Related Articles

• 
  Stability holds as project work continues

  14 October 2026

  

   

  When Dean McGrail describes the performance of the region’s construction market, he keeps returning to a single word: “stable”.

  After initial concerns that the market would experience a sharp downturn and project cancellations following the onset of conflict in the region, regional president McGrail says WSP has yet to see a single major contract cancelled across its regional portfolio.

  “We have seen some projects re-evaluated – questions around whether the mix between residential and commercial is right, and whether it should be luxury residential,” he says. “But as of today, we have not seen any projects cancelled, which is a real sign of resilience in the market.”

  Under the surface

  That resilience does not mean nothing has changed. McGrail is careful to separate re-evaluation from cancellation. Projects already on site and selling into the market are pressing ahead. It is schemes that have not yet been released for off-plan sales that are being paused and reconsidered.

  “None of the projects we are currently involved in have been put on hold or suspended,” he says. “It is more re-evaluation. Some of that is investor sentiment, but some of it is materials and logistics as well, which people do not necessarily consider.”

  Logistics, in particular, is a pressure that rarely makes the headlines. According to McGrail, shipping disruption has complicated the delivery of heavy equipment on certain schemes. “If we have big pieces of kit coming in – chillers or turbines for a power station – that becomes challenging,” he says.

  The bigger question is viability. And while rising material costs, set against softening sales prices, are forcing developers to reappraise the numbers, for now the balance sits firmly on the side of continuity. McGrail estimates that revalidation and feasibility work accounts for less than 3% of the firm’s current order book, with the remainder progressing as normal.

  “Requests for proposals have not slowed down across any of our disciplines or business units,” he says. “We are definitely seeing an uptick in infrastructure.”

  Infrastructure pivot

  That focus points to where McGrail expects the next few years of growth to come from. Rail sits at the centre of the UAE story, alongside road upgrades and other major developments in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, the clearest signal of intent is the expansion of Al-Maktoum International airport.

  “Al-Maktoum is a really good indicator of the future direction of travel,” he says. “That is not a project that is slowing down. There has been a commitment to Emirates that it will move there, and it is still progressing.”

  The scale of the airport – and the challenge of relocating an airline the size of Emirates in one move – raises the question of how it will be funded. Here, McGrail returns to the theme of stability and to the mechanism that underpins it.

  “One of the beauties of this region is the ability of government to step in,” he says. “They can fund it. If the private sector does start to suffer, that is the backstop. They push money into infrastructure – roads, rail, airports – which keeps our industry moving.”

  Saudi reset

  In Saudi Arabia, the recalibration story predates the conflict, and McGrail says the change should be read as a strength rather than a retreat.

  “I am positive,” he says. “When the reprioritisation started at the beginning of 2025, having lived through the global financial crisis here, I saw the decision to stop, re-evaluate and reprioritise expenditure as a positive. When Vision 2030 was set, Saudi Arabia had not won Expo or the World Cup, so the reprioritisation was the right thing to do. Saudi Arabia will come out of it stronger. Short-term pain, long-term gain.”

  The nature of the work is shifting with the budget. McGrail sees the kingdom moving towards a model long familiar in the UAE, in which core infrastructure and a handful of landmark buildings are delivered first, before surrounding plots are carved up and sold on.

  “You establish a few key iconic buildings, then the plots on the outside are carved up and they look for external investment to come in and develop them,” he says. “It is no different from Downtown Dubai, where Emaar built the Burj Khalifa and a few buildings, then started selling plots.”

  That approach is increasingly tied to public-private partnerships (PPPs), although McGrail is measured on how far the model will stretch.

  “PPP is definitely becoming more prevalent on some of the larger infrastructure projects, though still not as significant as it was made out to be when they first started talking about it,” he says. He sees industrials, mining, healthcare and schools as a natural fit, rather than PPP becoming a blanket procurement route.

  Aviation is another priority. WSP was recently appointed to the rehabilitation of the existing terminal at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International airport, alongside a new terminal. It also recently secured a role on the expansion and upgrade of King Fahd International airport in Dammam.

  “Aviation is definitely a key area of focus for us as we head into the next 12, 24, 36 months,” McGrail says.

  Beyond the two dominant markets, McGrail sees pockets of activity but no challenge to the balance of the portfolio. In Qatar, he points to a recovery taking shape towards the end of last year, with WSP active on the Qatar Children’s Museum and continuing its long-running work with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). Oman is generating masterplanning work, including reviving the Blue City scheme.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20545689/main.gif

  Colin Foreman
• 
  Riyadh awards $1.5bn metro rolling stock contracts

  14 October 2026

  Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

  Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has signed contracts worth about SR5.5bn ($1.5bn) to procure 94 additional trains for the Riyadh Metro network.

  Germany’s Siemens and France’s Alstom have been awarded the contracts. They cover rolling stock manufacture, onboard systems, equipment and related services.

  The procurement will increase the metro fleet from 183 to 277 trains. Deliveries are due to begin in phases in 2028, with the additional units subject to testing and operational trials before entering service.

  RCRC expects the programme to increase the network’s passenger capacity by 60%.

  The additional trains will be distributed across the six metro lines based on current demand and projected ridership.

  The Red Line will receive the largest capacity increase, at 142%, followed by the Yellow Line at 116% and the Blue Line at 60%. Capacity on the Orange and Purple lines will increase by 27% and 16%, respectively.

  Daily capacity on the Blue Line is set to increase from about 340,000 to 533,000 passengers. Capacity on the Red Line will rise from 154,000 to 370,000 passengers a day, while the Yellow Line will increase from 133,000 to more than 288,000.

  The expansion is intended to meet rising demand for public transport as Riyadh prepares to host Expo 2030 and the 2034 Fifa World Cup, alongside continued growth in residential, commercial and entertainment developments.

  Speaking at the 37th government press conference, RCRC chief executive Ibrahim Al-Sultan said the metro has carried more than 300 million passengers since it began operating.

  Average metro ridership rose by about 25% in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, he added.

  The wider Riyadh public transport system, including buses and the metro, is approaching 500 million passenger journeys.

  ---

  MEED’s October 2026 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

  > COMMENT: Saudi projects hold steady
  > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh looks to reset its regional defence outlook
  > ECONOMY: Conflict bolsters case for Saudi economic diversification
  > BANKING: Saudi lenders readjust to lower lending and deposit climate
  > UPSTREAM: Aramco upstream spending gathers pace
  > DOWNSTREAM: Sabic steps up Saudi petchems investment
  > POWER: Saudi Arabia’s power award activity slows
  > WATER: Saudi water sector hits sharp slowdown
  > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction defies the headwinds
  > TRANSPORT: Saudi infrastructure pushes forward amid conflict
  > DATABANK: Saudi data indicates project spending shift

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20582763/main.png

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  US initiates procurement for Expo 2030 Riyadh pavilion

  14 October 2026

  

   

  Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

  The US Department of State has initiated market research to procure a design-and-build contract for the US Pavilion at Expo 2030 Riyadh.

  According to procurement documents released through the US federal contracting portal, the project covers the full design, construction, exhibition fit-out, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning and removal of the national pavilion.

  The total cost for the design, construction and decommissioning packages is estimated at $55m to $65m.

  The request for information notice was issued on 9 October.

  The pavilion will be developed on plot P5.N1.B03.01 within the Expo 2030 masterplan’s Technology district, fronting the Loop of Nations corridor.

  It spans 5,368 square metres (sq m), with a maximum permitted gross floor area (GFA) of 8,052 sq m and an overall building height limit of 20 metres.

  The planned temporary structure will rise approximately three storeys and house between 5,000 and 6,000 sq m of exhibition space. The brief requires the facility to accommodate at least 23,000 visitors a day over the event’s six-month duration.

  Additional programme elements include:

  • A rooftop garden and restaurant
  • Two commercial kitchens
  • A VIP reception suite
  • Dedicated retail and administrative office space
  • Back-of-house operational areas and exterior shaded public landscaping

  Interested contractors and joint ventures have been invited to submit capability statements by 11 November. Bidders must demonstrate prior experience delivering major pavilions or large-scale immersive exhibition spaces completed within the past 15 years, alongside international logistics and regional project delivery capabilities.

  UK-based engineering consultancy Buro Happold prepared the plot masterplanning and development guidelines for the zone.

  Another UK-headquartered firm, Trivandi, was selected in April as the operations partner for the US Pavilion at Riyadh Expo.

  Expo 2030 Riyadh will run from October 2030 to March 2031 under the theme Foresight for Tomorrow, with host authorities projecting roughly 42 million visits.

  The masterplan covers 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites ever designated for a World Expo event.

  Situated north of the Saudi capital, the site will be near the future King Salman International airport and will provide direct access to Riyadh landmarks.

  The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, launched Expo 2030 Riyadh Company – a wholly owned subsidiary – in June 2025 to build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.

  ---

  MEED’s October 2026 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

  > COMMENT: Saudi projects hold steady
  > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh looks to reset its regional defence outlook
  > ECONOMY: Conflict bolsters case for Saudi economic diversification
  > BANKING: Saudi lenders readjust to lower lending and deposit climate
  > UPSTREAM: Aramco upstream spending gathers pace
  > DOWNSTREAM: Sabic steps up Saudi petchems investment
  > POWER: Saudi Arabia’s power award activity slows
  > WATER: Saudi water sector hits sharp slowdown
  > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction defies the headwinds
  > TRANSPORT: Saudi infrastructure pushes forward amid conflict
  > DATABANK: Saudi data indicates project spending shift

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20580855/main.jpeg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  SAR sets November deadline for GCC rail design review

  14 October 2026

  

   

  Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

  Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has set a deadline of 1 November for a contract to appoint a design management and review consultant to oversee engineering works on the GCC railway network, the latest step in advancing the long-delayed regional rail link.

  The request for proposals (RFP) was issued on 9 September, with an initial submission deadline of 18 October.

  The tender seeks a consultant to manage, audit and verify deliverables produced by SAR’s separately appointed design services consultant, rather than carry out the design itself. The tendering for the design services consultancy is currently in progress.

  Construction will be tendered separately through competitive bidding once designs are approved.

  The GCC railway will run for about 672 kilometres (km) inside Saudi Arabia, linking the kingdom’s existing network to Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain, with four sections of about 141km, 200km, 151km and 21km, respectively.

  The line is planned as a single-track, non-electrified corridor for mixed freight and passenger traffic, with a maximum axle load of 32.4 tonnes and passing loops for bidirectional working.

  The appointed consultant will develop a design management and review plan covering governance, interdisciplinary coordination and stage-gate approvals, and will issue formal review and audit reports against SAR’s requirements and international standards.

  The scope also covers stakeholder engagement, interface management and oversight of land acquisition activity tied to the design consultant’s land acquisition plan.

  Key design stages are expected to take about 16 months: four months for concept design, six for preliminary design and six for issued-for-construction design, each with four weeks of contingency.

  SAR has asked bidders to mobilise a core team from day one. These must include a project director, engineering and design manager, stakeholder manager and lead document controller, all based at SAR’s offices, with minimum experience thresholds ranging from three years for junior operators up to 25 years, including 15 in rail, for the project director role.

  Cross-border infrastructure related to the GCC rail is also gaining momentum, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia signing a preliminary agreement in early October to study rail connectivity.

  The rail component covers technical and economic feasibility studies for a dedicated freight link between the two national networks to improve bilateral logistics and supply-chain integration.

  The deal also covers potential electricity interconnection, including the exchange and sale of power. The countries will conduct technical, economic and environmental studies and coordinate with other GCC member states on broader grid-development plans.

  GCC railway line

  Under the overall plan, the railway will run from Kuwait, pass through Dammam in Saudi Arabia, reach Bahrain via a planned causeway, and continue from Dammam to Qatar, the UAE and, ultimately, Muscat via Sohar in Oman. The railway is reported to cover about 2,186km in total.

  The route length within each member state is as follows:

  • UAE – 684km
  • Saudi Arabia – 672km
  • Oman – 306km
  • Qatar – 283km
  • Kuwait – 145km
  • Bahrain – 36km

  The railway is designed for passenger trains travelling at 220 kilometres an hour (km/h) and freight trains operating at 80km/h-120km/h.

  With high levels of project activity, governments in spending mode and renewed cooperation under the Al-Ula Declaration, the latest efforts to restart the GCC railway project may make more progress than previous attempts. If completed, the railway could prove transformational for a region that is globally connected but still divided by national borders.

  ---

  MEED’s October 2026 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

  > COMMENT: Saudi projects hold steady
  > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh looks to reset its regional defence outlook
  > ECONOMY: Conflict bolsters case for Saudi economic diversification
  > BANKING: Saudi lenders readjust to lower lending and deposit climate
  > UPSTREAM: Aramco upstream spending gathers pace
  > DOWNSTREAM: Sabic steps up Saudi petchems investment
  > POWER: Saudi Arabia’s power award activity slows
  > WATER: Saudi water sector hits sharp slowdown
  > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction defies the headwinds
  > TRANSPORT: Saudi infrastructure pushes forward amid conflict
  > DATABANK: Saudi data indicates project spending shift

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20576332/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Algeria tenders gas compressor upgrade project

  14 October 2026

  Algeria’s national oil and gas company Sonatrach has issued a tender for a project to upgrade 11 gas compressor stations in the Hassi Hassi Messaoud area.

  The project scope includes study, design, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of units at the compressor stations.

  The deadline for submitting technical bids is 22 November.

  The compression stations to be upgraded include 10 located at the Southern Industrial Complex.

  These are known as: SC3, SC4, SC5, SC6, SC7, SC8, SC9, SC10, SC11 and SC12.

  The eleventh compressor station, UC3, is located at the Naili Abdelhalim Industrial Complex.

  The project appears to revive plans dating back to at least 2019, when Sonatrach identified the refurbishment of the SC3–SC12 facilities as part of its investment programme.

  International companies wishing to bid must have an average turnover of at least $1bn over the last three years.

  They are also required to have successfully completed at least two engineering, procurement and construction contracts relating to industrial hydrocarbon installation projects during the last 15 years.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20551634/main.jpg

  Wil Crisp