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  • Acwa signs Mauritania gas IPP agreements Administrator

    2 July 2026

    Saudi Arabia's Acwa has announced it has signed the public-private partnership (PPP) and power purchase agreement (PPA) for the 230MW N'diago combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

    The agreements cover the development, financing, construction and operation of the project. They were signed in Nouakchott  in the presence of senior officials from the Mauritanian government and Acwa chairman Mohammad Abunayyan.

    The project is Mauritania's first large-scale gas-fired independent power project (IPP). It is also expected to be the country's first major gas-fired power plant procured through a PPP structure.

    The CCGT plant will provide 230MW of baseload generation capacity. It will use Mauritania's domestic natural gas resources to supply the national grid.

    Sepaarately, the Mauritanian Electricity Company (Somelec) has been advancing procurment for the construction of a 50MW solar power and battery enery storage systems (Bess) IPP project. In May, it issued an expression of interest (EoI) request.  

    Mauritania currently has several wind and solar power projects in the early study stages, according to regional project tracker MEED Projects.

    There are also plans to build a 1,200MW wind power plant near port Etienne in the bay province of Nouadhibou, for which, China Energy Engineering was appointed as the main contractor in 2024. 

    Meanwhile, Acwa's portfolio comprises 111 assets that are operational, under construction or in advanced development. These represent investments of SR468.9bn ($125bn).

    According to the company, it has a power generation capacity of 98GW, including 52.3GW of renewable energy, and manages 9.7 million cubic metres a day of desalinated water globally.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17525605/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Saudi water sector awaits next catalyst Administrator

    2 July 2026

    Commentary
    Mark Dowdall
    Power & water editor

    Saudi Arabia’s water sector is entering a critical period as developers and investors wait for the next signal that the kingdom’s project pipeline is moving forward.

    Seven months have passed since preferred bidders were announced for the Arana and Hadda independent sewage treatment plant (ISTP) projects, which together will provide 350,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d) of treatment capacity. The projects had been expected to reach financial close in the second quarter of this year, but have yet to do so.

    In parallel, Saudi Arabia’s Vision Invest was selected as preferred bidder last December for the estimated $2bn Riyadh-Qassim independent water transmission pipeline (IWTP) project. It was reported at the time that the company had submitted a levelised tariff of SR2.627 ($0.70) a cubic metre, almost 20% below the next nearest bid. The project, which will comprise an 859-kilometre pipeline with transmission capacity of 685,000 cm/d, had been tipped to reach financial close this quarter.

    The uncertainty extends beyond projects awaiting financial close. The developer tender bid deadline was recently pushed back again for the $150m Riyadh East ISTP. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Water Transmission Company (WTCO) is understood to be reviewing the delivery model for the Jubail-Buraidah and Ras Mohaisen-Baha-Mecca independent water transmission system (IWTS) projects.

    According to sources familiar with the plans, WTCO is considering establishing a special purpose vehicle that would take equity stakes in both schemes. This could further delay procurement for a project that has already seen multiple deadline extensions. Sharakat’s next wave of independent water projects (IWPs) is also in the pipeline. The first of these is not expected to be tendered until early 2027.

    According to regional project tracker MEED Projects, Saudi Arabia’s water infrastructure sector recorded $3.14bn-worth of awards in the first half of this year, substantially lower than the $7.58bn recorded during the same period in 2025.

    While activity has slowed, the longer-term outlook remains unchanged. Population growth and industrial expansion continue to drive demand for desalination, wastewater treatment and water transmission infrastructure. In the meantime, key stakeholders are looking for the next clear signal that the project pipeline is regaining momentum.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17510220/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Contractor wins Jeddah road expansion deal in Riyadh Administrator

    2 July 2026

     

    The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has awarded a contract for the Jeddah Road Development Project in Riyadh.

    Local construction firm Saudi Pan Kingdom (Sapac) won the contract.

    Spanning 29 kilometres, the scheme includes 14 bridges and five lanes.

    Designed to handle up to 353,000 vehicles a day, the road is expected to be completed by 2028, with mobilisation works already under way.

    The project forms part of the third package of the RCRC’s Riyadh Main and Ring Road Axes Development Programme, which was announced in January.

    The other schemes include:

    > Taif Road Development Project: The project stretches 15km and includes four bridges, each with four lanes. It also features two tunnels. It will have a capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles a day and will enhance connectivity between Riyadh’s southern and western districts and the city centre.

    > Thumamah Road Development Project: The eastern section of the project will span 8km and include three bridges and three tunnels, linking the northern and eastern parts of Riyadh. The project will have a daily capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles.

    > King Abdulaziz Road Development Project: The northern section of the project stretches 4.7km and will include four bridges, four lanes and one tunnel, with a capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles per day.

    > Othman Bin Affan Road Development Project: The northern section will span 4.3km and include seven bridges and other related upgrades to enhance traffic flow across northern Riyadh. The project will have a daily capacity of up to 500,000 vehicles.

    > Second phase of engineering enhancements for congested areas: This project targets eight locations across the city’s road network, where advanced engineering solutions will be applied to reduce congestion and improve intersection performance, increasing traffic capacity by 40% to 60%.

    The contract for the Jeddah Road Development Project is the latest of several high-profile deals awarded by the RCRC recently. In May, it awarded an estimated SR5bn ($1.3bn) contract to construct the Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah Road project in Riyadh.

    That contract went to a joint venture of Riyadh-based Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company (RTCC) and Turkiye’s IC Ictas.

    Stretching 12km, the project runs from Khurais Road to Al-Thumama Road and is a key component of the Second Eastern Ring Road scheme.

    Works include five interchanges: Prince Bandar, King Abdullah, Imam Abdullah, Dammam Road and Al-Thumama.

    In 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud said the population of Riyadh would double to 15-20 million people by 2030. 

    He directed government entities to work closely with the RCRC to prepare the city’s development strategy.

    The RCRC’s major projects include Riyadh Metro, Riyadh Art, Sports Boulevard, King Salman International Park, Green Riyadh and several road development projects in the capital.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17523376/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Dubai announces First Al-Khail road development project Administrator

    2 July 2026

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    Dubai’s Executive Council has announced the First Al-Khail Street Development project, which will run parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road.

    The scheme comprises a 15-kilometre elevated carriageway with three lanes in each direction.

    According to a Dubai Media Office statement, “The project will provide access to areas including Al-Barsha, Al-Quoz, Business Bay and Meydan.”

    “It is expected to serve more than 2.6 million people and reduce travel time on Sheikh Zayed Road by 51% during peak hours,” the statement added.

    Designed to accommodate more than 9,000 vehicles an hour, construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027, with completion targeted for 2030.

    The development forms part of a wider AED18bn ($5bn) programme covering initiatives related to culture, trade, infrastructure, Emiratisation, finance, investment, urban planning and the city’s population census.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17523587/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contractors submit Saudi Landbridge Riyadh section bids Administrator

    2 July 2026

     

    Contractors submitted proposals on 30 June for a design-and-build contract to construct the Riyadh Rail Link, a new north-to-south railway line across the capital.

    The scope includes a 35-kilometre double-track line connecting SAR’s North-South Railway to the Eastern Railway network.

    Issued on 29 January, the tender also covers the procurement, construction and installation of associated infrastructure, including viaducts, civil works, utility diversions/installations, signalling systems and other related works.

    Once delivered, the Riyadh Rail Link is expected to become a key component of the Saudi Landbridge railway.

    In January, SAR said it would deliver the Saudi Landbridge project through a “new mechanism” by 2034, after failing to reach an agreement with a Chinese consortium to construct it, as MEED reported.

    In an interview with local media, SAR CEO Bashar Bin Khalid Al-Malik said the consortium failed to meet local content requirements, and that the project would instead be delivered in several phases under a different procurement model.

    Negotiations have been under way between Saudi Arabia and China-backed investors interested in developing the scheme through a public-private partnership (PPP). Al-Malik put the project cost at about SR100bn ($26.6bn).

    Overall, it comprises more than 1,500km of new track. A core element is a 900km railway between Riyadh and Jeddah, providing the capital with direct freight access to King Abdullah Port on the Red Sea.

    Other key elements include upgrading the existing Riyadh-Dammam line, a bypass around the capital known as the Riyadh Link, and a connection between King Abdullah Port and Yanbu.

    The Saudi Landbridge is one of the kingdom’s most anticipated project programmes. First announced in 2004, it was put on hold in 2010 before being revived a year later. Rights-of-way issues, route alignment and the high cost have been among the main stumbling blocks.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17522174/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contractor appointed for Abu Dhabi Riviera residences Administrator

    1 July 2026

     

    Dubai-based real estate developer Mered has appointed Turkiye’s Sera Group as the main contractor for its Riviera Residences project on Al-Reem Island in Abu Dhabi.

    The development will comprise more than 400 one- to three-bedroom apartments and 11 villas.

    Lebanese engineering firm Dar Al-Handasah is the project consultant, while Switzerland’s Herzog & de Meuron is the architect.

    The enabling works are being carried out by local contractor NSCC International.

    Mered and Sera Group are also working together on the Iconic Tower project in Dubai Internet City, where the developer awarded the main contract in December 2024.

    The 67-storey tower is being built on a site covering about 6,368 square metres.

    Local firm Mirage is the project consultant, while Singapore-based Hirsch Bedner Associates is the project architect.

    Dubai-based Chawla Architectural & Consulting Engineers is the architect of record, and Omnium International is the quantity surveyor.

    The foundation works were carried out by local firm Dutch Foundations.

    Mered’s latest contract awards in the UAE market come amid heightened real estate and construction activity, with schemes worth more than $323bn at the execution or planning stages, according to UK-based analytics firm GlobalData.

    GlobalData forecasts that output from the UAE’s residential construction sector will grow by 3% in real terms in 2026-29, supported by infrastructure, energy and utilities developments, as well as residential construction projects.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17509888/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Aramco extends deadline for Ras Tanura refinery gas pipeline Administrator

    1 July 2026

     

    Saudi Aramco has granted contractors more time to prepare bids for a tender to replace a pipeline in the Gas Line Abqaiq–Ras Tanura (GART) transmission network.

    The GART grid transports associated gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) from the Abqaiq oil processing complex as feedstock, northwards to the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

    The aim of the project is to replace the GART-22 pipeline that connects the Juaymah export terminal on the Gulf coast in the Eastern Province to the Ras Tanura refinery, to ensure reliable fuel gas supply and meet ongoing demand.

    The basic scope of work for the project is to install a new 24-inch pipeline system to replace the GART-22 line and the abandoned GART-24 line. It will cover a distance of 18 kilometres between Juaymah and the Ras Tanura terminal.

    The scope also includes the installation of associated scraper trap facilities (launcher and receiver), pressure control valves, motor-operated valves and gas detection and sampling systems.

    Aramco issued the tender for the project in May, setting an initial deadline of 30 June for contractors to submit proposals, MEED previously reported.

    The Saudi energy giant has now extended that deadline until 10 July, according to sources.

    The following contractors, among others, are understood to be bidding for the project:

    • ACE Pipeline Arabia
    • Combined Group Contracting Company
    • Gas Arabian Services Company
    • Max Streicher Saudi Arabia
    • National Basics Company
    • Saad Ali Alessa Group
    • Sicim
    • Sinopec Engineering Group Saudi
    • Tecton Engineering & Construction
    Ras Tanura refinery complex

    The Ras Tanura refinery is the oldest, and one of the largest, crude oil refineries in Saudi Arabia. The complex has a refining capacity of 550,000 barrels a day (b/d).

    The facility also has a 305,000 b/d NGL processing facility, a 960,000 b/d crude stabilisation facility, combined steam and gas turbine electrical power generation plants with a summer capacity of 145MW and a winter capacity of 158MW, and a combined 150-pound and 600-pound steam capacity of 6,217 million pounds an hour.

    It has 75 crude oil and products storage tanks with a combined capacity of 5.8 million barrels.

    The Ras Tanura refinery’s major facilities include a 325,000 b/d crude distillation unit, a 225,000 b/d gas condensate distillation unit, a 50,000 b/d hydrocracker and 107,000 b/d of catalytic reforming capacity.

    The facility is Aramco’s only refinery to contain a Visbreaker processing unit, which has a 60,000 b/d capacity.

    The Visbreaker reduces the quantity of residual oil produced in the distillation of crude oil and increases the yield of more valuable middle distillates, heating oil and diesel.

    The refinery complex also produces 17,000 b/d of asphalt, more than any other refinery in Saudi Arabia.

    Ras Tanura receives crude feedstock from the Abqaiq, Safaniya and Manifa oil field developments.

    Crude is typically transferred to Ras Tanura through a pipeline and can also be supplied by ship.

    Most of Ras Tanura’s production is transferred to the Dhahran bulk plant for domestic use, while some products are exported from the nearby Ras Tanura shipping terminal.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17508681/main4014.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Siemens Energy to supply turbines for Oman IPP projects Administrator

    1 July 2026

    Germany’s Siemens Energy has announced it will supply power generation technology and long-term service agreements for the 2.6GW Misfah and Duqm independent power producer (IPP) projects in Oman.

