deepwater crude oil export berth known as Berth Number One.
The berth known as Berth Number Three will serve as a backup berth for the project.
The winning bidder for the contract will be responsible for a range of works, including:
- Carrying out all stages of verification of the project’s basic design, design and engineering
- Supply and procurement of goods and materials
- Execution and installation
- Pre-commissioning and commissioning
The project is expected to take 30 months to complete, and the winning contractor will also be responsible for maintaining the facility for a further 12 months.
Companies that wish to submit bids need to do so through Iran’s Government Electronic Procurement System (Setad).
Companies interested in participating in the tender have seven days from the publication of the tender notice to receive the documents.
They then have a further 14 days to upload the required documents into the government procurement system.
Iran exports most of its oil via the Kharg Oil Terminal on Kharg Island.
US President Donald Trump said strikes in mid-March “obliterated” Kharg’s military assets but did not target the island’s oil infrastructure.
He warned that if Iran continued disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider the decision to spare energy targets on the island.
Trump has threatened several times to take “control” of Kharg Island, but he has not yet followed through on this threat.
The small coral island is located 33 kilometres from Iran’s coast and has strategic importance because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for large tanker ships to dock.
READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFGCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> AGENDA: Gulf races to reroute trade> EXPORT ROUTES: Regional war boosts oil and gas pipeline project activity> CURRENT AFFAIRS: UAE’s Opec departure fulfils multiple ends> MEED TOP 100: Middle East stocks recover unevenly> LEADERSHIP: Building the infrastructure that makes net zero possible> TRADE DEAL: UK-GCC trade deal talks concludeTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17374518/main.jpg
