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
  • Sobha announces new project launches in the UAE

    23 October 2025

    Dubai-based private real estate developer Sobha Realty has launched two new projects in the UAE. 

    The developer announced the launch of Sobha AquaCrest, its second residential development within the Downtown Umm Al-Quwain (UAQ) masterplan in the northern emirate of UAQ.

    The development comprises five residential towers, offering a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and duplexes.

    The project is slated for completion in 2029.

    Sobha is also planning to build a 450-metre-tall residential tower called Sobha SkyParks on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road.

    The tower will have 109 floors and will be the tallest development in Sobha Realty’s portfolio.

    The development will offer more than 684 residential units.

    Speaking exclusively with MEED, Ravi Menon, chairman of Sobha Group, outlined plans for delivering a project of this scale.

    “While it is indeed our tallest creation to date, we bring strong engineering experience to the table, with nearly 50 high-rise buildings in Dubai already completed or under development,” Menon said.

    The developer said it will leverage its experienced in-house team of engineers, designers and technical experts who have delivered some of Dubai’s most iconic high-rise projects, including ‘The S’, a 60-storey tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, along with several other towers over 75 storeys currently under construction in Sobha Hartland 2.

    “Sobha SkyParks represents a natural progression in our journey of demonstrating our in-house capabilities,” Menon added.

    Sobha will rely on its ‘Backward Integration’ model, which gives it complete control over design, engineering, delivery and post-delivery phases.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14932405/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Oman issues tender for mineral site exploration

    23 October 2025

    Oman’s Ministry of Energy & Minerals (MEM) has  for mineral exploration drilling services at a site in the South Al-Sharqiyah Governorate.

    The activities to be performed at the Khor Grama site involve drilling, dividing core samples into three parts, and then supplying and storing them in designated core boxes.

    The MEM will host a site visit for bidders on 2 November and has set the bid submission deadline for 27 November.

    Prior to this tender, the MEM launched a new mining concession round in the sultanate in early September, offering four blocks to investors.

    Local and international mining firms have until 31 March next year to submit their applications for the four concession areas, the MEM announced on its Taqa platform.

    ALSO READ: Oman secures over $500m from award of three mining blocks
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14932185/main5620.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Investment shapes UAE growth story

    23 October 2025

    Commentary
    John Bambridge
    Analysis editor

    The UAE is once again demonstrating that strategic investment remains the cornerstone of its national progress. Across the federation, elevated infrastructure spending aimed at economic diversification is knitting the emirates closer together, while reaffirming the country’s long-term growth trajectory.

    At the heart of this transformation is the UAE’s transport infrastructure spending, with a record $15.5bn in project awards in 2024 alone underscoring the country’s confidence in its future. From the delivery of high-speed rail to the upgrade of its existing highways, the UAE is prioritising internal transport and logistics as the key enabler of a sustainable, integrated economy.

    Adding to this wave of infrastructure development, investment in data centres and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure has emerged as the next frontier of its growth strategy. These investments signal the UAE’s ambition to become a regional powerhouse in AI-linked technology trends. This digital backbone will complement the UAE’s physical infrastructure by assuming centrality in driving the next generation of economic growth.

    The UAE’s ambitious infrastructure spending confidence is echoed in the nation’s economic performance, which continues to surpass expectations and is now projected to reach 4.8% GDP growth in 2025. Non-oil growth in sectors from manufacturing and logistics to tourism and technology is driving this expansion and reframing the UAE’s post-oil diversification strategy as no longer an aspiration, but a measurable success. By fostering innovation, emerging sectors and investor-friendly policies, the UAE is sustaining steady growth in a volatile global economy.

    In the energy sphere, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) continues to invest in upstream capacity that will ensure the country’s hydrocarbons receipts even amid transition towards renewables and industrial diversification. In the water sector, Dubai’s $22bn Strategic Sewerage Tunnels scheme is meanwhile set to both safeguard against future flooding events and underpin the city’s ongoing expansion.

    There are a few signs of strain, including in the construction sector, which has had to absorb successive record years of contract awards in 2023 and 2024. This has led to delivery pressures that could test supply chains and workforce capacity. The overheating of property prices as the market awaits the new units has meanwhile raised red flags over the potential for future correction.

    Yet such considerations do little to dim the UAE’s overarching narrative of foundational investment ensuring far-sighted prosperity. As the country invests in the systems that will sustain its future, it is not building mere infrastructure, but a path for confidence, opportunity and a durable legacy.

     

    MEED’s November 2025 report on the UAE includes:

    > GOVERNMENT: Public spending ties the UAE closer together
    > ECONOMY: UAE growth expansion beats expectations
    > BANKING: Stability is the watchword for UAE lenders
    > OIL & GAS: Adnoc strives to build long-term upstream potential
    > PETROCHEMICALS: Taziz fulfils Abu Dhabi’s chemical ambitions at pace
    > POWER: UAE power sector hits record $8.9bn in contracts
    > WATER: Tunnel projects set pace for UAE water sector
    > CONSTRUCTION: UAE construction faces delivery pressures
    > TRANSPORT: $70bn infrastructure schemes underpin UAE economic expansion

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14907116/main.gif
    John Bambridge
  • Saudi Arabia’s housing boom risks leaving citizens behind

    23 October 2025

    Saudi Arabia is in the middle of one of the biggest housing drives in its history. Across Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province, entire neighbourhoods are taking shape, funded by government initiatives and ambitious developers. 

