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• 
  Contractors prepare bids for Petro Rabigh bottom-of-the-barrel project

  30 October 2026

  

   

  Contractors are preparing proposals for Saudi Arabia’s Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh) for a major project to increase output and improve the efficiency of its integrated refining and petrochemicals complex in Rabigh, on the kingdom’s Red Sea coast.

  Petro Rabigh’s downstream complex, which is majority-owned by Saudi Aramco, includes a topping refinery with a 340,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) crude-distillation unit, a 47,000 b/d hydrotreater, a 12 million-cubic-feet-a-day hydrogen plant, a 75,000 b/d naphtha Merox unit and a 60,000 b/d kerosene Merox unit. The complex also includes supporting utilities, product tankage and a marine terminal.

  The main objective of the bottom-of-the-barrel project is to convert low-value, high-sulphur fuel oil and heavy-residue streams – which account for about 20% to 22% of refinery output – into higher-value, cleaner products, including diesel and lighter distillates.

  Petro Rabigh aims to achieve residue-conversion capacity of about 64,000 to 75,000 b/d by adding integrated fuel-oil upgrading and diesel-treatment units.

  The company issued the main tender for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works earlier this year. Contractors have until 19 November to submit proposals, sources told MEED.

  The following companies are understood to be among those bidding for the project:

  • CTCI Corporation (Taiwan)
  • JGC Corporation (Japan)
  • Larsen & Toubro (India) / Technip Energies (France)
  • Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain)

  The overall scope of work on the project covers the construction of the following units:

  • A light-naphtha isomerisation unit
  • A deasphalting and dewaxing unit
  • An ebullated-bed processing unit
  • A sulphur block, comprising sulphur-recovery, acid-gas-removal, sour-water-stripping and sulphur-forming units
  • Sales-gas allocation facilities and associated pipeline works
  • Utilities outside battery limits
  • Auxiliary piping modifications
  • Utility and hydrocarbon tie-ins

  Petro Rabigh appointed Australia-headquartered Worley last year to carry out front-end engineering and design (feed) work for the bottom-of-the-barrel project.

  MEED also reported that Petro Rabigh appointed Worley to provide engineering and project-management consultancy (PMC) services for the project in the first quarter of this year.

  Under the contract, Worley will carry out engineering studies and PMC functions. It will also support the development of cost estimates, project-specific execution procedures and technical procedures in line with Saudi Aramco guidelines. The work covers both the design-basis scoping-paper stage and the subsequent feed stage.

  Petro Rabigh will draw on Worley’s expertise in design, procurement and processing technologies, including light-naphtha isomerisation; vacuum-residue processing through deasphalting and dewaxing; an ebullated-bed configuration integrated with the diesel-hydrotreating section; and unconverted-oil hydrotreatment.

  Worley recently confirmed its contract award from Petro Rabigh, saying it will deliver engineering, project management, procurement support and related consultancy services for projects across its client’s portfolio.

  The scope includes developing design-basis documents, conducting technical evaluations, preparing cost estimates, supporting feed tender packages and providing detailed engineering and execution-phase support as projects advance through development and delivery.

  The services will support the evaluation and development of potential new facilities and infrastructure across the complex, including process units, utilities, sulphur recovery facilities and associated infrastructure.

  “The work will help Petro Rabigh advance future projects aimed at enhancing the long-term value and performance of its refining and petrochemicals operations,” Worley said in a statement on 28 October.

  Separately, Petro Rabigh awarded US-based KBR a 10-year maintenance contract in February to support its polymer plants in Rabigh.

  KBR’s Technology Led Industrial Solutions business line will execute the operations and maintenance contract, sources told MEED. The business operates within the Houston-headquartered company’s Technology Solutions portfolio.

  In March 2024, Petro Rabigh also awarded KBR a similar five-year asset-condition-monitoring contract. Under that programme, KBR is providing predictive-maintenance services at Petro Rabigh’s main plant.

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  Indrajit Sen
• 
  Oman announces $790m industrial investment deals

  30 October 2026

  Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones has signed 28 investment agreements worth more than RO304m ($790m) for new projects and expansions across the country’s special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities.

  The agreements cover more than 2 million square metres (sq m) of land and span industrial manufacturing, food production, logistics, recycling and commercial activities.

  About $383.6m of the investment has been allocated to industrial cities operated by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn). Sohar Free Zone accounted for $152m, followed by the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad) with $143.1m, Salalah Free Zone with $85.6m and Khazaen Economic City with more than $27m.

  The projects are expected to support Oman’s efforts to diversify its economy, expand industrial production and attract private investment in line with Oman Vision 2040.

  Investment deals

  In Sohar Industrial City, Atlas Steel will invest more than $291.1m in a plant producing iron and steel products on a site of about 440,000 sq m.

  Fujian Mancheng Industries & Investment will invest $52m in a ceramics facility covering more than 241,000 sq m. Other investments in Madayn’s industrial cities include an $18.2m phosphate and nitrogen fertiliser plant planned by Gulf Company for Organic and Biological Fertilisers in Raysut, as well as projects involving structural metal products, paper and corrugated cardboard, and oil and gas equipment and services in Raysut, Ibri and Nizwa.

  In Sohar Free Zone, Sohar Automotive & Advanced Industries Company will invest $98.8m in an automobile assembly complex covering 317,000 sq m. The complex aims to attract vehicle manufacturers, automotive supply-chain companies and advanced-manufacturing businesses.

  Voltamp High Voltage Transformers has announced a $39m investment in a plant that will produce power and electrical-distribution transformers for regional and international markets.

  Lalan Middle East will invest a further $3.9m to expand its medical-device manufacturing facility.

  ALSO READ: Oman’s Madayn prepares $637m investment drive

  In Sezad, Al-Jazir Feed Plant will invest $104m in a shrimp-feed facility to support an integrated shrimp-farming project.

  In Salalah Free Zone, Al-Nawras Industries will invest $50m in a steel-structures manufacturing facility, while Integrated Gypsum Company will invest $20m in gypsum-products production. Marai Dhofar will invest $15.6m in the production of Italian cheeses and other dairy products.

  Projects in Khazaen Economic City include a plant by Aleemit International Services to manufacture electric-vehicle chargers and components, with an investment of more than $8.8m, and a $6.5m facility by Joger Modular Building Technologies to produce precast-concrete building components.

  Additional investments in Khazaen include construction materials, ready-mix concrete, industrial units, logistics facilities and warehouses.

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  Indrajit Sen
• 
  Sabic swings back to profit in Q3 with $224m net income

  30 October 2026

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  Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) returned to profitability in the third quarter of the year, reporting adjusted net income of SR840m ($224m) as revenue and earnings improved from the previous quarter.

  The Saudi chemicals giant had posted an adjusted net loss of $100m in the second quarter.

  Revenue increased 14% on a quarter-on-quarter basis to $7.51bn, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) climbed 40% to $1.27bn. Adjusted Ebitda surged 434% to $578.67m.

  Sabic’s net debt stood at $808m as of 30 September compared with $728m as of 30 June.

  Adjusted earnings per share rose to SR0.28 ($0.07) from a loss of SR0.13 ($0.03).

  The recovery occurred despite persistent margin pressure across the global petrochemicals sector and heightened geopolitical risk in the Middle East.

  Additionally, Sabic said it achieved $949.33m of its broader portfolio optimisation programme target of $3bn by 2030 in positive recurring Ebitda impact from its transformation efforts.

  During the third quarter, Sabic received its Local Content Certificate for 2025 from the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, recording a score exceeding 61% – an increase of more than nine percentage points over the prior evaluation period. The company attributed the increase to domestic procurement agreements, including a memorandum of understanding with Lenovo.

  Capital projects

  After several years of subdued project spending, Sabic is beginning to step up investment in new production capacity, with major projects reaching key milestones this year.

  In February, affiliate Petrokemya awarded China National Chemical Engineering Group Corporation the main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a new ethylene oxide catalyst production facility. The 4,000-tonne-a-year (t/y) unit at Jubail Industrial City includes catalyst carrier washing, drying facilities and associated utilities.

  Major ammonia-urea complex

  In September, Sabic Agri-Nutrients awarded South Korea’s Samsung E&A a $3.465bn EPC contract for its seventh production complex in Jubail Industrial City (San VII).

  The project will have an annual capacity of approximately 1.2 million metric tonnes of conventional ammonia and 2.6 million tonnes of urea, integrated with a post-combustion carbon-capture unit.

