Saudi gigaprojects propel construction sector
8 March 2024
Latest news on Saudi Arabia’s construction sector:
> Saudi’s Ceer and MBL confirm electric car plant deal
> Dogus and Aces sign Saudi data centres deal
> Four Seasons to develop Red Sea hotel
> Neom appoints architect for Gidori
> Qiddiya unveils Speed Park racetrack
> Foster & Partners wins 2km-tall tower
> PIF firm tenders Jeddah mixed-use project
> Saudi Arabia’s The Rig signs project agreement
Following one of the best years for project contract awards in Saudi Arabia, 2024 has so far lived up to expectations, with contracts worth over $8bn awarded in the kingdom’s construction sector in the first two months.
The majority of these awards are for work on the gigaprojects programme, which is backed by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
In early January, Italian contractor WeBuild secured a record-breaking $4.7bn contract to construct three dams that will create a lake at the centre of the Trojena mountain resort, located within the Neom gigaproject.
The project has an aggressive delivery schedule because the lake – and the surrounding resort and ski slopes – must be ready for the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
Many of Saudi Arabia’s projects have event-driven deadlines and will have to be prioritised and delivered on time.
For example, in February a joint venture of Belgian contractor Besix and local Albawani was awarded an estimated SR3.7bn ($1bn) contract to build a new football stadium in Dammam. The facility will host international tournaments such as the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup and the 2034 Fifa World Cup.
Major 2024 awards
The other significant contract awards so far this year include a $1.8bn contract by Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC) for the construction of Jeddah Central Stadium and an estimated SR4.6bn ($1.2bn) contract by Saudi electric car manufacturer Ceer to build its first electric vehicle production plant at King Abdullah Economic City on the kingdom’s Red Sea coast.
JCDC and local contractor Modern Building Leaders also signed two major contracts worth a combined $900m to build an opera house and an oceanarium in the first phase of the Jeddah Central project.
In January, Qiddiya Investment Company also awarded a SR1.8bn ($480m) contract for the construction of a racetrack and associated infrastructure at the Speed Park at the Qiddiya entertainment city gigaproject.
Looking ahead, contract activity is set to continue for both the gigaprojects and the broader Saudi market. According to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, schemes worth $56bn are in the bidding phase in the construction sector and are due for imminent award.
Major construction schemes for all five of the official gigaprojects are in the advanced stages. These include Neom’s $8bn community housing public-private partnership (PPP) programme and $6.4bn of construction work at the port at Oxagon.
The other schemes under negotiation include completing the remaining works on what will be the world’s tallest tower. Contractors were allowed until the end of February to submit their bids for the Jeddah Tower.
The market is also awaiting the tender for a contract to build the Mukaab district, the centrepiece of the New Murabba development in Riyadh. The estimated $5.5bn package will encompass the construction works on the Mukaab structure and the surrounding podium areas, covering about 1.7 million square metres.
The other significant gigaprojects-related schemes due for procurement in the coming months include the development of the Superblock Five cluster at Rua Al Madinah, which covers the construction of 18 hotels, and developing an offshore tourism destination in the Gulf called The Rig.
The market will be supported by the announcement that Saudi Arabia will host Expo 2030 in Riyadh. The kingdom has also emerged as the sole bidder to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup, in addition to the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, the Asian Winter Games in 2029 and the Asian Games in 2034.
Burgeoning opportunities
Amid subdued activity elsewhere in the broader GCC region, the kingdom’s construction market has become the prime target for local and international contractors, with its thousands of project packages in the pipeline expected to drive project spending and opportunities for many years to come.
Regional and international contractors are also expected to continue supporting the construction pipeline, while PPP-structured deals are likely to increase as the country’s burgeoning project expenditures and need for financing outstrip the PIF’s capacity.
As the activity ramps up in the country, bigger questions remain: how will Saudi Arabia deliver all of these projects, and does it have a big enough workforce with sufficient expertise to do so?
The PIF’s move to establish national champions in the contracting sector, capable of delivering its giant schemes, was the first step in the process, with the investment of $1.3bn in four local construction companies in February last year. This year, the PIF and National Infrastructure Fund (Infra) have created a construction finance programme to improve contractors’ cash flows and help the industry to deliver projects more effectively.
The changes under way in the Saudi construction sector are truly seismic. All the available assets in the sector – and more – will need to come together to realise the country’s 2030 project ambitions.
Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.
Exclusive from Meed
-
-
-
-
Axens signs Egypt refining deal8 July 2026
-
Gulftainer commits to $2bn expansion plan8 July 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
-
Firms submit King Salman airport project prequalifications
8 July 2026
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) received prequalification statements on 1 July from contractors for two new packages at King Salman International airport (KSIA) in Riyadh.
These include the construction of a permanent East-West corridor and landside access roads serving the North and South terminals.
The scope covers the construction of roads, bridges and tunnels.
The client is expected to float the tenders soon.
The latest development follows KSIADC's selection of three groups to deliver the Terminal 6 apron, taxiways and other airfield infrastructure at KSIA.
KSIADC, which is backed by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund, will initially deliver the project on an early contractor involvement basis.
In March, MEED exclusively reported that KSIADC had selected three groups for the construction of Terminal 6.
In November last year, MEED reported that KSIADC was targeting mid-2026 to award the contract for the construction of Terminal 6.
MEED reported in May 2025 that US firm Bechtel Corporation had been appointed as the delivery partner for the terminals at KSIA.
According to local media reports, KSIADC’s acting CEO, Marco Mejia, said the project developer has completed the project’s masterplan.
The reports added that Terminal 6 will boost the airport’s capacity by 40 million passengers.
The project is expected to be delivered before the start of Expo 2030 Riyadh.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17588533/main.jpg -
WEBINAR: Saudi Giga Projects: Market Update for Q3 2026
8 July 2026
Webinar: Saudi Giga Projects: Market Update for Q3 2026
Tuesday 21 July 2026 | 11:00 AM GST | Register now
Agenda:
- Saudi projects market outlook and giga projects update
- 2026 contract awards, project activity and market performance
- Giga project reprioritisation, funding allocation and delivery progress
- Key project announcements, milestones and market developments to watch
- Major contracts awarded across construction, infrastructure and utilities
- Upcoming tenders and contract award opportunities over the next 6–12 months
- Geopolitical risks and their impact on project execution and investment
- Progress across NEOM, The Red Sea, Diriyah, Qiddiya and New Murabba
- Major non-giga project opportunities and growth sectors across Saudi Arabia
- Short-, medium- and long-term outlook for the Saudi projects market
- Audience Q&A
Hosted by: Yasir Iqbal, MEED's construction editor
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17588750/main.jpg -
Genel Energy buys Egypt-focused oil company for $360m
8 July 2026
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
UK-listed Genel Energy has agreed to acquire Egypt-focused Capricorn Energy in a $360m all-cash deal.
Genel said the acquisition will combine its Kurdistan production base with Capricorn’s portfolio of Egyptian oil and gas assets.
The company also said the deal will allow it to obtain production in a country with a “well-established regulatory regime, stable contracts and attractive fiscal terms”.
Several approvals are still required before the acquisition can be finalised.
In a statement, Genel said: “Genel’s strategy is to build a business with resilient diversified cash flows that deliver sustainable value to shareholders.
“The Genel board and Genel management are resolute in their belief that this can best be achieved through strategic acquisitions, which add substantial high-quality producing assets to its existing portfolio.”
Genel’s existing oil and gas assets include its 25% non-operated working interest in the Tawke PSC in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The company said this asset generated working interest production averaging 17,520 barrels a day (b/d) of oil in 2025 and had operating costs of around $4 a barrel.
The combined group is expected to hold reserves of 117 million barrels of oil equivalent and production of 41,003 b/d.
Capricorn is headquartered in Edinburgh and has been listed on the London Stock Exchange for more than 30 years.
Its core operations are in Egypt’s Western Desert region, where it holds onshore development and production assets.
In May 2025, Capricorn agreed with Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation to consolidate eight of its 50:50 jointly owned concessions into a single integrated licence with enhanced commercial terms. Capricorn announced in March 2026 that it had received formal parliamentary ratification of the agreement.
The deal has been announced at a time when Genel is seeing frequent disruption to operations at its assets in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Production was temporarily suspended at the Tawke field in February after the US and Israel attacked Iran, increasing security concerns in the wider region.
While the security situation is understood to have improved in the Iraqi Kurdistan region and many oil companies have resumed operations, there are now concerns that the Iraq-Turkiye Pipeline could be shut due to an agreement between the two countries expiring later this month.
If the pipeline does stop operations, it will negatively impact Genel as it is the main route through which the company’s Iraqi oil is exported.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17587599/main.jpg -
Axens signs Egypt refining deal
8 July 2026
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
France’s Axens has signed a long-term agreement with the Egyptian Refining Company (ERC) that covers product supply, digital transformation and refinery performance optimisation.
ERC operates Egypt’s $4.4bn Mostorod refinery, which was inaugurated in September 2020.
In a statement about the deal, Axens said that it will “leverage its comprehensive and integrated portfolio of technologies, equipment, catalysts and services to support ERC’s operational, economic and sustainability objectives”.
It added: “With its end-to-end expertise across the entire refining value chain, Axens is uniquely positioned to support ERC from early-stage project studies through engineering, unit start-up, operational optimisation and long-term technical follow-up.
“This fully integrated approach will help ensure reliability, operational excellence and environmental performance across the refinery’s life cycle.”
Quentin Debuisschert, the chief executive and chairman of Axens, said: “This long-term agreement marks an important milestone in the relationship between Axens and ERC.
“It reflects our ability to support customers beyond technology licensing by delivering a fully integrated offering that combines all process and catalyst technologies a modern refinery needs, services, digital solutions, operational expertise and training.
“We are committed to supporting ERC’s ambitions in operational excellence, digital transformation and sustainability while helping maximise the long-term value and competitiveness of its assets.
“We are proud and motivated to continue supporting ERC in ensuring the economic and operational success of its refinery."
Mohamed Saad, the president of ERC, said: “ERC values its strong partnership with Axens and the confidence this agreement brings for the future.
"This collaboration will help us continue enhancing refinery performance, maximising operational efficiency and delivering high-quality products to support Egypt’s energy needs.”
The Mostorod refinery is located 10 kilometres north of Cairo and has the capacity to produce about 4.7 million tonnes of petroleum products annually.
It sells all of its output directly to the national oil company Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation under a 25-year agreement.
When the refinery was brought online and reached full capacity, it boosted Egypt’s capacity to produce diesel by 30% and increased gasoline production by 15%.
Operations started at the refinery in November 2019.
Qatar Petroleum is a stakeholder in the project. It owns 38.1% of the Arabian Refinery Company, which in turn owns 66.6% of ERC.
The Mostorod refinery mainly produces Euro 5 refined products, including diesel and jet fuel, which are intended for consumption primarily in Cairo and surrounding areas.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17587498/main.jpg -
Gulftainer commits to $2bn expansion plan
8 July 2026
Gulftainer has unveiled a $2bn strategy to transform from a ports and terminals operator into an integrated global trade infrastructure company, a long-horizon commitment made at a port that was struck three months ago and in a region where the shipping lanes it depends on are under renewed attack.
The strategy restructures the company around four platforms: container terminals and maritime gateways, inland logistics and multimodal transport, logistics parks and industrial ecosystems, and regional maritime services connecting strategic trade corridors.
At the centre of the strategy is Khorfakkan Port, the UAE's deepwater gateway on the Gulf of Oman. Expansion works will raise annual handling capacity from 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 5 million TEUs, a 43% uplift, with a long-term master plan targeting more than 10 million TEUs. Planned integration with Etihad Rail will turn the port into a fully multimodal gateway linking sea, road and rail.
The commitment comes despite the port's recent exposure to the conflict in the region. On 5 April, a fire broke out at Khorfakkan after debris fell on the facility following the interception of an unidentified object. In a post on X, the Sharjah media office said the incident injured four people, one Nepalese national seriously and three Pakistani nationals with minor to moderate injuries. The strait through which Khorfakkan-bound traffic passes has come under further attack in recent days, with merchant vessels struck near the Strait of Hormuz.
Inland, Al-Dhaid Logistics Park and Sajaa Logistics Park will together provide 2.3 million TEUs of annual inland capacity, extending Gulftainer's reach.
The company positions itself as a key enabler of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and the UAE's role in China's Belt and Road Initiative, linking ports, shipping services, inland logistics networks and digital platforms across major global trade routes. The transformation follows nearly five decades of operation and is being implemented under the New Gulftainer strategy.
Gulftainer's partnership with the Sharjah Ports, Customs & Free Zones Authority underpins the Khorfakkan expansion. The port sits within an integrated maritime network spanning both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, offering shippers several routing options across the two waterways.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17588407/main.jpg