meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Contractors vie for schemes worth $270bn

21 December 2023

Following one of the best years for project contract awards in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region in a decade, 2024 has a lot to live up to if it is to generate a similar amount of project activity. 

By mid-December, the value of contract awards in 2023 had exceeded $230bn and was just $10bn shy of the $240bn-worth of regional contract awards let in 2014 – the best year on record to date. It was also on track to exceed that record year, with $36bn of projects in bid evaluation and expected for award by year’s end.

Nevertheless, 2024 has the potential to be an even better year for the Mena projects markets than 2023, with more than $270bn-worth of projects in the bidding phase and either overdue, due for award in the final weeks of 2023 – at the mid-December mark – or set for award at some point during 2024.

On top of this significant value of projects in the bidding stage, the region also has an estimated $250bn-worth of work in the design phase, with project trajectories that could quite reasonably see the schemes proceed through the prequalification, tendering and main contract award phases within the next 12 months.

Of the $270bn of value in the bidding stage, $126bn is in bid evaluation, with the main contract imminently due for award. A further $67bn is at the bid submission stage and $77bn is at the prequalification stage.

Imminent awards

Among the projects that are in the bidding phase and due for award in 2024 are six projects worth $4bn or more – all of which are in the GCC, with three in the UAE and one in each of Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. They include three oil and gas projects, two power plants and one transport scheme.

The largest project contract in both the bidding phase, and specifically bid evaluation, is the estimated $7bn scheme for the development of surface facilities as part of the UZ1000 expansion programme by the offshore arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Offshore) at the UAE’s Upper Zakum oil field. 

Bids for the project have been submitted by the UK’s Petrofac, the local Target Engineering Construction Company and Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas.

The next largest project in the bidding phase is the $6bn first package of the Duwaiheen nuclear power plant project, which entails the construction of two 2,800MW nuclear reactors on behalf of the Saudi special purpose vehicle Duwaiheen Nuclear Energy Company. Expected bidders include France’s EDF, China National Nuclear Corporation, Korea Electric Power Corporation and Russia’s Rosatom.

The third largest scheme, and one that is at the prequalification stage, is the estimated $4.8bn Blue Line for the Dubai Metro, tendered by the Roads & Transport Authority after the project was greenlit in November 2023. Expressions of interest for the 12-station line are being sought from three consortiums.

Close behind this is the $4.5bn Ruwais liquefied natural gas terminal, which is being tendered by Adnoc Gas Processing, and for which more than half a dozen companies have submitted bids.

In Kuwait, the $4bn combined phases two and three of Al-Zour North independent water and power project are being tendered by the Ministry of Electricity & Water via the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects. Five bidders have submitted prequalification documents for the scheme. 

Pending in Qatar, there is the $4bn phase two, scope D of works on the North Field production sustainability project, for which submissions to QatarEnergy LNG are due by the end of December.

Top markets

The country with the highest value of project work in the bidding phase – and more than double that of the next most active projects market – is Saudi Arabia, which alone has schemes worth $107bn. This includes $46.5bn-worth of work in bid evaluation, $34.3bn in bid submission and $26.4bn at the prequalification stage.

The work in Saudi Arabia is concentrated in the hands of several large clients, led by Saudi Aramco, which has $22bn-worth of work under bid, and Neom, which has $19bn of associated projects under bid. 

There is a further $8.6bn-worth of work associated with the four other official gigaprojects: Diriyah Gate, Qiddiya, the Red Sea Project and Roshn. There is also $7.7bn-worth of work in the bidding phase as part of the Saudi Power Procurement Company’s renewable energy programme.

The projects market with the second-largest value of imminently pending work is the UAE, with $51.5bn-worth of work under bid, including schemes worth about $30bn in bid evaluation. This work is led by the oil and gas sector, with $22.6bn of work being tendered by Adnoc Group. 

Elsewhere in the GCC, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar have, respectively, $19.8bn, $17.9bn and $15.7bn of projects under bid. Overall, the GCC markets account for $216bn or 80 per cent of the $270bn total of work under bid, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE alone accounting for $159bn-worth of work, or 59 per cent of the total.

Close behind these markets is Algeria, which has $15.3bn-worth of schemes in the bidding phase, alongside lesser values in Egypt and Iraq, at $10.7bn and $7.7bn, respectively. There is then a further $24bn-worth of work under bid spread across the other countries in the Mena region.

Strongest sector

Segregated by industry, of the $270bn-worth of work in the bidding stage, there are: projects in the construction and transport sector worth a combined $97.7bn; schemes worth $97.6bn in the power, water and utilities sector; and programmes worth $74.8bn in energy industry.

This breaks down further into $53.1bn of transport projects, $44.6bn of construction projects, $59.7bn of power projects, $37.8bn of water projects, $32.9bn of gas projects, $29.2bn of oil projects, and $12.6bn of chemicals and other industrial schemes.

Top clients

The top 10 project clients in the region by value of projects currently in the bid stage account for $103bn or 38 per cent of the $270bn of total project value under bid. Out of this group of regional heavyweight project owners, five are Saudi entities: Saudi Aramco, Neom, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), Duwaiheen Nuclear Energy Company (DNEC) and Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).

The top project client outside of Saudi Arabia is the UAE’s Adnoc, which comes second only to Saudi Aramco in terms of the value of projects in the bidding stage. Adnoc is accompanied in its representation of the UAE in the ranking by Dubai’s Road & Transport Authority (RTA). 

The list is then rounded out by Algeria’s Sonelgaz and two Kuwaiti entities: Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (Kapp) and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Both Saudi Aramco and Adnoc have more than $20bn-worth of projects under bid, followed closely by Neom, which has $17.6bn-worth of projects across its constituent masterplans, led by Oxagon, Trojena and The Line. 

The three Saudi utilities sector clients, SPPC, DNEC and SEC, then have $7.3bn, $6.5bn and $6.3bn under bid, respectively. Sonelgaz is close behind, with $6.2bn under bid, followed by Kapp, the RTA and KOC, with $6bn, $5.4bn and $4.9bn, respectively, under bid.

The line-up reflects the broader pattern of a strong concentration of project activity in the Mena region within the GCC, and especially within Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as the pre-eminent GCC projects markets. 

 Top pending projects in 2024 (to be published on 27 Dec 2023)

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11381712/main.gif
John Bambridge

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • SLB passes evaluation for Kuwait upstream project

    12 December 2025

    The US-based oilfield services company SLB, formerly Schlumberger, has passed the technical bid evaluation for a major project to develop Kuwait’s Mutriba oil field.

    The Houston-headquartered company was the only bidder to pass the technical evaluation for the Mutriba integrated project management (IPM) contract.

    The minimum passing technical evaluation score was 75%.

    The full list of bidders was:

    • SLB (US): 97%
    • Halliburton (US): 72%
    • Weatherford (US): 61.5%

    The decision was finalised at a meeting of the Higher Purchase Committee (HPC) of state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) on 20 November 2025.

    According to a document published earlier this year by KOC, the IPM tender for the Mutriba field aims to “accelerate production through a comprehensive study that includes economic feasibility evaluation, well planning and long-term sustainability strategies”.

    The field was originally discovered in 2009.

    Commercial production from the Mutriba field started earlier this year, on 15 June, after several wells were connected to production facilities.

    The field is located in a relatively undeveloped area in northwest Kuwait and spans more than 230 square kilometres.

    The oil at the Mutriba field has unusually high hydrogen sulfide content, which can be as much as 40%.

    This presents operational challenges requiring specialised technologies and safety measures.

    In order to start producing oil at the field, KOC deployed multiphase pumps to increase hydrocarbon pressure and enable transportation to the nearest Jurassic production facilities in north Kuwait.

    The company also built long-distance pipelines stretching 50 to 70 kilometres, using high-grade corrosion-resistant materials engineered to withstand the high hydrogen sulfide levels and ensure long-term reliability.

    KOC also commissioned the Mutriba long-term testing facility in northwest Kuwait, with a nameplate capacity of around 5,000 barrels of oil a day (b/d) and 5 million standard cubic feet of gas a day (mmscf/d).

    Once this facility was commissioned, production stabilised at 5,000 b/d and 7 mmscf/d.

    In documents published earlier this year, KOC said that starting production from the field had “laid a solid foundation” for the IPM contract by generating essential reservoir and surface data that will guide future development.

    Future output from the field is expected to range between 80,000 and 120,000 b/d, in addition to approximately 150 mmscf/d of gas.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15235579/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Dana Gas makes onshore discovery in Egypt

    12 December 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    UAE-based Dana Gas has made an onshore gas discovery in Egypt’s Nile Delta area, according to a statement from the company.

    The discovery was made by the drilling of the North El-Basant 1 exploratory well, and initial well results indicate estimated reserves of 15-25 billion cubic feet of gas.

    Production from the reserve is expected to exceed 8 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) once the well is connected to the national network.

    The North El-Basant 1 exploratory well was the fourth well in a campaign of 11 development and exploration wells.

    The campaign is being executed as part of the company’s $100m investment programme to support domestic gas production, increase reserves and meet growing energy demand.

    Earlier this year, Dana Gas completed the drilling of three wells, adding 10 million cf/d.

    The programme is expected to increase long-term production and add approximately 80 billion cubic feet of recoverable gas reserves, according to Dana Gas.

    Dana Gas expects to start drilling the fifth well in the programme, the Daffodil exploration well, in the first week of January 2026.

    Richard Hall, the chief executive of Dana Gas, said: “The latest drilling success reinforces the value of our investment programme in Egypt and highlights the significant remaining potential within the Nile Delta.”

    He added: “By increasing local gas production, the programme will help reduce Egypt’s reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel oil and is expected to generate more than $1bn in savings for the national economy over time.”

    Previously, Dana Gas signed an agreement with state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGas) to secure additional acreage under improved fiscal terms, and to accelerate drilling activity.

    Hall said: “We appreciate the strong cooperation from EGas and the ministry, and we remain committed to delivering the majority of our planned programme next year.

    “Regular and timely payments from our partners are crucial to sustaining our investment programme in Egypt."

    In November, a new gas discovery was made in Egypt’s Western Desert region by Khalda Petroleum Company, a joint venture of state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and US-headquartered Apache Corporation.

    Egypt also started gas production from the West Burullus field in the Mediterranean Sea, after connecting the first wells to the national gas grid.

    The country is currently pushing to increase gas production in order to meet domestic demand and reduce its import bill.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15235552/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • SAR to tender new phosphate rail track section in January

    12 December 2025

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR) is expected to float another multibillion-riyal tender to double the tracks on the existing phosphate railway network connecting the Waad Al-Shamal mines to Ras Al-Khair in the Eastern Province.

    MEED understands that the new tender – covering the second section of the track-doubling works, spanning more than 150 kilometres (km) – will be issued in January.

    The new tender follows SAR’s issuance of the tender for the project's first phase in November, which spans about 100km from the AZ1/Nariyah Yard to Ras Al-Khair.

    The scope includes track doubling, alignment modifications, new utility bridges, culvert widening and hydrological structures, as well as the conversion of the AZ1 siding into a mainline track.

    The scope also covers support for signalling and telecommunications systems.

    The tender notice was issued in late November, with a bid submission deadline of 20 January 2026.

    Switzerland-based engineering firm ARX is the project consultant.

    MEED understands that these two packages are the first of four that SAR is expected to tender for the phosphate railway line.

    The other packages expected to be tendered shortly include the depot and the systems package.

    In 2023, MEED reported that SAR was planning two projects to increase its freight capacity, including an estimated SR4.2bn ($1.1bn) project to install a second track along the North Train Freight Line and construct three new freight yards.

    Formerly known as the North-South Railway, the North Train is a 1,550km-long freight line running from the phosphate and bauxite mines in the far north of the kingdom to the Al-Baithah junction. There, it diverges into a line southward to Riyadh and a second line running east to downstream fertiliser production and alumina refining facilities at Ras Al-Khair on the Gulf coast.

    Adding a second track and the freight yards will significantly increase the network’s cargo-carrying capacity and facilitate increased industrial production. Project implementation is expected to take four years.

    State-owned SAR is also considering increasing the localisation of railway materials and equipment, including the construction of a cement sleeper manufacturing facility.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15229624/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Dar Global to develop $4.2bn Oman mixed-use project

    10 December 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia-headquartered real estate developer Dar Global has announced that it will develop a mixed-use project in Muscat at an estimated investment of RO1.6bn ($4.2bn).

    Dar Global will co-develop the Muscat Marine, Art & Digital District project with Oman's Art District Real Estate Development Company.

    The project will cover an area of over 1.5 million square metres (sq m) and will be developed in several phases over 12 years.

    The development will comprise a mix of residential communities, cultural venues, marinas, retail spaces, finance and business parks and hotels.

    Dar Global, a subsidiary of Dar Al-Arkan, was one of the first Saudi brands to list on the London Stock Exchange.

    Dar Al-Arkan established Dar Global in 2017 to focus on developing projects in the Middle East and Europe, including in Dubai, Qatar, Oman, London and the Costa del Sol in southern Spain.

    Dar Global has $12bn-worth of projects under development in six countries: the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UK and Spain.

    It completed three developments – the Urban Oasis and Da Vinci towers in Dubai and the Sidra gated community in Bosnia – in 2023.

    The company collaborates with global brands including Missoni, W Hotels, Versace, Elie Saab, Automobili Pagani and Automobili Lamborghini.

    In Oman, Dar Global is also developing the Aida project. In May, it awarded a contract to develop the villas and apartments as part of the project.

    According to an official statement, the construction works are expected to start immediately and the project is slated for completion in 2026.

    The main contract was awarded to local firm Al-Adrak Trading & Contracting.

    The latest announcement follows the awarding of contracts in June last year for the development of the first phase of the Aida project.

    The Aida project is being developed as a joint venture with Omran Group and the first phase is expected to be completed in 2027.

    UK analytics firm GlobalData forecasts that the Omani construction industry will expand at an annual average growth rate of 4.2% in 2025-28. Growth in the country will be supported by rising government investments in renewable energy, the transport infrastructure and the housing sector, all as part of Oman's Vision 2040 strategy.

    Growth during the forecast period will also be supported by increasing hospitality sector investments, with the government planning to invest RO11.9bn ($31bn) in tourism development projects by 2040 and supporting the construction of several hospitality projects.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15222694/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contract award nears for Saudi Defence Ministry headquarters

    10 December 2025

     

    Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry (MoD) is preparing to award the contract to build a new headquarters building, as part of its P-563 programme in Riyadh.

    MEED understands that bid evaluation has reached advanced stages and the contract award is imminent.

    The MoD issued the tender in April. The commercial bids were submitted in September, as MEED reported.

    Located to the northwest of Riyadh, the P-563 programme includes the development of facilities and infrastructure to support the MoD’s broader initiatives under the kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy.

    It covers the construction of:

    • A new military city featuring the MoD headquarters, support and logistics facilities, a residential and commercial community and space for future command centres
    • A National Defence University with a library, conference centre and academic buildings
    • A self-sustaining Joint Forces Command compound located approximately 50 kilometres from the military city

    The budget for the entire programme is expected to be $10bn-$12bn.

    In September 2023, MEED reported that Spain-headquartered Typsa had won two contracts for the project.

    The first contract, worth $11.4m, included data management, geographic information systems management, geotechnical reporting and the preparation of the phase one final traffic report. The contract duration was 270 days from the notice to proceed.

    The second contract, valued at $10.8m, involved preparing four conceptual masterplans for the P-563 site. It was set to last 255 days from the notice to proceed.

    These followed a $290m consultancy contract awarded to Typsa in March of the same year. The single-award task order covered a three-year base period, with an optional two-year extension.

    Typsa’s scope of work included programme management planning, communications, change and quality management and cost and schedule tracking.

    It also included design requirements, codes, standards and submission requirements, programme guidance, study integration, risk analysis and management, design reviews and a programme-of-work breakdown plan.

    READ THE DECEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Prospects widen as Middle East rail projects are delivered; India’s L&T storms up MEED’s EPC contractor ranking; Manama balances growth with fiscal challenges

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the December 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > BAHRAIN MARKET FOCUS: Manama pursues reform amid strain
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15222401/main.gif
    Yasir Iqbal