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Riyadh Expo sets November bid deadline for Souq construction Administrator29 October 2026
Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), responsible for delivering the Expo 2030 Riyadh venue, has allowed contractors until 11 November to submit bids for a contract to deliver the Souq areas within the Expo site.
The tender was floated on 30 July, with an initial submission deadline of 9 October.
The Souq areas are divided into five distinct precincts, with a total development area of about 300,000 square metres (sq m).
The scope includes the five precincts and their associated vertical elements, infrastructure and public realm works.
The precincts comprise:
- Precinct 1 – The Icon: 41,417 sq m
- Precinct 2 – Place & Planet: 62,306 sq m
- Precinct 3 – Culture of Wisdom: 67,112 sq m
- Precinct 4 – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 45,967 sq m
- Precinct 5 – Adaptation & Innovation: 82,358 sq m
The package will interface with three public parks. It will also tie into the Natural Corridor, including bridges.
The Souq areas will form a mixed-use destination at the centre of Expo 2030 Riyadh, connecting the site’s iconic and thematic assets.
The development will include rented and partnership pavilions, alongside a range of food and beverage, retail and visitor-experience offerings.
Site progress
Construction activity at the Expo site is accelerating, with Riyadh moving to award its first major vertical contracts and advancing infrastructure works across the programme.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City awarded a design-and-build contract to build a new metro station serving the Expo 2030 site.
In April, ERC awarded two contracts to local firm Al-Yamama Company for the next phase of infrastructure works at the site.
The scope covered the construction of road networks and infrastructure for water, sewage, electricity, telecommunications and electric vehicle charging.
These awards followed ERC’s January award of an estimated SR1bn ($267m) contract for initial infrastructure works at the site to local firm Nesma & Partners.
That scope covered about 50 kilometres of integrated infrastructure networks, including internal roads and essential utilities such as water, sewage, electrical and communications systems, and electric vehicle charging stations.
The masterplan covers 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites ever designated for a World Expo event. Situated to the north of the Saudi capital, the site will be located near the future King Salman International airport and will provide direct access to landmarks within Riyadh.
The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, launched ERC – a wholly owned subsidiary – in June 2025 to build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.
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Iraq oilfield water scheme to hit milestone next year Administrator29 October 2026
China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPP) expects to start laying pipeline for Iraq’s Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) in Basra in mid- or late next year, according to industry sources.
The project is behind schedule, partly because importing sections of pipeline is proving challenging due to disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The project is being managed by state-owned Basra Oil Company (BOC), with Australia’s ILF acting as a project management consultant after completing the front-end engineering design (feed).
Under current plans, the pipelines will be buried, which is expected to make them more secure than if they were installed on the surface.
Phased development
The client for the first phase of the CSSP is France’s TotalEnergies in partnership with QatarEnergy and BOC.
The first phase is split into two packages currently under execution and will ultimately have the capacity to transport 5 million barrels a day (b/d) of water.
The first package focuses on developing pipelines, and the second on developing a water treatment facility.
CPP is executing the pipeline package contract.
It signed a $2.5bn contract with BOC for the package in September last year.
Also in September 2025, South Korea’s Hyundai announced that it had signed a contract worth 4.39tn won ($3.16bn) for the processing plant package.
In September this year, MEED reported that early groundworks had started for both packages of the first phase of the CSSP.
Phase one of the project is scheduled to start up in late 2028 or early 2029.
Earlier this month, US-headquartered Exxon Mobil signed a memorandum of understanding related to the project’s second phase, which is expected to add 2.5 million b/d of water capacity.
The CSSP will inject processed water into several of Iraq’s biggest oil fields. These include Rumaila, Zubair, West Qurna 1, West Qurna 2 and Majnoon. Water from the project will also be used in the Maysan and Dhi Qar fields.
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Dubai tenders Al-Awir sewerage and stormwater works Administrator29 October 2026
Dubai Municipality has invited contractors to bid for a contract to build sewerage and stormwater infrastructure in New Al-Awir 1st.
The project (DS317-C1) comprises about 95 kilometres of sewerage gravity network, excluding house connections, and about 105km of stormwater pipelines. The scope also includes house connection pipes, a stormwater pond and oil interceptors.
According to tender documents seen by MEED, the tender was issued on 23 October, with a bid submission deadline of 12 November.
The project comes amid wider residential and infrastructure development in Al-Awir 1. In January 2025, Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) announced plans to build 16.5km of internal roads in the area, including a new entrance from Emirates Road.
In February 2025, MEED exclusively reported that the RTA had selected a local firm to undertake the road construction works.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment has also reported progress on housing projects in Al-Awir as part of a wider programme to develop residential communities across Dubai.
The sewerage and stormwater project is relatively large compared with recent stormwater tenders, with the total cost estimated at up to AED1bn ($272m).
The works will include approximately 69.2km of house connection pipes and 4,630 inspection chambers. The sewerage network will also include about 1,511 manholes, while the stormwater network will comprise approximately 1,247 manholes.
Contractors will also be required to use no-dig construction methods for sections of the pipeline. The scope includes ground investigations, utility protection and traffic management.
The bill of quantities specifies a stormwater pond with a composite volume of approximately 1.2 million cubic metres.
Earlier this week, Dubai Municipality confirmed it had awarded contracts worth AED3bn ($817m) to expand the emirate’s stormwater drainage network by about 100 square kilometres under phase three of the Tasreef programme.
The projects are part of Dubai’s AED30bn Tasreef programme and will cover Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al-Quoz, Al-Barsha, Al-Wasl and Al-Marmoom.
The overall programme aims to increase the emirate’s stormwater drainage capacity by 700% and reduce costs associated with pumping stations, network operations and maintenance by 20%.
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Contractors bid for QatarEnergy’s North Field West topsides Administrator28 October 2026
QatarEnergy has received technical bids from contractors for a key tender covering the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of large platforms for the North Field gas field in Qatari waters.
Contractors submitted their technical bids by the 26 October deadline, according to sources.
Commercial bids are currently due on 10 November.
The following contractors, among others, are understood to be bidding for the North Field West (NFW) production deck modules (PDMs) tender:
- China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (China)
- Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon (India)
- McDermott (US)
- Saipem (Italy)
The core scope comprises the EPCI of four PDMs and associated structures. The modules will increase gas production from North Field reservoirs and supply additional gas feedstock to the NFW liquefied natural gas (LNG) development.
Issued earlier this year, the tender forms part of the wider NFW project, the third and final phase of QatarEnergy’s North Field LNG expansion programme.
The technical-bid deadline has been extended several times, from 30 August to 15 September, 28 September, 12 October and 19 October. Commercial bids were previously due on 25 October, as MEED reported.
Before issuing the PDMs tender, QatarEnergy awarded US firm McDermott an EPCI contract for four offshore jackets to support gas feedstock supply for the NFW LNG project. The contract is estimated to be worth about $200m, MEED reported in January.
North Field LNG expansion
QatarEnergy is advancing the three phases of its estimated $40bn North Field LNG expansion project. EPC works on all three projects are progressing.
QatarEnergy is understood to have committed nearly $30bn to the first two phases – North Field East (NFE) and North Field South (NFS) – which will lift Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77.5 million tonnes a year (t/y) to 126 million t/y by 2028.
QatarEnergy awarded the main EPC contracts for NFE in 2021. The project was intended to raise LNG output to 110 million t/y by 2025. The $13bn EPC package – covering the EPCI of four LNG trains, each with a capacity of 8 million t/y – was awarded in February 2021 to a consortium of Japan’s Chiyoda and France’s Technip Energies.
In May 2023, QatarEnergy awarded the $10bn main EPC contract for NFS to a consortium of Technip Energies and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC). The contract includes two LNG trains, each with a capacity of 7.8 million t/y.
Once fully operational, the first two phases are expected to add 48 million t/y of LNG supply to the global market.
QatarEnergy took the final investment decision on NFW earlier this year, awarding an EPC contract estimated at $8bn to a joint venture comprising Technip Energies, CCC and Gulf Asia Contracting in February.
Chiyoda carried out the front-end engineering and design work for the NFW LNG project.
The NFW scope covers the EPC of two LNG trains with a combined capacity of 16 million t/y, as well as associated facilities for gas treatment, natural gas liquids recovery and helium extraction.
In addition to LNG, NFW is expected to produce about 175,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day of condensate, ethane and liquefied petroleum gas.
With all three phases under EPC execution – and NFE scheduled for commissioning later this year – QatarEnergy is positioning itself to remain one of the world’s largest LNG suppliers in the long term.
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US military approaches contractors for Qatar air base project Administrator28 October 2026
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has begun market engagement for an anticipated contract to design and build a Space Campus at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
USACE’s Southwestern Division, Middle East District, has issued a sources-sought notice to identify contractors capable of delivering an integrated design-and-construction (IDaC) contract.
The successful contractor will provide pre-construction services and build secure facilities that comply with Intelligence Community Directive 705 (ICD 705) standards.
Interested firms must submit capability statements by 30 October.
The construction market engagement follows USACE’s procurement of architect-engineer services for the development. The authority intends to award a single-award, task-order contract covering planning, design, site investigations and construction-phase support. The contract will have a five-year base period, with a two-year option, and a capacity of up to $100m.
USACE expects to award the design contract in April 2028, alongside an IDaC construction contract following completion of the planning activities.
The Space Campus is being developed to meet an operational requirement of the US Air Force and forms part of the Al-Udeid Air Base 2040 Strategic Master Plan.
It will include a secure administrative headquarters, coalition operations centre, secure warehouse, conference centre, storage facilities, access-control and guardhouse complex, antenna yards, shelters and multiple unit buildings.
The scope also includes secure perimeter fencing, intrusion-detection and closed-circuit television systems, roads, parking, site preparation, utility networks, substations, generators, chilled-water systems, fuelling facilities, and secure and unclassified communications networks.
The project will require hardened and potentially underground structures. Contractors are expected to demonstrate expertise in managing saline groundwater, dewatering, underground waterproofing and Qatar’s geotechnical conditions.
The latest procurement activity comes as Qatar’s Public Works Authority, Ashghal, tenders a contract for roads and associated infrastructure serving Al-Udeid Air Base.
The project in Zone 95 of Al-Wakra Municipality includes a dual-lane carriageway, three roundabouts, electrical substations, drainage, lighting, intelligent transport systems and utility works.
The road will link Al-Majd Road to the east with Street 203 in Zone 95 to the west.
According to GlobalData’s Qatar Defence Market 2026-2031 report, Qatar allocated an estimated $17bn to defence in 2026, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5% between 2022 and 2026.
The defence budget is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% over the 2027-31 forecast period, reaching an estimated $20.8bn in 2031.
Defence diplomacy is also a key factor in military procurement, with Doha strengthening bilateral ties through acquisitions from the US, France and Turkiye.
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Adnoc Onshore selects contractors for well tie-ins project Administrator27 October 2026
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Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s onshore operating arm (Adnoc Onshore) has selected contractors for a major project to tie in wells across the Bab and North East Bab oil field developments in Abu Dhabi.
Located 84 kilometres southwest of Abu Dhabi city, the Bab field has been in production since 1960 and is the emirate’s first oil-producing asset. The North East Bab cluster comprises the Al-Nouf, Rumaitha and Shanayel fields.
The Bab and North East Bab One Tie-In project is central to Adnoc Onshore’s contribution to Adnoc Group’s target of expanding crude oil production capacity to 5 million barrels a day (b/d) by 2027, an initiative known as the Accelerated Integrated Programme 5. The state energy company’s total production capacity currently stands at approximately 4.85 million b/d.
According to industry sources, Adnoc Onshore has selected local contractor Robt Stone Middle East and China’s Jereh Group to carry out engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works on the project. While both firms have been notified of their selection, a formal project kick-off meeting has yet to take place.
Adnoc Onshore is understood to have started the tendering process for the Bab and North East Bab One Tie-In project last year, with contractors submitting technical and commercial bids earlier this year.
Following the evaluation of bids, Adnoc Onshore sought best commercial offers from the bidders, which contractors submitted in May, MEED previously reported.
The project budget is estimated at $1.2bn.
Bidders for the contract are understood to have included:
- Galfar Emirates (UAE branch of Oman’s Galfar Engineering & Construction)
- Jereh (China)
- Kalpataru Projects International (India)
- Matrix Construction (UAE)
- Robt Stone Middle East (UAE)
- Target Engineering Construction Company (UAE)
The project scope covers residual engineering, procurement of materials not supplied as free-issue items, site surveys, construction, installation, inspection, testing, and pre-commissioning and commissioning support. The works will deliver new wellsite facilities, including a new mini-pad, well bays and clusters across the Bab and North East Bab developments.
Adnoc Onshore is Adnoc Group’s largest production subsidiary, accounting for roughly 2 million b/d of crude and about 7 billion cubic feet a day of associated gas from four primary onshore asset clusters: Bab, Bu Hasa, North East Bab and South East.
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Ashghal tenders Al-Udeid air base access road works Administrator27 October 2026
Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has invited contractors to bid on a contract to build roads and related infrastructure around Al-Udeid Air Base.
The project is located in Zone 95 of Al-Wakra Municipality, adjacent to Al-Majd Road.
The tender was issued on 22 October, with a submission deadline of 22 November.
The scope includes the construction of a dual-lane carriageway to improve access to the air base, together with three roundabouts. The alignment will connect to Al-Majd Road to the east and tie into Street 203 in Zone 95 to the west. The contractor will also resurface and maintain connections to the existing road network.
Associated works include street lighting, intelligent transport systems, directional signage and a surface-water drainage collection system.
The contractor will provide crossing ducts, protect and relocate conflicting existing utilities, and complete detailed utility designs as required by relevant stakeholders through the Qatar Design Review System.
The project also includes the design and construction of two electrical substations. The contractor must secure the necessary stakeholder and authority approvals before starting these works.
The scheme will be delivered on a remeasurable, build-only basis using designs approved by others. It will also include designated contractor-designed elements and design-and-build packages for the substations.
Bidders must submit two commercial pricing options: a base offer subject to material price-fluctuation provisions, and an alternative authority option without such provisions.
The contract has a 550-day completion period from the commencement date, including mobilisation, followed by a 400-day maintenance period after the completion certificate is issued.
Participation is restricted to local and international contractors registered under the Ministry of Finance classification system in Grade A or Grade B for road specialisation.
Unclassified foreign firms may submit equivalent certified documentation from their country of origin, attested by Qatari diplomatic missions. They must obtain Ministry of Finance registration before contract award.
For joint-venture bids, the lead partner must hold the required classification grade.
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Saudi Arabia gauges interest for Al-Ula wastewater expansion Administrator27 October 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) is conducting market sounding for the first phase of the Mughayra wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) expansion before formally starting its tendering process, according to industry sources.
The project is valued at SR400m ($107m) and is intended to increase the Mughayra plant’s wastewater treatment capacity to 62,000 cubic metres a day.
RCU is gauging interest from potential contractors and has not yet issued a prequalification questionnaire, a source said.
The scheme forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader investment drive to develop its cultural and tourism offering across Al-Ula.
The commission launched its Journey Through Time Masterplan in April 2021, with implementation scheduled in three phases through 2035. The masterplan covers infrastructure development, water management and irrigation, alongside the regeneration of a 9-kilometre cultural oasis.
French engineering firm Artelia previously noted in its 2025 annual corporate report that it is involved in the design phase of the Mughayra WWTP.
RCU is also developing strategic potable-water storage infrastructure in Al-Ula, including a design-and-build project covering a 50,000-cubic-metre reservoir at Hub 06 and a 15,000-cubic-metre reservoir at Hub 08.
Local contractor Bin Omairah previously confirmed that it is serving as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the storage facilities.
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Qatari firm wins $147m Syria road deal Administrator27 October 2026
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Qatari contractor Al-Mohannadi for Roads, Trading & Contracting has signed a $147m contract with Syria’s General Directorate of Roads to rehabilitate and expand a 215-kilometre (km) highway corridor connecting to the Iraqi border.
The project covers the rehabilitation and dualisation of a 170km section linking the Al-Busairi junction to the Al-Tanf border crossing, alongside the construction of a 45km link between the Al-Sabaa Biyar junction and Al-Busairi. Work is scheduled for completion within 900 days.
