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  Joint venture wins Riyadh data centre construction deal

  6 October 2026

  

   

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  Egyptian contractor Hassan Allam Construction and India’s Sterling & Wilson have won an estimated SR750m ($200m) contract to build the first phase of a data centre project in Riyadh.

  The first phase will have an IT load capacity of 16.2MW, with overall capacity reaching 50MW in the second phase.

  The scope includes civil, architectural, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works, infrastructure works and other associated works.

  Upon completion of both phases, the facility will comprise one 5MW standard-density hall and four high-density halls, each rated at 11.2MW.

  Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence (AI) firm Humain and Center3 – the digital infrastructure subsidiary of local telecom company STC Group – are jointly developing the project.

  The first phase is scheduled to take 16 months.

  In December last year, Center3 and Humain partnered to develop and operate AI-focused data centres across Saudi Arabia, with a planned capacity of up to 1GW.

  The partners said the first phase will deliver up to 250MW of capacity, designed for high-density AI workloads and large-scale model training.

  The venture combines Center3’s data centre operations and regional connectivity with Humain’s full-stack AI capabilities, with the latter responsible for aligning facility design with advanced compute requirements and future architectures.

  The companies said the programme will deliver purpose-built facilities engineered for high power density, low latency and resilient operations, to support large language models and other mission-critical AI applications.

  They added that the initial schemes will serve as a template for subsequent rollouts as capacity scales towards the 1GW target.

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  READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

  Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

  Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

  > AGENDA: Oxagon takes centre stage at Neom > MARKET FOCUS: Saudi projects hold steady > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED’s 2026 GCC power developer ranking > POWER: AI is creating a grid capacity problem > LEGAL: What IFAD’s wind-down means for Gulf commodity markets > OIL: Oil companies focus on North Africa amid Hormuz crisis  > LEADERSHIP: The future city does not need to hang above the ground

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20298893/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Contractors prepare bids for eight Libyan oil and gas tenders

  6 October 2026

  

   

  Contractors are preparing bids for eight tenders issued by Arabian Gulf Oil Company (Agoco), a wholly owned subsidiary of Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC), which operates several fields including Sarir, Messla and Nafoura.

  Tender 1 is for the supply and installation of a crude oil sedimentation tank at a site known as Complex 2 in the Sarir field. The scope also includes installation of associated utilities and a gas extractor.

  Tender 2 is for an electrical interconnection project to supply the Sinawon field, located in the Nalut region of western Libya. The scope includes infrastructure to connect the field to the General Electricity Company of Libya (Gecol) grid.

  Tender 3 covers mechanical tie-ins to connect four wells at the Nafoura field to existing infrastructure: G-322, G-332, K-10 and K-11.

  The bid deadline for the first three tenders is 12.30pm local time on 8 November 2026.

  Tender 4 is also for four mechanical well tie-ins at the Nafoura field: G-315/51, K-12/51, K-13/51 and Y-651.

  Tender 5 is for connecting four wells to the electrical grid at the Nafoura field: G-315HR/51, K-12/51, K-13/51 and Y-6/51.

  Tender 6 is for flowline well tie-ins at the Messla and Majid fields. Flowlines from wells VV-7/65 and VV-6/65 at Messla will be tied in, along with the flowline from well Z-8HR/80 at Majid.

  Tender 7 covers connecting five wells to the electrical grid at the Messla and Majid fields: VV-6/65, VV-7/65, Z-8HR, Z-6HR and A-03.

  The bid deadline for the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth tenders is 12.30pm local time on 25 October 2026.

  Increasing interest

  International oil companies are showing increased interest in oil and gas assets in North Africa as the Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to erode the appeal of investing in some of the Middle East’s biggest oil and gas producers.

  Over recent months, the chief executive of the Italian oil company Eni, Claudio Descalzi, said the company plans to drill 230 new oil and gas wells in Egypt in an effort to increase production in the country.

  The US oil and gas company Chevron also signed a production sharing agreement with Libya’s National Oil Corporation for onshore Block S4, which covers an area in the Sirte Basin.

  In addition, companies that have been engaging in recent talks focused on expanding their presence in North Africa include France’s TotalEnergies and US-based ConocoPhillips, as well as London-headquartered Shell and BP.

  The uptick in interest in North African oil and gas assets comes amid continued disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key export route for some of the Middle East’s biggest oil and gas exporters.

  Flows through the Strait have been disrupted by a regional war that was triggered by US and Israeli attacks on Iran on 28 February.

  Countries negatively impacted by the disruption include Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

  Amid the ongoing disruption to oil and gas exports from these countries, some North African officials have promoted their oil and gas sectors as reliable alternative suppliers.

  In August, Libya’s Oil and Gas Minister Khalifa Abdel Sadig told a conference in Norway that Libya could be a “key player in providing energy security solutions” to the European Union.

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  READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

  Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

  Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

  > AGENDA: Oxagon takes centre stage at Neom > MARKET FOCUS: Saudi projects hold steady > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED’s 2026 GCC power developer ranking > POWER: AI is creating a grid capacity problem > LEGAL: What IFAD’s wind-down means for Gulf commodity markets > OIL: Oil companies focus on North Africa amid Hormuz crisis  > LEADERSHIP: The future city does not need to hang above the ground

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20298072/main.jpg

  Wil Crisp
• 
  Rabigh 2 IPP expansion secures $2.58bn financing

  5 October 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s Rabigh 2 combined-cycle gas-turbine (CCGT) independent power project (IPP) expansion has reached financial close.

  In a disclosure to the Saudi Exchange, Acwa said it had secured SR9.69bn ($2.58bn) in long-term financing for the project, which has a generation capacity of 2,313.5MW.

  In April, MEED reported that Acwa and Saudi Energy (formerly Saudi Electricity Company) had signed a 31-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Saudi Arabia’s principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), for the project.

  The project involves developing a CCGT plant in the Mecca region. It is being developed by Al-Morjan Two Electricity Company, with Acwa and Saudi Energy each owning a 40% stake in the project.

  The contract is valued at SR11.5bn ($3.07bn), the companies said in separate stock exchange filings at the time. The carbon-capture-ready power plant will be implemented under a build, own and operate contract.

  The financing has a tenor of about 34 years and was provided by a consortium of local, regional and international lenders.

  The lenders are:

  • Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
  • Alinma Bank
  • Boubyan Bank
  • China Minsheng Banking Corporation, Hong Kong Branch
  • Commercial Bank of Dubai
  • HSBC Bank Middle East
  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
  • Industrial Bank, Beijing Branch
  • National Bank of Greece, Cyprus
  • Riyad Bank
  • Saudi Awwal Bank
  • Saudi National Bank
  • Standard Chartered Bank, Taiwan
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, London Branch

  The project scope also includes financing and expanding a 380kV electrical substation.

  According to regional project tracker MEED Projects, construction works have commenced on the project, and a joint venture of Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric and China’s Sinohydro has been working as the main contractor.

  Rabigh 1 extension

  In January, Saudi Energy announced a separate energy conversion agreement with SPPC for the purchase of electricity from the Rabigh 1 power plant expansion.

  The contract is valued at SR5.33bn ($1.42bn).

  It covers the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of the gas-fired power plant, which will have a generation capacity of 1,179MW.

  A joint venture of Elsewedy Electric and Germany’s Siemens Energy is undertaking the engineering, procurement and construction work for the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

  US/India-based Synergy Consulting is the financial advisory consultant to Saudi Energy on this project.

  Acwa also recently started initial commercial operations at the Taiba 1 and Qassim 1 CCGT power plants, as reported by MEED.

  The plants have a combined generation capacity of about 3.8GW and are two of four projects procured under the first round of Saudi Arabia’s gas-fired IPP programme by SPPC.

  A team of Saudi Energy and Acwa won the contract to develop and operate the projects in 2023.

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  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

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  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Dubai announces $490m e-commerce hub expansion plan

  5 October 2026

  Dubai CommerCity has launched a second expansion phase valued at more than AED1.8bn ($490m), adding over 91,000 square metres (sq m) of office, retail and logistics space across the free zone’s business, social and logistics clusters.

  Dubai CommerCity is a joint venture of Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (Dafza) and Dubai government-owned Wasl Asset Management Group.

  The expansion is scheduled for delivery between the first quarter of 2027 and the fourth quarter of 2028.

  The developer said the move builds on sustained demand at Dubai CommerCity, where occupancy has reached nearly 96% across its office, logistics and retail assets.

  Phase two will comprise a series of developments across Dubai CommerCity’s three districts: the Business Cluster, Logistics Cluster and Social Cluster.

  The Business Cluster comprises 13 office buildings with a total leasable area of 108,000 sq m. The Logistics Cluster consists of 84 logistics units with a leasable area of 68,000 sq m, while the Social Cluster features art galleries, restaurants and cafes. The development will also include 4,000 parking spaces.

  Dafza and Wasl Asset Management Group announced plans to develop the AED2.7bn ($735m) e-commerce free zone In 2017. 

  ---

  READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

  Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

  Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

  > AGENDA: Oxagon takes centre stage at Neom > MARKET FOCUS: Saudi projects hold steady > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED’s 2026 GCC power developer ranking > POWER: AI is creating a grid capacity problem > LEGAL: What IFAD’s wind-down means for Gulf commodity markets > OIL: Oil companies focus on North Africa amid Hormuz crisis  > LEADERSHIP: The future city does not need to hang above the ground

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20270228/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Iraq and Turkiye discuss oil and gas deal

  5 October 2026

  Iraq and Turkiye have opened talks in Ankara on a framework agreement for oil, gas and energy cooperation, according to a statement from the Iraqi Oil Ministry.

  Iraq’s Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair Al-Abadi led the Iraqi side, while the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar led the Turkish side.

  Officials discussed a proposed roadmap to deepen work on oil and gas infrastructure, petrochemicals, and trade in oil, gas and power.

  Discussions about a future long-term deal to govern the Iraq-Turkiye Pipeline (ITP) were central to the talks.

  The ITP exports oil from northern Iraq to the port of Ceyhan in Turkiye.

  In July, Turkiye and Iraq signed a temporary agreement to allow crude flows through the ITP for a period of 12 months.

  Before the temporary agreement was signed, the previous deal governing oil exports through the pipeline was due to expire on 27 ​July.

  Speaking last month, Ali Al-Shatri, director general of Iraq’s state organisation for marketing oil (Somo), said the temporary deal was “a prelude” to a much bigger agreement.

  As well as governing pipeline exports, the new agreement is expected to cover electricity, chemicals and gas deals as well as the construction of a new oil refinery in Ceyhan.

  Under current plans, the new refinery will process Iraqi crude in order to produce refined products that can be exported to Europe.

  Bayraktar said: “Following the crude oil transportation agreement signed between our national company … we are clarifying our roadmap for a new, longer-term and more comprehensive agreement.

  “In this regard, we plan to activate our joint working groups to rapidly finalise oil and natural gas infrastructure, exploration and production, oil trading, refining-petrochemical and electricity projects.

  “In close cooperation with the new Iraqi Government, we will strongly continue to implement these concrete projects for the stability and prosperity of our shared geography.”

  Bayraktar said it was important to consider extending the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to reach Basra in southern Iraq.

  He also said it was important to consider expanding the capacity of the ITP to create a strong alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

  The Strait of Hormuz is a key oil export route that has been disrupted by a regional war since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.

  Bayraktar also said that he wanted state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to expand its footprint in Iraq.

  He said: “We aim for our national company TPAO to play an active role not only in the Kirkuk fields but also in different fields in Iraq, to ​​reach the target of supplying one million barrels of crude oil as stated by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali ez-Zeydi; and to transform Ceyhan into a global energy hub by increasing trade volume.”

  Bayraktar said that Turkiye wanted energy to be a key part of the plan for a north-south trade corridor from the Grand Faw Port to the Turkish border.

  Under current plans, the corridor will combine a new railway and highway system.

  Bayraktar said that Turkiye also wants the route to include oil and gas pipelines as well as electricity transmission lines.

  ---

  READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

  Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

  Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

  > AGENDA: Oxagon takes centre stage at Neom > MARKET FOCUS: Saudi projects hold steady > INDUSTRY REPORT: MEED’s 2026 GCC power developer ranking > POWER: AI is creating a grid capacity problem > LEGAL: What IFAD’s wind-down means for Gulf commodity markets > OIL: Oil companies focus on North Africa amid Hormuz crisis  > LEADERSHIP: The future city does not need to hang above the ground

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

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20268590/main.jpg

  Wil Crisp