    The scope includes the supply of six F-class gas turbines, six generators and 20-year long-term service agreements for the equipment.

    The combined-cycle gas-fired plants will add almost 20% to the sultanate’s electricity generation capacity. They are expected to provide electricity to more than two million people.

    Oman’s Nama Power & Water Procurement (Nama PWP) signed power-purchase agreements (PPAs) for the development and operation of the plants in January.

    The two combined-cycle gas turbine plants are being developed by a consortium comprising Korea Western Power (Kowepo), Qatar’s Nebras Power, the UAE’s Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE) and Oman’s Bhawan Infrastructure Services.

    The Misfah IPP will be led by Nebras Power and located in Wilayat Bousher in Muscat Governorate, with a planned capacity of 1,600MW.

    The Duqm IPP will be led by Kowepo and located in Wilayat Duqm in Al-Wusta Governorate, with a capacity of 800MW.

    In May, MEED exclusively reported that a consortium of China-headquartered Shandong Electric Power Construction No. 3 Company (Sepco 3) and South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility had been appointed as the main contractor.

    The gas turbines will have hydrogen co-firing capability, providing flexibility to increase hydrogen use over time, Siemens said in a statement.

    The turbines will be manufactured at Siemens Energy’s facility in Berlin. The generators will be produced at the company’s plant in Muelheim, Germany.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17506190/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Qiddiya awards estimated $1bn racecourse deal Administrator

    1 July 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi gigaproject developer Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has awarded an estimated SR4.3bn ($1.1bn) contract for the construction of a racecourse at Qiddiya entertainment city, on the outskirts of Riyadh.

    The contract was awarded to Taj Dhabi, a local subsidiary of UAE-based Trojan Construction.

    The racecourse venue will cover 1.3 million square metres and accommodate 70,000 spectators.

    QIC issued the tender for the construction works in December last year, but formally announced the project only on 10 February. Contractors submitted their bids on 15 February, MEED previously reported.

    According to a statement published on QIC’s website: “The venue will include the region’s first straight-mile turf course, alongside a 2.2 kilometre (km) main turf track and a 2.4km inner dirt track.

    “A 21,000-seat grandstand will anchor the venue, with the ability to expand capacity to up to 70,000 guests through event overlays during major race days,” the statement added.

    A centrepiece of the venue will be a 110-metre central parade ring, located in the middle of the racecourse.

    The project also includes an equine hospital that will provide advanced veterinary services, including diagnostics, surgery, rehabilitation and emergency care for horses.

    The Qiddiya City horse racing venue is one of several major projects within the greater Qiddiya development. Other projects include an e-games arena, the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, a motorsports track, a performing arts centre, the Dragon Ball and Six Flags theme parks, and Aquarabia.

    The project is a key part of Riyadh’s strategy to boost leisure tourism in the kingdom. According to GlobalData, leisure tourism in Saudi Arabia has experienced significant growth in recent years.

    GCC presses ahead with tourism projects

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17506035/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • NCP seeks firms for Saudi Arabia university hospital PPP Administrator

    1 July 2026

    Saudi Arabia’s Umm Al-Qura University, in collaboration with the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), has launched an expression of interest for the completion of the construction and operation of the Umm Al-Qura University Hospital in Mecca.

    Issued to contractors on 30 June, the notice has a submission deadline of 21 July.

    The scope includes completing the remaining construction works, as well as the subsequent operation of the hospital.

    Upon completion, the hospital will have a capacity of 391 beds.

    The project will be delivered as a public-private partnership (PPP) under a design, build, finance, operate and maintain model.

    The contract duration is 30 years.

    The project is the latest healthcare project to be procured on a PPP basis in the kingdom. In June, MEED reported that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and NCP had awarded a PPP contract for the operation and management of the Sabic Specialised Behavioural Healthcare Hospital in Riyadh.

    That contract was awarded to SEH Healthcare, a consortium comprising local firms Specialised Medical Company (SMC Healthcare) and Health Gates Complex, and Germany’s Dr Ebel Fachkliniken.

    In a filing with the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), SMC Healthcare said the total estimated project value is about SR3.8bn ($1bn).

    In January, Saudi Arabia launched a national privatisation strategy aimed at mobilising $64bn in private sector capital by 2030.

    Building on the privatisation programme first introduced in 2018, the strategy focuses on unlocking state-owned assets for private investment and privatising selected government services.

    In a statement, NCP said the strategy comprises 147 opportunities drawn from a broader pipeline of more than 500 projects across 18 sectors.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17506381/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal