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  Diriyah signs land lease deal with King Saud University

  19 December 2025

  Saudi Arabia gigaproject developer, Diriyah Company, has signed a long-term land lease agreement with Riyadh Valley Company, an investment arm of King Saud University.

  Diriyah Company will lease 552,000 square metres (sq m) of land from King Saud University for a period of 70 years. 

  The deal will enable the company to add the land bank to its second phase of the Diriyah Project, which is also known as DG2.

  The agreement was signed by Diriyah Company's Group CEO, Jerry Inzerillo, and the acting president of King Saud University and Riyadh Valley Company chairman, Ali Masmali.

  Diriyah Company is already developing the area adjacent to King Saud University. In April, it awarded an estimated SR4bn ($1.1bn) contract for a utilities relocation package for the King Saud University project located in the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).

  The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Beijing-headquartered China Railway Construction Corporation and China Railway Construction Group Central Plain Construction Company.

  The scope of the contract covers the design, construction and relocation of KSU's utilities and administration offices, as well as the construction of a district cooling plant, water storage facilities, a sewage treatment plant, a natural gas plant, a diesel transfer pumping station, a utility tunnel, irrigation water storage tanks, office buildings, warehouses and maintenance workshops.

  In addition to KSU, DG2 will feature residential developments, hotels, an opera house, the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art, six academies, an arena and a mosque.

  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.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15287776/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Kuwait to sign Mubarak port agreement next week

  19 December 2025

  Kuwait and China are expected to sign the agreement to develop the subsequent phases of Kuwait’s Grand Mubarak Port next week.

  According to media reports, the announcement was made by Kuwait’s Public Works Minister ​Noura Al-Mashaan on Thursday.

  The contract value is estimated to be about KD1.2bn ($4bn).

  In May, Beijing-headquartered China Harbour Engineering Company, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), signed an early contractor involvement (ECI) agreement with Kuwait to develop the next phases of the project.

  The initial works include surveying, investigation, hydrological observation, geophysical exploration, testing, model testing, process simulation, design review, owner inspection, preliminary design of sand-retaining embankments, and on-site services and management.

  The project launch ceremony was held in mid-April. It was attended by several high-profile representatives from Kuwait and China, including Fu Xuyin, China’s vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport, Zhang Jianwei, the Chinese ambassador to Kuwait, and Nora Mohammad Al-Mashaan, Kuwait’s minister of public works.

  In January, MEED reported that Kuwait’s cabinet had approved a bid from China Communications Construction Company to implement all stages of its Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project.

  The country ramped up its efforts on the project after meetings between Kuwaiti and Chinese officials in June last year.

  In 2023, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to develop port infrastructure.

  Phase one of the project cost $1.2bn and was completed in 2014.

  The project’s first phase included site levelling and the development of a marina, quay walls, berths, a navigational terminal and port buildings.

  The port is not operational because the phase one works did not include vital equipment such as cranes.

  It is understood that the completion of phase two will allow the port to start operations.

  The full scope for phase two of the project is expected to include:

  • Construction of loading and unloading facilities
  • Construction of quay walls and reclamation
  • Construction of the container yard and the back of the port
  • Infrastructure works
  • Construction of buildings
  • Construction of a container terminal
  • Construction of associated facilities
  • Installation of safety and security systems

  A third phase is also planned to further expand the port.

  The latest developments follow a series of agreements signed in September 2023 to deliver some of Kuwait’s immediate development goals for 2024-28. These agreements will position Chinese companies to play a leading role in the Fourth Kuwait Master Plan 2040.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15287252/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Metito consortium wins Mecca sewage scheme

  19 December 2025

  A team comprising Metito (UAE), Etihad Water & Electricity Company (UAE) and SkyBridge Company (UK) has been awarded a contract to develop the Hadda independent sewage treatment plant (ISTP) project in Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia.

  The contract was awarded by Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), the kingdom’s principal off-taker for water and wastewater public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

  The project will be developed on a build-own-operate-transfer basis and is expected to begin operations in 2028, followed by a 25-year operating term.

  The plant will provide an initial treatment capacity of 100,000 cubic metres a day and will feature a treated sewage effluent (TSE) reuse system with a storage tank and a 38-kilometre pipeline designed to handle 350,000 cubic metres a day.

  Earlier in December, MEED reported that the team had been named preferred bidder at a levelised tariff of SR2.354 ($0.63) a cubic metre.

  SWPC selected the Miahona-led consortium as the reserve bidder for this project with the second-lowest submitted bid of SR2.599($0.69) a cubic metre.

  According to SWPC, the TSE reuse system accounted for 31% of the preferred tariff for the Arana ISTP and 27% for the Hadda ISTP.

  In March last year, SWPC signed a 25-year water-purchase agreement with a team comprising the local Miahona Company and Belgium-based Besix for the contract to develop and operate the Al-Haer ISTP in Riyadh, as part of the third batch of the kingdom’s ISTP programme.

  Four months later, the Saudi-listed Power & Water Utility Company for Jubail & Yanbu (Marafiq) joined the developer consortium.

  The Miahona/Besix team offered to develop the project for SR1.9407 ($0.5173) a cubic metre, while the second-lowest bid, from a team comprising Spain’s Acciona and the local Tawzea, was SR2.2041($0.588) a cubic metre.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15287185/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Morocco awards $1bn Casablanca airport terminal deal

  19 December 2025

  Morocco’s National Airports Office (ONDA) has awarded a MD12bn ($1.2bn) contract to build the new terminal at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International airport.

  The contract was awarded to the joint venture of local firms Societe Generale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM) and Travaux Generaux de Construction de Casablanca (TGCC).

  Construction work on the Mohammed V International airport expansion is expected to begin immediately.

  The project is slated for completion in 2029.

  The expansion will cover more than 600,000 square metres (sq m) and increase the airport’s capacity to 30 million passengers a year.

  The project is designed by a consortium comprising the local branch of French engineering firm Egis Batiment International, Morocco’s Ala Concept and UK-based RSHP Architects.

  The scope of work covers preparatory works, structural works, waterproofing, steel structural works, building facades, electrical, mechanical and plumbing (MEP) works, data centre works, HVAC systems and other associated works.

  The tender also covers the construction of a 300-key airside hotel.

  The new terminal is expected to be ready in time for the 2030 Fifa World Cup, which Morocco is co-hosting alongside Portugal and Spain.

  ONDA tendered the project contract on 4 November, with a bid submission deadline of 16 December, as MEED reported.

  In July, ONDA began early works on the new terminal building, awarding an estimated MD294m ($29m) deal for enabling works to local firm Societe de Travaux Agricoles Marocaine.

  In January, Morocco’s Transport & Logistics Minister, Abdessamad Kayouh, said that the study to expand the airport’s capacity was nearing completion.

  The project is part of Morocco’s MD42bn ($4.3bn) plan to expand key airports in anticipation of increased passenger flow for the 2030 football World Cup.

  Morocco plans to upgrade several airports, including those in Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir, increasing their respective annual passenger capacities to 7 million, 16 million and 7 million.

  There are also plans to add a new terminal at Rabat-Sale airport, raising its capacity to 4 million passengers annually, and to increase Fez airport’s capacity to 5 million passengers annually. 

  The new terminal at Mohammed V International airport will be connected to a high-speed train network linking Kenitra to Marrakech.

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

  Prospects widen as Middle East rail projects are delivered; India’s L&T storms up MEED’s EPC contractor ranking; Manama balances growth with fiscal challenges

  Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the December 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

  > AGENDA 1: Regional rail construction surges ahead > AGENDA 2:  Middle East becomes a hub as rail networks mature > INDUSTRY REPORT 1: Larsen & Toubro climbs EPC contractor ranking > INDUSTRY REPORT 2: Chinese firms expand oil and gas presence > LIBYA: Oil companies ramp up activity in Libya > CONSTRUCTION: Aramco Stadium races towards completion > RENEWABLES: UAE moves ahead with $6bn solar and storage project > INTERVIEW: Engie pivots towards renewables projects > BAHRAIN MARKET FOCUS: Manama pursues reform amid strain

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

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  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Qiddiya tenders Janadriyah cultural district hotels

  18 December 2025

  Saudi gigaproject developer Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has issued a tender inviting firms to bid for a contract to build two hotels at the Janadriyah cultural district.

  The tender was issued on 11 December. Technical bids are due on 29 January, and the commercial bid submission deadline is 19 February.

  The package comprises the construction of the Wadi Hotel and the Gateway Hotel.

  Firms are also bidding for the Janadriyah cultural district main works. The tender for this package was issued in November.

  QIC is expected to receive bids for this package by 30 December.

  QIC is accelerating plans to develop additional assets at Qiddiya City.

  In December, MEED exclusively reported that QIC is expected to float a tender soon for the construction of the estimated SR7bn ($1.8bn) National Athletics Stadium at its Qiddiya entertainment city development.

  MEED understands that the prequalification process has reached an advanced stage and the tender for the main contract is likely to be issued within a few weeks.

  The multipurpose stadium will cover an area of approximately 182,000 square metres and its design is inspired by the London Olympic Stadium.

  Firms are bidding for a SR980m ($261m) contract covering the construction of staff accommodation. Earlier in December, MEED exclusively reported that QIC has allowed firms until 8 January to submit their bids.

  The tendering follows QIC’s October announcement that it had awarded a SR5.2bn ($1.4bn) construction contract to build the performing arts centre at Qiddiya Entertainment City.

  The centre will have over 3,000 seats across three theatres. It will also include a cantilevered amphitheatre overlooking Qiddiya City’s lower plateau, with a 500-seat centre suspended from above.

  The Qiddiya City performing arts centre is one of several major projects within the greater Qiddiya development. Other projects include an e-games arena, the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, a motorsports track, the Dragon Ball and Six Flags theme parks, and Aquarabia.

  The project is a key part of Riyadh’s strategy to boost leisure tourism in the kingdom. According to GlobalData, leisure tourism in Saudi Arabia has experienced significant growth in recent years.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15277573/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal