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• 
  Local developer unveils new supertall tower

  10 June 2025

  Dubai-based real estate developer Deyaar Development has announced plans for a new supertall tower, the latest in a line of buildings with 100-plus storeys in the emirate currently in design or construction.

  Called Downtown Residences, the tower will have five basements, 12 podiums and 97 residential floors housing 522 apartments. Although no official height has been given, towers with a similar number of storeys are typically between 450 metres and 530 metres high. 

  The project in Business Bay is the latest in a series of supertall towers being constructed in Dubai as developers seek to capitalise on strong investor demand and record high sales prices.

  Other significant under-development supertalls – towers with a height of between 300 metres and 599 metres – include the Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences, Bayz 101 and Bayz 102, Tiger Sky Tower, the Six Senses Residences, Franck Muller Aeternitas and Avior by Acube, all of which will have more than 100 storeys.

  Another supertall unveiled on 9 June is the Jumeirah Residences Emirates Towers. Comprising 754 units, it will be developed by Meraas, part of Dubai Holding. Designed by Singapore-based SCDA Architects, the project will be located behind the existing Emirates Towers.

  The emirate also has one megatall tower – a building more than 600 metres tall – under construction, the 720-metre-high Burj Azizi. When completed, it will be one of the top 10 tallest buildings globally and the second highest in the region after the 828-metre-high Burj Khalifa.

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

  Gulf accelerates AI and data centre strategy; Baghdad keeps up project spending, but fiscal clouds gather; Banking stocks rise despite lower global oil prices

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

  > AGENDA 1: Data centres churn investments > AGENDA 2: Gulf seizes AI opportunities > SYRIA: US announces lifting of Syria sanctions > MEED TOP 100: Middle East stocks defy lower oil prices > TOURISM: Abu Dhabi hopes bigger is better with Disney theme park > TRADE: Emerging Gulf-Asia corridor grows despite headwinds  > SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh confirms capital expenditure cuts > INTERVIEW: Mena crucial to Veolia’s growth plan > IRAQ REPORT:  Iraq maintains its pace, for now > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index leaps 4.3% > CONTRACT AWARDS: Region sees third month of weak awards activity > ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects > OPINION: Dealmaking trumps the Truman Doctrine

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

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  Edward James
• 
  Contractors get more time to prepare bids for Taziz’s Project Salt

  10 June 2025

  

  Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has allowed contractors more time to prepare technical bids for a project to build a cluster of three chemical-producing plants in the Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone in Ruwais.

  The three chemicals plants will produce ethylene dichloride, chlor alkali and polyvinyl chloride, and are part of a scheme known as Project Salt.

  The project is among the main investments in the first phase of development for the upcoming petrochemicals derivatives complex by Taziz.

  Adnoc has set a deadline of 15 July for contractors to submit technical bids for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works on Project Salt, according to sources.

  The following contractors, among others, are understood to be bidding for Project Salt, sources told MEED:

  • CAT Group (Lebanon)
  • China National Chemical Engineering Company
  • Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon (India)
  • Samsung E&A (South Korea)

  The previous deadlines for contractors to submit technical and commercial bids for the project were 15 June and 23 July, respectively.

  MEED reported in June last year on the award of front-end engineering and design (feed) contracts for the three chemicals production plants.

  Germany-headquartered Thyssenkrupp Uhde won feed contracts for the ethylene dichloride and chlor alkali plants. France-based Technip Energies won the feed contract for the polyvinyl chloride facility.

  The planned ethylene dichloride plant will utilise chlorine from the associated chlor alkali plant as its main feedstock, and will have a production capacity of up to 1.2 million tonnes a year (t/y).

  Part of the ethylene dichloride output will, in turn, be used as feedstock by the planned polyvinyl chloride plant, which is planned to have a production capacity of 350,000 t/y.

  Surplus quantities of ethylene dichloride and caustic soda from the chlor alkali plant are intended to be exported.

  Taziz – a 60:40 joint venture of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Abu Dhabi’s industrial holding company ADQ – first announced the EDC, chlor alkali and PVC plants in December 2021. India’s Reliance Industries was named as the main investor in the chemicals plants at the time.

  Reliance is understood to have pulled out of Project Salt and has been replaced by France-based Kem One, MEED previously reported.

  Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone

  Since 2021, Taziz has attracted investments from several foreign investors for its planned chemicals projects in the under-construction Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone in Abu Dhabi’s Ruwais.

  Taziz has planned seven petrochemicals derivatives projects as part of the first phase of its industrial chemicals zone.

  UK-headquartered Wood Group has performed the feed works on the seven projects, which are:

  Anchor product	End use
  Chlor alkali	Water treatment, metallurgy and textiles
  Ethylene dichloride	Housing, infrastructure and consumer goods
  Maleic anhydride	Piping, construction and heavy transport
  Methanol	Energy, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals
  Blue ammonia	Agriculture, apparel and energy
  Isopropyl alcohol	Healthcare and cosmetics
  Elastomers	Automobiles, adhesives, food production and storage

  Chemicals production is a priority sector for Operation 300bn, the UAE’s industrial growth strategy.

  The industrial strategy is being overseen by the Industry & Advanced Technology Ministry, which aims to raise the UAE industrial sector’s contribution to the national GDP to AED300bn ($81.7bn) by 2031.

  In December 2021, Taziz secured agreements from eight UAE-based entities for investments in its planned chemicals projects in Ruwais. The agreements marked the first domestic public-private partnership in Abu Dhabi’s downstream oil, gas and petrochemicals sector.

  ALSO READ: Local firms invest in Taziz industrial complex

  In addition to the three chemicals plants planned under Project Salt, a joint venture of UAE-based Fertiglobe, South Korea’s GS Energy Corporation (GS Energy) and Japanese investment firm Mitsui & Company (Mitsui) has invested in a “world-scale” blue ammonia production facility in the Ruwais petrochemical derivatives complex.

  The joint venture of Fertiglobe/GS Energy/Mistui awarded Italian contractor Tecnimont the EPC contract for the project last May. Construction on the facility started last June.

  Separately, in February, Taziz awarded South Korean contractor Samsung E&A the main EPC contract to build the UAE’s first methanol plant in the Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone. The value of the EPC contract won by Samsung E&A is $1.7bn, and the duration of works is 44 months.

  The nameplate production capacity of the planned methanol complex is 5,000 metric tonnes a day, or 1.8 million metric t/y. Switzerland-based energy and chemicals company Proman is a joint investor in the methanol project.

  Regarding infrastructure to support the various projects, Taziz awarded three EPC contracts totalling $2bn, in November, for infrastructure works at the industrial chemicals zone in Ruwais.

  Abu Dhabi government-owned NMDC Group was awarded the EPC contract to build a chemicals port. Once complete, the port will facilitate the export of chemicals and fuels.

  Singapore-based Rotary Engineering won the EPC contract for a chemicals terminal, known as Project Landing. The contract includes developing storage facilities, tank-to-jetty pipelines, jetty-to-tank pipelines, inter-site pipelines and liquid product storage. Taziz is building the chemicals handling terminal in partnership with the Netherlands-based midstream energy company Advario.

  Abu Dhabi-based Al-Geemi Contracting was awarded the EPC contract to develop essential infrastructure for the 17-square-kilometre Taziz chemicals production site, including internal roads, security fencing and buildings.

  Contracts have also been awarded for developing a centralised utilities facility for the Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone, which will include power transmission, steam, cooling water and water units.

  Adnoc signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) in June 2021 to develop the cogeneration power facility in Ruwais. In December, the partners awarded a $1bn contract to Kuwait-based Alghanim International for the project, and the contractor recently started construction of the facility in February this year.

  Alghanim International, in turn, awarded a $67m sub-contract to Riyadh-based water utility developer Water & Environment Technologies Company (Wetico) for the comprehensive water facilities package of the cogeneration power facility, which includes the construction of a seawater desalination plant, demineralisation plant, condensate polishing unit and effluent treatment plant.

  ALSO READ: Fertiglobe expects Rabdan final investment decision in 2026

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  Indrajit Sen
• 
  Firms submit Dubai Metro Gold Line bids

  10 June 2025

  Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has received bids from consultants for Dubai Metro’s Gold Line.

  US-based Aecom submitted the lowest-priced offer at AED628m ($171m) for the five stages of the consultancy work available on the project.

  Aecom’s price is about 18% lower than the second-lowest-priced offer of AED765m, which was submitted by UK-based Mott MacDonald.

  The other offers are AED843m from US-based Parsons and AED1.16bn from Canada’s AtkinsRealis.

  Lebanon’s Dar Al-Handasah submitted an offer of AED105m, which is understood to cover part of the consultancy work.

  Stage one covers the concept design; stage two the preliminary design; and stage three preparing tender documents. Stage four covers construction supervision, and stage five covers the defects and liability period.

  The Gold Line will start at Al-Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai. It will run parallel to – and alleviate pressure on – the existing Red Line, before heading inland to Business Bay, Meydan, Global Village and residential developments in Dubailand.

  Blue Line

  Dubai is also progressing with another metro project. A day earlier on 9 June, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Dubai Metro Blue Line.

  The contract to build and supply equipment for the Blue Line was awarded in December last year. The RTA awarded a AED20.5bn main contract to a consortium of Turkiye’s Limak Holding; Mapa Group, also of Turkiye; and the Hong Kong office of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation.

  The Blue Line consists of 14 stations, including three interchange stations at Al-Jaddaf, Al-Rashidiya and International City 1, as well as an iconic station in Dubai Creek Harbour. By 2040, daily ridership on the Blue Line is projected to reach 320,000 passengers. It marks the first Dubai Metro line to cross Dubai Creek on a 1,300-metre-long viaduct.

  At the foundation stone ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed approved the design of the Emaar Properties Station at Dubai Creek Harbour, which will be the highest metro station in the world, standing at 74 metres. It has been designed by US architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).

  

  Upon the completion of the Blue Line, Dubai's total railway network will extend from 101 kilometres to 131km. This includes 120km for the Dubai Metro and 11km for Dubai Tram. The number of metro and tram stations will increase from 64 to 78, encompassing 67 stations for the Dubai Metro and 11 stations for the Dubai Tram.

  Additionally, the fleet will expand from 140 to 168 trains, including 157 for the Dubai Metro and 11 for the Dubai Tram.

  READ MORE: UAE accelerates its $60bn transport push

   

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

  Gulf accelerates AI and data centre strategy; Baghdad keeps up project spending, but fiscal clouds gather; Banking stocks rise despite lower global oil prices

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

  > AGENDA 1: Data centres churn investments > AGENDA 2: Gulf seizes AI opportunities > SYRIA: US announces lifting of Syria sanctions > MEED TOP 100: Middle East stocks defy lower oil prices > TOURISM: Abu Dhabi hopes bigger is better with Disney theme park > TRADE: Emerging Gulf-Asia corridor grows despite headwinds  > SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh confirms capital expenditure cuts > INTERVIEW: Mena crucial to Veolia’s growth plan > IRAQ REPORT:  Iraq maintains its pace, for now > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index leaps 4.3% > CONTRACT AWARDS: Region sees third month of weak awards activity > ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects > OPINION: Dealmaking trumps the Truman Doctrine

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

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  Colin Foreman
• 
  Work progresses on multiple industrial city projects

  10 June 2025

  The Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu (RCJY) has awarded a number of large contracts totalling more than $337m over the past six months for the expansion and modernisation of infrastructure across three of its industrial cities. 

  Awarded to local contractors, the contracts are:

  In Jubail 

  • Construction of education facilities to accommodate 18,000 students and 1,500 teaching and support services staff; awarded to Al-Rajhi Building & Construction for SR331.9m ($89.7m)
  • Completion of six student dormitory buildings at Jubail Industrial College; awarded to Shar Company for SR316.4m
  • Development of basic facilities in the Mardouma neighbourhood, covering roads, potable water, treated wastewater, sewage and drainage networks, and a water transmission pipeline; awarded to Mofarreh Al-Harbi for SR127.8m 

  In Yanbu

  • The third phase of construction of seven residential buildings in Al-Aziziyah 1A; awarded to Samman Construction for SR63.3m

  In Ras Al-Khair

  • Extensive road works comprising the construction of a 2-kilometre section of the East-West Road, an additional lane on the East-West Road 10, new intersections along Highways 415 and 422, site preparation works, two conveyor culverts and street lighting facilities; awarded to Rashid Contracting Establishment for SR204.4m
  • Construction of the Western Ras Al-Khair Road connecting the naval base with the entrance to Ras Al-Khair industrial city; awarded to Mofarreh Al-Harbi for SR204.2
  • Development of the water evacuation area covering site preparation, secondary infrastructure, road works, and a stormwater and flood drainage network; awarded to Mofarreh Al-Harbi for SR51m
  • The development of site area development B phase three, covering the basic infrastructure works over an area of 1,430 hectares; awarded to Mofarreh Al-Harbi for SR90m
  • The repair and rehabilitation of Highway 7; awarded to Technical Development Contracting Company for SR68.7m

  Saudi Arabia’s industrial cities remain the backbone of the kingdom’s manufacturing base, accommodating critical hydrocarbons export facilities and associated downstream processing facilities.

  Investing in basic infrastructure such as roads, drainage networks and accommodation units is therefore considered essential for Riyadh’s plans to attract industrial investment and expand its non-oil manufacturing output.

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

  Gulf accelerates AI and data centre strategy; Baghdad keeps up project spending, but fiscal clouds gather; Banking stocks rise despite lower global oil prices

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

  > AGENDA 1: Data centres churn investments > AGENDA 2: Gulf seizes AI opportunities > SYRIA: US announces lifting of Syria sanctions > MEED TOP 100: Middle East stocks defy lower oil prices > TOURISM: Abu Dhabi hopes bigger is better with Disney theme park > TRADE: Emerging Gulf-Asia corridor grows despite headwinds  > SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh confirms capital expenditure cuts > INTERVIEW: Mena crucial to Veolia’s growth plan > IRAQ REPORT:  Iraq maintains its pace, for now > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index leaps 4.3% > CONTRACT AWARDS: Region sees third month of weak awards activity > ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects > OPINION: Dealmaking trumps the Truman Doctrine

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

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  Edward James
• 
  Spanish/local team wins Egypt wastewater treatment deal

  10 June 2025

  Spain’s Acciona and the local DHCU have been awarded a €35m ($40m) contract by the Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater (CAPW) to manage the operation and maintenance of phase two of the Gabal El-Asfar wastewater treatment complex in Egypt for eight years.

  The contract involves rehabilitation and upgrade works across two plants within the complex, each with a treatment capacity of 500,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d).

  In 2022, Acciona and DHCU were awarded the contract for the operation, maintenance and enhancement of phase one of the plant, which has a capacity of 1.5 million cm/d.

  In 2013, Acciona, with local firm Hassan Allam Construction and Germany's Passavant, was awarded the contract to construct the Gabal El-Asfar wastewater treatment plant. It was designed to handle 500,000 cm/d of wastewater and was completed over a four-year period.

  Acciona has also partnered with CAPW to manage the water infrastructure for the upper-level supply network in New Cairo, a satellite city located approximately 30 kilometres east of the capital. This project involves sourcing water from the Nile River, transporting it to a drinking water treatment facility, and ensuring its treatment and storage before distribution to consumers.

  Gabal El-Asfar is said to be the largest wastewater treatment facility in both Africa and the Middle East, and ranks as the third largest globally in terms of treatment capacity, processing 2.5 million cm/d to serve the eastern regions of Cairo – home to approximately eight million residents.

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  Colin Foreman