Middle East contract awards: November 2023
19 December 2023

In November, there were $13.1bn of contract awards in the Middle East and North Africa region, in an almost two-thirds reduction on the record $39bn signed the previous month, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects. The award value total was also below average when compared to the $20bn average monthly awards over the preceding 12 months and the $15bn long-term average for monthly contract awards.
The strong overall project award activity in 2023, particularly in October, nevertheless leaves the region still potentially on track to match, if not exceed, the record value for annual contract awards set in 2014.
As in previous months, November’s contract awards tally was led by multibillion-dollar awards by regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with Qatar.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia recorded $5.5bn of contract awards in November, the biggest of which were a pair of $1.2bn awards by Saudi Power Procurement Company for the 1.2GW Rabigh combined-cycle power plant and the 1.1GW Al-Hinakiyah solar independent power producer plant.
A $1.2bn, 1.1GW solar project at Al-Hinakiyah was awarded under round four of the kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) along with the $440m, 400MW solar project at Tubarjal. The projects form part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to install 27.3GW of renewable energy capacity by 2024 and 58.7GW by 2030 through the NREP.
Saudi Arabia’s projects market is set for a further boost following the kingdom’s successful bid to host Expo 2030, with Riyadh stating that it plans to invest $7.8bn into related infrastructure. Activity on the kingdom'a gigaprojects also continues, with MEED estimating in late November that $60.6bn of deals had been inked from 2018 to date.
Qatar
Qatar saw $2.6bn of deals inked in November, with the largest a $1.2bn contract signed by North Oil Company with India’s Larsen & Toubro for the Al-Shaheen oil field development Ruya batch one project, which is part of the estimated $6bn project to increase the production potential of the field. The scope of work involves the installation of a large offshore platform and integration with existing facilities.
Download the Middle East contracts awarded for November 2023 |
UAE
The UAE recorded the third-largest value of deals signed in November, at $2.4bn. The biggest was a $1.2bn contract let by local developer Wasl to China State Construction Engineering Corporation for the MGM resort and the Bellagio and Aria hotels on The Island development in Dubai. According to MEED Projects, it is the largest construction deal to be signed in the emirate since local contractor Alec secured the $1.36bn contract to build One Zabeel from local developer Ithra in 2017.
The UAE has also seen movement on other big-ticket projects, with Dubai approving the $4.9bn Blue Line extension to the Dubai Metro network on 24 November. Dubai’s construction market is set to make a pivotal shift next year as the emirate’s focus switches from real estate to public infrastructure projects.
North Africa
In North Africa, Algeria and Morocco both contributed to the November contract awards total, with $960m and $955m of deals signed, respectively. Algeria’s value came from a single award by state-owned Anesrif for a new mining railway between Tindouf and Bechar. The project is part of multibillion-dollar rail building programme by Anesrif that involves the development of a total 12,000 kilometres of railway lines.
In Morocco, the largest contract award was an $875m signing by the National Office of Electricity & Drinking Water (Onee) with a consortium led by Spain's Acciona to deliver the first phase of a major seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant in Grand Casablanca.
Egypt recorded $148m of deals signed in November, down from $776m in October. The biggest deal was signed by the National Authority for Tunnels for the signalling system on phase three of the 10th of Ramadan light rail transit project.
Other GCC
Back in the GCC, several contracts were also signed in Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain in November, with work worth $200m, $117m and $63m being awarded, respectively.
Oman’s projects market is set for growth, with the sultanate reinitiating plans to build the long-stalled Blue City project. The design works are ongoing and are expected to be completed by mid-2024.
Iraq
Iraq rounded out the deals recorded in November, with a $139m contract for a cement plant awarded by the Northern Region Cement Company to Germany's KHD Humboldt Wedag and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
|
Related reads: |
For more up-to-date information on the region’s largest projects, go to MEED Projects, which tracks trillions of dollars-worth of schemes.
MEED Projects is a subscriber-only service that provides comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate project information. It monitors industry and business development opportunities through market data tailored to your needs.
Be the first to know about new projects; we provide the data so you can win the business. If you would like to see a demo of MEED Projects, or just want to find out more, register your details online or call +971 (0) 4 818 0200.
Exclusive from Meed
-
Riyadh Expo sets November bid deadline for Souq construction29 October 2026
-
Iraq oilfield water scheme to hit milestone next year29 October 2026
-
Dubai tenders Al-Awir sewerage and stormwater works29 October 2026
-
Adnoc Onshore selects contractors for well tie-ins project27 October 2026
-
Ashghal tenders Al-Udeid air base access road works27 October 2026
All of this is only 1% of what MEED.com has to offer
Subscribe now and unlock all the 153,671 articles on MEED.com
- All the latest news, data, and market intelligence across MENA at your fingerprints
- First-hand updates and inside information on projects, clients and competitors that matter to you
- 20 years' archive of information, data, and news for you to access at your convenience
- Strategize to succeed and minimise risks with timely analysis of current and future market trends
Related Articles
-
Riyadh Expo sets November bid deadline for Souq construction29 October 2026

Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), responsible for delivering the Expo 2030 Riyadh venue, has allowed contractors until 11 November to submit bids for a contract to deliver the Souq areas within the Expo site.
The tender was floated on 30 July, with an initial submission deadline of 9 October.
The Souq areas are divided into five distinct precincts, with a total development area of about 300,000 square metres (sq m).
The scope includes the five precincts and their associated vertical elements, infrastructure and public realm works.
The precincts comprise:
- Precinct 1 – The Icon: 41,417 sq m
- Precinct 2 – Place & Planet: 62,306 sq m
- Precinct 3 – Culture of Wisdom: 67,112 sq m
- Precinct 4 – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 45,967 sq m
- Precinct 5 – Adaptation & Innovation: 82,358 sq m
The package will interface with three public parks. It will also tie into the Natural Corridor, including bridges.
The Souq areas will form a mixed-use destination at the centre of Expo 2030 Riyadh, connecting the site’s iconic and thematic assets.
The development will include rented and partnership pavilions, alongside a range of food and beverage, retail and visitor-experience offerings.
Site progress
Construction activity at the Expo site is accelerating, with Riyadh moving to award its first major vertical contracts and advancing infrastructure works across the programme.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City awarded a design-and-build contract to build a new metro station serving the Expo 2030 site.
In April, ERC awarded two contracts to local firm Al-Yamama Company for the next phase of infrastructure works at the site.
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 masterplan covers 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.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20998514/main.jpg -
Iraq oilfield water scheme to hit milestone next year29 October 2026

China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPP) expects to start laying pipeline for Iraq’s Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) in Basra in mid- or late next year, according to industry sources.
The project is behind schedule, partly because importing sections of pipeline is proving challenging due to disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The project is being managed by state-owned Basra Oil Company (BOC), with Australia’s ILF acting as a project management consultant after completing the front-end engineering design (feed).
Under current plans, the pipelines will be buried, which is expected to make them more secure than if they were installed on the surface.
Phased development
The client for the first phase of the CSSP is France’s TotalEnergies in partnership with QatarEnergy and BOC.
The first phase is split into two packages currently under execution and will ultimately have the capacity to transport 5 million barrels a day (b/d) of water.
The first package focuses on developing pipelines, and the second on developing a water treatment facility.
CPP is executing the pipeline package contract.
It signed a $2.5bn contract with BOC for the package in September last year.
Also in September 2025, South Korea’s Hyundai announced that it had signed a contract worth 4.39tn won ($3.16bn) for the processing plant package.
In September this year, MEED reported that early groundworks had started for both packages of the first phase of the CSSP.
Phase one of the project is scheduled to start up in late 2028 or early 2029.
Earlier this month, US-headquartered Exxon Mobil signed a memorandum of understanding related to the project’s second phase, which is expected to add 2.5 million b/d of water capacity.
The CSSP will inject processed water into several of Iraq’s biggest oil fields. These include Rumaila, Zubair, West Qurna 1, West Qurna 2 and Majnoon. Water from the project will also be used in the Maysan and Dhi Qar fields.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20981033/main.jpg -
Dubai tenders Al-Awir sewerage and stormwater works29 October 2026

Dubai Municipality has invited contractors to bid for a contract to build sewerage and stormwater infrastructure in New Al-Awir 1st.
The project (DS317-C1) comprises about 95 kilometres of sewerage gravity network, excluding house connections, and about 105km of stormwater pipelines. The scope also includes house connection pipes, a stormwater pond and oil interceptors.
According to tender documents seen by MEED, the tender was issued on 23 October, with a bid submission deadline of 12 November.
The project comes amid wider residential and infrastructure development in Al-Awir 1. In January 2025, Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) announced plans to build 16.5km of internal roads in the area, including a new entrance from Emirates Road.
In February 2025, MEED exclusively reported that the RTA had selected a local firm to undertake the road construction works.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment has also reported progress on housing projects in Al-Awir as part of a wider programme to develop residential communities across Dubai.
The sewerage and stormwater project is relatively large compared with recent stormwater tenders, with the total cost estimated at up to AED1bn ($272m).
The works will include approximately 69.2km of house connection pipes and 4,630 inspection chambers. The sewerage network will also include about 1,511 manholes, while the stormwater network will comprise approximately 1,247 manholes.
Contractors will also be required to use no-dig construction methods for sections of the pipeline. The scope includes ground investigations, utility protection and traffic management.
The bill of quantities specifies a stormwater pond with a composite volume of approximately 1.2 million cubic metres.
Earlier this week, Dubai Municipality confirmed it had awarded contracts worth AED3bn ($817m) to expand the emirate’s stormwater drainage network by about 100 square kilometres under phase three of the Tasreef programme.
The projects are part of Dubai’s AED30bn Tasreef programme and will cover Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al-Quoz, Al-Barsha, Al-Wasl and Al-Marmoom.
The overall programme aims to increase the emirate’s stormwater drainage capacity by 700% and reduce costs associated with pumping stations, network operations and maintenance by 20%.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20977734/main.jpg -
Adnoc Onshore selects contractors for well tie-ins project27 October 2026

Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s onshore operating arm (Adnoc Onshore) has selected contractors for a major project to tie in wells across the Bab and North East Bab oil field developments in Abu Dhabi.
Located 84 kilometres southwest of Abu Dhabi city, the Bab field has been in production since 1960 and is the emirate’s first oil-producing asset. The North East Bab cluster comprises the Al-Nouf, Rumaitha and Shanayel fields.
The Bab and North East Bab One Tie-In project is central to Adnoc Onshore’s contribution to Adnoc Group’s target of expanding crude oil production capacity to 5 million barrels a day (b/d) by 2027, an initiative known as the Accelerated Integrated Programme 5. The state energy company’s total production capacity currently stands at approximately 4.85 million b/d.
According to industry sources, Adnoc Onshore has selected local contractor Robt Stone Middle East and China’s Jereh Group to carry out engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works on the project. While both firms have been notified of their selection, a formal project kick-off meeting has yet to take place.
Adnoc Onshore is understood to have started the tendering process for the Bab and North East Bab One Tie-In project last year, with contractors submitting technical and commercial bids earlier this year.
Following the evaluation of bids, Adnoc Onshore sought best commercial offers from the bidders, which contractors submitted in May, MEED previously reported.
The project budget is estimated at $1.2bn.
Bidders for the contract are understood to have included:
- Galfar Emirates (UAE branch of Oman’s Galfar Engineering & Construction)
- Jereh (China)
- Kalpataru Projects International (India)
- Matrix Construction (UAE)
- Robt Stone Middle East (UAE)
- Target Engineering Construction Company (UAE)
The project scope covers residual engineering, procurement of materials not supplied as free-issue items, site surveys, construction, installation, inspection, testing, and pre-commissioning and commissioning support. The works will deliver new wellsite facilities, including a new mini-pad, well bays and clusters across the Bab and North East Bab developments.
Adnoc Onshore is Adnoc Group’s largest production subsidiary, accounting for roughly 2 million b/d of crude and about 7 billion cubic feet a day of associated gas from four primary onshore asset clusters: Bab, Bu Hasa, North East Bab and South East.
ALSO READ:
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20951928/main.jpg -
Ashghal tenders Al-Udeid air base access road works27 October 2026

Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has invited contractors to bid on a contract to build roads and related infrastructure around Al-Udeid Air Base.
The project is located in Zone 95 of Al-Wakra Municipality, adjacent to Al-Majd Road.
The tender was issued on 22 October, with a submission deadline of 22 November.
The scope includes the construction of a dual-lane carriageway to improve access to the air base, together with three roundabouts. The alignment will connect to Al-Majd Road to the east and tie into Street 203 in Zone 95 to the west. The contractor will also resurface and maintain connections to the existing road network.
Associated works include street lighting, intelligent transport systems, directional signage and a surface-water drainage collection system.
The contractor will provide crossing ducts, protect and relocate conflicting existing utilities, and complete detailed utility designs as required by relevant stakeholders through the Qatar Design Review System.
The project also includes the design and construction of two electrical substations. The contractor must secure the necessary stakeholder and authority approvals before starting these works.
The scheme will be delivered on a remeasurable, build-only basis using designs approved by others. It will also include designated contractor-designed elements and design-and-build packages for the substations.
Bidders must submit two commercial pricing options: a base offer subject to material price-fluctuation provisions, and an alternative authority option without such provisions.
The contract has a 550-day completion period from the commencement date, including mobilisation, followed by a 400-day maintenance period after the completion certificate is issued.
Participation is restricted to local and international contractors registered under the Ministry of Finance classification system in Grade A or Grade B for road specialisation.
Unclassified foreign firms may submit equivalent certified documentation from their country of origin, attested by Qatari diplomatic missions. They must obtain Ministry of Finance registration before contract award.
For joint-venture bids, the lead partner must hold the required classification grade.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20950810/main.jpg