The agreement was signed in Damascus by Moaz Najjar, director-general of the General Directorate of Roads, and Abdullah Adnan Al-Zattam, chief executive of Al-Mohannadi, in the presence of Syrian Transport Minister Yarob Badr and Finance Minister Mohammad Yusr Barnieh.
The upgrade is intended to restore and expand one of Syria’s primary overland arteries to Iraq, which has suffered significant deterioration and capacity bottlenecks following years of conflict. The Al-Tanf corridor represents the most direct overland link between Damascus, central Syrian industrial centres and Baghdad.
The project is designed to accommodate heavier commercial freight vehicles and reduce transit times between the two countries.
The investment also forms part of broader efforts to re-establish Syria’s role as a regional transit corridor connecting Mediterranean ports with landlocked trade routes into Iraq and the wider region.
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Adnoc showcases $16.3bn local manufacturing potential Administrator27 October 2026
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group) has identified more than AED60bn ($16.3bn) in local manufacturing opportunities through 2030.
The Abu Dhabi energy company also announced changes to its procurement, supplier registration and In-Country Value (ICV) localisation frameworks.
The measures were announced at the second Make it with Adnoc Forum, held in Abu Dhabi on October 25. They are intended to give manufacturers, suppliers and investors greater visibility of future demand and a faster, clearer route to compete for Adnoc contracts, the company said.
The more than 200 manufacturing opportunities cover products required for Adnoc’s projects and operations, including:
- Rotating equipment and power
- Electrical, control and automation systems
- Drilling and completion equipment
- Chemicals and catalysts
- Piping, fabrication and heavy equipment
- Spare parts and advanced manufacturing
Many of the identified products are currently imported, Adnoc said. “Manufacturing them in the UAE shortens lead times, reduces exposure to global supply disruptions and strengthens the resilience of Adnoc’s operations,” it said in its statement.
Adnoc, the UAE Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) will work together to connect manufacturers with these opportunities. The collaboration will combine visibility of Adnoc’s demand, access to the national industrial database and financing through the National Industrial Resilience Fund, the company said.
Adnoc also signed two memorandums of understanding on the sidelines of the forum with Adio and Kezad Group.
ICV scheme expansion
Adnoc announced the expansion of its Local+ programme, part of its ICV framework, to more than 100 UAE manufacturers, compared with 70 at its launch in May. The programme gives UAE-made products priority in Adnoc projects by requiring engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors bidding for new tenders to source relevant products from manufacturers approved under the programme.
Separately, Adnoc announced a redesign of its supplier registration and prequalification process. The company is targeting a reduction of up to 80% in the time required for suppliers to complete the process and become eligible to compete for Adnoc opportunities.
The new model halves the number of required documents and removes prequalification requirements for 60% of service categories.
A single window brings together registration, qualification and compliance, with requirements tailored to the nature of the work and its level of risk. Artificial intelligence will support document verification and the reuse of existing data, reducing repetitive submissions and administrative processing.
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“Adnoc’s enhanced ICV model will more closely connect procurement decisions with commercial value and suppliers’ contribution to the UAE economy. Under the new model, commercial and ICV offers will be integrated into a single evaluation model,” the company said.
“The previous bid-matching approach will be retired, encouraging suppliers to submit their most competitive commercial and ICV offers from the outset. Requirements will be proportionate to contract size and scope.
“The model also enhances the administration of ICV-related retention payments. Where retention applies, automated calculation and release processes through the Adnoc Supplier Hub will improve transparency, reduce manual follow-up and support suppliers’ cash flow as obligations are met.”
Alongside the ICV and registration enhancements, Adnoc outlined a new commercial approach built around four strategic shifts: agile, competitive, strategic and forward-looking.
“The approach will advance simpler procurement and faster decision-making, contracting models aligned with project and market dynamics, targeted commercial negotiations and earlier visibility of Adnoc’s future demand.”
Since its launch in 2018, Adnoc’s ICV programme has directed more than AED307bn ($83.6bn) into the UAE economy, the company said. By the end of 2025, it had also supported the localisation of more than 130 products, the development of 95 UAE factories, and employment opportunities for more than 27,500 Emiratis at participating private sector companies.
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