Chinese contractor mobilises for $163m Dubai road scheme
6 November 2024
Register for MEED's 14-day trial access
Beijing-headquartered China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has started mobilisation works on the recently awarded Oud Metha and Al-Asayel streets development project, which is part of Dubai’s Sheikh Rashid corridor development project.
Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) awarded CCECC the AED600m ($163m) contract in October.
The project connects Al-Asayel Street to Al-Khail Road via Al-Nawras Street and includes an exit to Oud Metha Road and Al-Nawras Road.
US-based engineering firm Aecom is the project consultant.
According to the official statement, the project involves the construction of four major intersections, 4.3 kilometres (km) of bridges and 14km of roads.
The project will serve Zabeel, Al-Jaddaf, Oud Metha, Umm Hurair, Latifa Hospital and Al-Wasl Club.
The project is expected to enhance Oud Metha Street’s capacity from 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles an hour.
The first intersection will be located at the junction of Oud Metha Street and Sheikh Rashid Street and involves adding a left-turn lane for traffic from Oud Metha to Sheikh Rashid Street. Other improvements will be made to the service road on Sheikh Rashid Street between the existing bridge and the exit at Al-Zahrawi Street. The number of right-turn lanes for traffic coming from Sheikh Rashid Street towards Dubai-Al Ain Road will be increased from two to three, raising the capacity to 4,000 vehicles an hour.
The second intersection will be located at the junction of Oud Metha Street with Al-Asayel and Al-Nawras streets and involves the construction of two bridges connecting Al-Asayel Street to Al-Khail Road via Al-Nawras Street.
The first two-lane bridge will accommodate 2,400 vehicles an hour and will serve traffic from Al-Asayel towards Al-Nawras Street. The second bridge will handle traffic from Al-Khail Road towards Al-Asayel Street, featuring three lanes with a capacity of 3,600 vehicles an hour.
The other two-lane bridge, with a capacity of 2,400 vehicles an hour, will facilitate left-turn traffic from Al-Asayel to Oud Metha Street. The road leading to Al-Wasl Club’s entrance and the entrances and exits of Al-Nawras Street will also be upgraded.
The third intersection, located at the junction of Al-Nawras Street and Al-Khail Road, will involve the construction of a two-lane bridge to accommodate traffic from Al-Asayel Street towards Al-Khail Road towards the Business Bay crossing. The bridge will have a capacity of 3,000 vehicles an hour.
Additionally, Al-Nawras Street will be upgraded by increasing the exit capacity towards Al-Khail Road to two lanes. A service road will be constructed on both sides of Al-Nawras Street.
The fourth intersection will be located at the intersection of Zabeel Palace Street with Al-Khail and Oud Metha Street. It will see the addition of another lane on the left-turn ramp for traffic from Al-Khail Road to the Dubai-Al-Ain Road, doubling capacity from 900 to 1,800 vehicles an hour.
A single-lane tunnel with a capacity of 1,200 vehicles an hour will be constructed to serve traffic coming from the Dubai-Al-Ain Road to Al-Nawras Street.
The project also includes increasing the number of lanes on the existing bridge, which currently serves traffic from Al-Khail Road towards Oud Metha Street. The bridge will be expanded from two to three lanes, increasing its capacity from 2,200 to 3,300 vehicles an hour.
Future plans
In November, the RTA outlined plans to improve urban mobility and infrastructure throughout the emirate.
The estimated AED16bn ($4.3bn) 2024-2027 Main Roads Development Plan includes adding 22 projects across Dubai’s road network.
The programme, which is expected to benefit over 6 million people, was reviewed by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, during his official visit to RTA’s headquarters last week.
The development plan includes building new roads and bridges to alleviate traffic congestion in key locations across Dubai.
Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.
Exclusive from Meed
-
Arada completes Sokoon buildings construction26 March 2026
-
Iraq gas field project disrupted by regional conflict26 March 2026
-
-
WEBINAR: Saudi Gigaprojects 2026 & Beyond25 March 2026
-
Diriyah tenders media district north offices25 March 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
-
Arada completes Sokoon buildings construction
26 March 2026
Sharjah-based private real estate developer Arada has announced the completion of five additional buildings in the Naseej District of its Aljada development.
Kuwaiti firm Mohammad Abdulmohsen Al-Kharafi & Sons secured the construction contract for the Sokoon buildings in 2023, replacing Airolink Building Contracting as the project’s main contractor.
The first four Sokoon buildings were completed in December 2023.
In April last year, Arada also announced the completion of all eight Tiraz buildings in the Naseej District. The Tiraz buildings comprise 920 homes, including studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.
With the completion of the five Sokoon buildings, Aljada’s total number of completed residential units has risen to more than 8,200.
Spanning 2.2 square kilometres, Aljada features residential districts, retail spaces, educational institutions, healthcare services and other facilities.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16141382/main.png -
Iraq gas field project disrupted by regional conflict
26 March 2026
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Progress on Iraq’s project to develop the strategically important Akkas gas field has been disrupted by security issues related to the US and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, according to industry sources.
Work activity at the project site has been significantly reduced due to security concerns, and the project is now expected to take longer to complete.
Iraq held a ceremony in January this year to mark the restart of drilling operations at the site as part of the field development project.
In July last year, Iraq’s Oil Ministry announced signing a contract with the US-based oil field services provider SLB to develop production at Iraq’s Akkas gas field.
Under the terms of the deal, SLB will drill wells at the Akkas field, aiming to initially raise production to 100 million cubic feet a day (cf/d).
Many of SLB’s non-Iraqi employees have now been evacuated from the country.
Over the long term, Iraq is targeting gas production of 400 million cf/d from the field.
The contract with SLB replaces a previous deal with Ukraine-based Ukrzemresurs, which has been terminated.
It also covers the construction of surface infrastructure and pipelines to connect Akkas to central processing units.
The gas produced at Akkas will be used to fuel the Anbar combined-cycle power plant, which is under construction by the Electricity Ministry.
Akkas gas field development
The Akkas gas field, located in Anbar province in western Iraq, has 5.6 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves. The field was discovered in 1992 and began production in 1993.
Since then, Iraq’s plans to develop the Akkas gas field to its full potential have experienced several setbacks.
In April last year, the Iraqi Oil Ministry signed an agreement with Ukrzemresurs to develop the field.
At the time, the Oil Ministry said that the partners were aiming to produce 100 million cf/d in the first two years, as per the agreement, with output targeted to increase to 400 million cf/d within four years.
Prior to Ukrzemresurs, South Korean company Kogas was responsible for developing the field.
Rights to the field were originally awarded to a consortium of Kogas and Kazakhstan’s state-owned oil company KazMunaiGas (KMG) in the third licensing round, which was launched in October 2011.
KMG pulled out, leaving Kogas as the sole investor and operator on new contract terms.
When the deal with Ukrzemresurs was originally announced last year, it was negatively received by some Iraqi politicians, with the Oil and Gas Committee in Iraq’s parliament rejecting the contract signing.
At the time, Ali Al-Mashkour, a member of the Oil and Gas Committee, told Iraq’s Shafaq News Agency: “This contract involves a great waste of Iraq’s wealth, and there will be a waste of Iraq’s oil, and this confirms that Iraq is once again failing to choose reputable companies to work with in the most important economic field in the country.”
He added: “We will work to uncover and expose the suspicions in this contract during the next stage, especially since this contract was made by some representatives for specific interests, which we will reveal soon with evidence.”
Plans to sign the contract to develop the Akkas gas field with a Ukrainian company were first announced by the Oil Ministry in September 2023, but Ukrzemresurs was not named at the time.
Iraq’s government is trying to transform the country into a gas-exporting nation. Currently, Iraq is reliant on Iran for gas imports.
Both Saudi Arabia and the US, which are looking to contain Iranian influence in the region, have been supporting Iraq in developing its non-associated gas fields as this will reduce Iraq’s economic reliance on Iran.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16138892/main.png -
Dubai seeks contractors for Nadd Hessa stormwater project
26 March 2026
Dubai Municipality has invited contractors to prequalify for a contract to build a sewerage and stormwater system in the Nadd Hessa area.
The project is being procured through the Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department.
The submission deadline is 2 April.
Nadd Hessa is an emerging development area, located between Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City along the E311 corridor.
It has been earmarked for future residential expansion, with enabling infrastructure now being tendered to support planned housing and community developments in the area.
The scheme, known as DS 328/1–C1, covers the construction of sewerage and stormwater infrastructure, including approximately 12.4 kilometres of sewerage lines with diameters of up to 400 millimetres.
The scope also includes about 14km of stormwater lines with diameters of up to 1,000 millimetres.
In addition, the project involves around 500 metres of microtunnelling works for both sewerage and stormwater networks.
The municipality is currently prequalifying contractors for several upcoming water projects, including the expansion of the Jebel Ali sewage treatment plant (STP) phases one and two.
The upgraded facility will be capable of treating an additional sewage flow of 100,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d).
Bid submissions for this project are also due by 2 April.
In addition, the authority is planning a broader review of Dubai’s water and wastewater infrastructure to support future population growth, including identifying locations for future infrastructure.
Two separate consultancy tenders were issued in March.
One involves a study to develop a sustainable urban drainage systems strategy across the emirate. The other covers a review of the emirate’s sewage treatment and recycled water distribution strategy.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16138660/main.jpg -
WEBINAR: Saudi Gigaprojects 2026 & Beyond
25 March 2026
Webinar: MEED in association with HKA Webinar on Saudi Gigaprojects 2026 & Beyond
Tuesday 31 March | 1:00 GST | Register now
Agenda:
As Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects move from vision to delivery, the kingdom’s projects market continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. Billions of dollars’ worth of contracts are being awarded across infrastructure, real estate, tourism and critical industries, creating huge opportunities — but also new layers of complexity.
This MEED Live broadcast, in association with HKA, brings together market intelligence and practical expertise to help project stakeholders understand and navigate the risks in this dynamic landscape.
The session will open with Ed James, MEED’s head of content and research, who will deliver a comprehensive 30-minute outlook on Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects and beyond. Drawing on MEED’s proprietary data and insights, Ed will highlight the scale of opportunity, sectoral trends and the finance shifts shaping the region’s project pipeline.
Following the outlook, Ed will host an in-depth fireside chat with Haroon Niazi, partner at HKA, focusing on the critical theme of contractual risk management. In a market defined by rapid delivery schedules, shifting finance conditions and complex stakeholder ecosystems, Haroon will share strategies for mitigating disputes, safeguarding margins, and building resilient contracts that can withstand uncertainty.
The broadcast will conclude with a live Q&A session, giving the audience the opportunity to engage directly with Ed and Haroon, and to take away actionable insights that will support their involvement in Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects.
Hosted by: Edward James, head of content and analysis at MEED
A well-known and respected thought leader in Mena affairs, Edward James has been with MEED for more than 19 years, working as a researcher, consultant and content director. Today he heads up all content and research produced by the MEED group. His specific areas of expertise are construction, hydrocarbons, power and water, and the petrochemicals market. He is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the Mena projects market. He is a regular guest commentator on Middle East issues for news channels such as the BBC, CNN and ABC News and is a regular speaker at events in the region. Haroon Niazi, partner, construction claims and expert services lead, International·HKA
Haroon is a dual-qualified Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FRICS) and barrister with over 18 years of experience in the construction industry. He leads HKA’s Construction Claims and Expert Services Line across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, overseeing a team of more than 200 consultants with responsibility for strategy and delivering the growth plan. His practice focuses on the resolution of complex and high-value construction disputes. He has been appointed as a quantum expert and has delivered expert testimony in international arbitration and litigation, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Haroon is known for his ability to analyse, quantify, and communicate the financial aspects of construction claims with clarity and independence.https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16116602/main.gif -
Diriyah tenders media district north offices
25 March 2026
Saudi gigaproject developer Diriyah Company has tendered a contract inviting firms to bid for the construction of offices in the media district in the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).
The tender was released in March, with a bid submission deadline of 27 April.
The scope covers the construction of five office plots comprising nine buildings, spanning over 50,000 square metres (sq m).
The tender follows the Diriyah Company’s award of an estimated SR2.5bn ($666m) contract to build the Pendry superblock package in the DG2 area.
The Pendry superblock encompasses the construction of a hotel, known as the Pendry Hotel, along with residential and commercial assets.
The project will cover an area of 75,365 sq m and is located in the northwestern district of the DG2 area.
In February, Diriyah Company awarded a SR717m ($192m) contract for the construction of the One Hotel, located in the Diriyah Two area of the masterplan.
The project has a gross floor area of over 31,000 sq m.
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/16114767/main.png