    The ambition is clear: raise living standards, push homeownership towards Vision 2030’s 70% target, and showcase modern Saudi life.

    But here is the uncomfortable reality: homes are being built, yet many Saudis cannot afford them.

    No one doubts the appetite for housing. Saudi families have always valued owning a home, and with such a young population, the demand is only growing. But affordability is slipping away.

    According to Knight Frank, the number of families planning to buy fell sharply, from 40% in 2023 to 29% in 2024. Prices keep climbing: in Riyadh alone, apartment values rose almost 11% last year, while villas increased even more. Salaries, however, have hardly moved. The result is a widening gap between what people want and what they can realistically buy.

    Wrong market

    Much of today’s housing pipeline is designed for the top end. Villas and apartments that are priced at SR2-SR4m ($533,333-$1.07m) are now common, while surveys show that two-thirds of Saudi households can only afford about SR1.2m or less.

    Developers understandably chase higher margins, building bigger homes with luxury finishes. But this leaves out the very group the government most wants to support: young, middle-income families. Land costs make the situation worse. Speculative buying has pushed land far out of reach, and those costs inevitably pass down to buyers.

    Imported designs

    International developers have entered the market with big ideas and sleek designs. Yet too often, their projects look as though they are meant for global investors or expatriates, not for Saudi households. Tower blocks and gated compounds may look impressive, but they do not always reflect local family life, or income levels.

    Then there is infrastructure. Building communities is not just about homes, but also schools, hospitals, roads, utilities and parks. Those upfront costs are huge, and developers usually recoup them through higher sale prices. Once again, it is the local buyer who feels the squeeze.

    Financing difficulties

    Rising mortgage rates add another hurdle. With the Saudi central bank following US interest rate moves, borrowing has become more expensive. What might have been an affordable monthly payment two years ago is now out of reach for many young families.

    Tower blocks and gated compounds may look impressive, but they do not always reflect local family life, or income levels

    Saudi Arabia is opening its property market to foreign investors. That brings in capital and supports diversification. But if supply for citizens is not guaranteed first, the risk is clear: locals may be priced out of their own housing market.

    The government is aware of these issues. The Ministry of Housing is rolling out schemes, financing tools and regulations. But more is needed. Policies must:

    • Match new homes to actual income levels, not just investor targets
    • Curb speculation and make land more accessible
    • Expand subsidised mortgages for first-time buyers
    • Open the market to foreigners gradually, after domestic needs are met.
    Inclusivity goal

    Housing is one of the most visible promises of Vision 2030. It symbolises progress, modernisation and opportunity. But unless the current course is corrected, many of these new developments could end up as exclusive enclaves rather than inclusive communities.

    Saudi Arabia has the money, the demand and the ambition. The challenge now is to connect all three, so that the homes rising across its skylines are not just impressive projects, but real homes that reflect the aspirations of ordinary Saudis.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14914004/main.jpg
    MEED Editorial
  • Contractors submit Riyadh rail link prequalifications

    23 October 2025

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Contractors submitted their prequalification documents on 12 October for a contract covering the construction of a new railway line, known as the Riyadh Rail Link, which will run from the north to the south of Riyadh.

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

    The contract also covers the procurement, construction and installation of associated infrastructure such as viaducts, civil works, utility installations, signalling systems and other related works.

    The project is being developed by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR).

    In September, MEED reported that SAR had invited consultants to prequalify by 28 September for a contract covering design review and construction supervision for the Riyadh Rail Link project.

    The project is expected to form a key component of the Saudi Landbridge railway.

    The Saudi Landbridge is an estimated $7bn project comprising more than 1,500km of new track. Its core component is a 900km new railway between Riyadh and Jeddah, which will provide direct freight access to the capital from King Abdullah Port on the Red Sea.

    Other key sections include upgrades to the existing Riyadh-Dammam line and a link between King Abdullah Port and Yanbu.

    The start of tendering activity for the Riyadh Rail Link project makes the construction of the Saudi Landbridge more likely. 

    The project is one of the kingdom’s most anticipated infrastructure programmes. Plans to develop it were first announced in 2004, but the project was put on hold in 2010 before being revived a year later.

    Key stumbling blocks were rights-of-way issues, route alignment and its high cost.

    In December 2023, MEED reported that a team of US-based Hill International, Italy’s Italferr and Spain’s Sener had been awarded the contract to provide project management services for the programme.

    If it proceeds, the Landbridge will be one of the largest railway projects ever undertaken in the Middle East – and among the biggest globally.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14930731/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal