Saudi Arabia sets Q3 deadline for stadiums
29 May 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ministry is expected to receive bids in the third quarter of this year for the construction of two stadiums as part of the kingdom’s plan to build sports stadiums under its SR10.1bn ($2.7bn) capital projects programme.
The bids for the expansion of Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh are expected by 18 July.
The expansion aims to increase the stadium’s seating capacity to about 45,000 spectators by 2027, when it will host the AFC Asian Cup. The existing capacity is 22,188 seats.
Bids for the King Fahd International Stadium Riyadh expansion are due on 12 August. The expansion seeks to increase the stadium capacity from 68,752 seats to 92,000.
The client issued the request for proposals on 8 April.
Capital projects
In July last year, the ministry invited construction companies to submit prequalification documents for the main construction contracts for the schemes, which are part of the capital projects programme.
The projects, which are set for completion before the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, include:
- Increasing the capacity of King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to 92,000 seats
- Expanding the seating capacity of Riyadh’s Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium to 45,000
- Increasing the capacity of Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium to 30,000 seats
- An increase in seating capacity for the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium in Al Khair to 45,000
- The construction of a sustainable New Riyadh Stadium in the north of Riyadh with 45,000 seats
The next main element of the ministry’s projects programme is the construction of 30 new training grounds and facilities in proximity to the stadiums that will be used for the 2027 competition.
Construction on the schemes is expected to start this year and be completed by December 2025. A total of 18 facilities will be ready in time for the 2026 AFC Women’s Cup.
MEED's April 2024 special report on Saudi Arabia includes:
> GVT & ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia seeks diversification amid regional tensions
> BANKING: Saudi lenders gear up for corporate growth
> UPSTREAM: Aramco spending drawdown to jolt oil projects
> DOWNSTREAM: Master Gas System spending stimulates Saudi downstream sector
> POWER: Riyadh to sustain power spending
> WATER: Growth inevitable for the Saudi water sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Saudi gigaprojects propel construction sector
> TRANSPORT: Saudi Arabia’s transport sector offers prospects
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Siemens Energy wins $1.6bn Saudi deal
13 March 2025
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Chinese engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Harbin Electric International has awarded Germany’s Siemens Energy a contract to supply combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) units for the Rumah 2 and Nairiyah 2 independent power projects (IPPs) in Saudi Arabia.
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READ THE MARCH MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – clck here to view PDFChinese contractors win record market share; Cairo grapples with political and fiscal challenges; Stronger upstream project spending beckons in 2025
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the March 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> AGENDA 1: Chinese firms dominate region’s projects market> AGENDA 2: China construction at pivotal juncture> UPSTREAM 1: Offshore oil and gas sees steady capex> UPSTREAM 2: Saudi Arabia to retain upstream dominance> DIRIYAH: Diriyah CEO sets the record straight> SAUDI POWER: Saudi power projects hit record high> AUTOMOTIVE: Saudi Arabia gears up to lead Gulf’s automotive sector> EGYPT: Egypt battles structural issues> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf hits six-month growth streak> CONTRACT AWARDS: High-value deals signed in power and industrial sectors> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projectsTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13483115/main.jpg -
Chinese builders go global
13 March 2025
Commentary
Colin Foreman
EditorRead the March MEED Business Review
It is difficult to fathom the scale of growth experienced by China’s construction sector over the past 20 years. Since 2004, it has grown by over 800%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11% to reach an estimated value of $4.5tn.
That success has created contractors that are now the largest construction companies on the planet. According to GlobalData, seven Chinese companies are among the top 10 largest construction companies in the world, with China State Construction Engineering Corporation topping the list with revenues of $320bn.
In the Middle East and North Africa, Chinese contractors dominated in 2024 by securing $90bn of the $347bn of contracts awarded, according to data from MEED Projects.
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At the same time, the maturing Chinese economy has driven contractors to seek opportunities abroad. With a slowing domestic real estate market, they are turning to international markets for growth. The Middle East presents an attractive option due to its wide range of projects, backed by financially secure clients and governments.
The scale of the contractors and the large number of players yet to meaningfully venture overseas means they possess the ability to grow even further in the Middle East and North Africa as the region continues to press ahead with large-scale projects that require vast resources.
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READ THE MARCH MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – clck here to view PDFChinese contractors win record market share; Cairo grapples with political and fiscal challenges; Stronger upstream project spending beckons in 2025
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the March 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> AGENDA 1: Chinese firms dominate region’s projects market> AGENDA 2: China construction at pivotal juncture> UPSTREAM 1: Offshore oil and gas sees steady capex> UPSTREAM 2: Saudi Arabia to retain upstream dominance> DIRIYAH: Diriyah CEO sets the record straight> SAUDI POWER: Saudi power projects hit record high> AUTOMOTIVE: Saudi Arabia gears up to lead Gulf’s automotive sector> EGYPT: Egypt battles structural issues> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf hits six-month growth streak> CONTRACT AWARDS: High-value deals signed in power and industrial sectors> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projectsTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13483117/main.gif