  The Ministry of Energy approved feedstock allocation for the project in March. San VII will expand the company’s total urea capacity by 54%, from approximately 4.8 million t/y to 7.4 million t/y.

  The development reflects a shift in project scope. Originally conceived as San VI – a low-carbon facility designed to yield 1.2 million t/y of blue ammonia alongside specialised nutrients – the scheme was re-engineered as a conventional ammonia and urea plant using carbon-capture systems to manage emissions intensity.

  Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Commissioning is slated for the third quarter of 2030, with full commercial operation targeted before year-end 2030.

  Sabic Agri-Nutrients positions the project as central to its 2040 strategy to expand export market share and support international supply chains.

  Greenfield methanol plant

  San VII is not the only major project moving forward.

  Also in September, Sabic subsidiary Saudi Methanol Company (Ar-Razi) secured feedstock approval from the Ministry of Energy to build a 1.8 million t/y greenfield methanol plant in Jubail.

  The project aligns with Sabic’s focus on scale in core petrochemical chains and provides intermediate feedstock for expanding domestic downstream manufacturing.

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  Indrajit Sen
• 
  Saudi Arabia’s NWC awards package 12 of sewage scheme

  30 October 2026

  

   

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  Local contractor Al-Yamama has won the contract for package 12 of Saudi Arabia’s long-term operations and maintenance (LTOM) sewage treatment programme, sources close to the project have confirmed to MEED.

  It is understood that the contractor offered a levelised tariff of SR0.98 a cubic metre for the project.

  The state-owned National Water Company (NWC) is delivering the sewage treatment plant rehabilitation programme in two phases, including up to 19 packages.

  Known as the North Western B Cluster, LTOM12 was tendered last year, and bids were submitted in November 2025.

  Under the original scope, the contract covers the construction and upgrade of seven sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of about 162,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d).

  In February, MEED exclusively reported that five bidders were awaiting a decision on the award.

  These included:

  • Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies (Saudi Arabia)
  • Civil Works Company (Saudi Arabia)
  • Miahona (Saudi Arabia)
  • Beijing Enterprises Water Group – BEWG (Hong Kong)
  • Al-Yamama (Saudi Arabia)

  According to a source, NWC opened financial bids for the tender in April.

  The contract represents Al-Yamama’s first award under the LTOM programme. However, the contractor has previously worked with NWC on several water infrastructure projects and is continuing construction works on a treatment plant expansion project in Al-Khobar in the Eastern Province.

  Packages 10 and 11

  On 2 September, NWC announced the formal signing of a $347m contract with a Saudi-Chinese consortium for Northern Cluster Sewage Treatment Plants Package 10 (LTOM10). 

  LTOM10 was the first contract awarded under the second phase of NWC’s sewage treatment plant rehabilitation programme.

  The 15-year contract was signed with a tariff of SR0.69 ($0.18) a cubic metre.

  MEED exclusively reported in January that the consortium had won the contract, which has a combined treatment design capacity of more than 337,000 cm/d and covers plants across the Hail, Qassim, Al-Jouf and Northern Borders provinces. 

  The same consortium led by United Water (China) is also expected to formally sign a contract for LTOM11 in the coming months.

  NWC previously awarded $2.7bn-worth of contracts for the first phase of its LTOM programme. This comprises nine packages covering the treatment of 4.6 million cm/d of sewage water for the next 15 years.

  Under tender

  Two remaining packages in the LTOM programme are currently out for tender. As previously reported by MEED, bidders are preparing to submit offers for package 14, covering the upgrade of six existing sewage treatment plants (STPs), including a capacity expansion of 30,000 cm/d at the Al-Jarodia STP.

  Known as the Eastern A Cluster (LTOM14), the project will increase total treatment capacity from about 263,000 cm/d to approximately 293,000 cm/d, with an estimated cost of $180m. NWC tendered the package in April, and the latest bid submission deadline is 30 November.

  In the longer term, bids for package 16 of the LTOM programme are due by 3 May 2027. NWC tendered the contract earlier this month, as MEED reported exclusively.

  Under the original scope, the project is expected to cover the rehabilitation and upgrade of 14 STPs with a total design capacity of 153,000 cm/d.

  According to a source, bidders must first submit a letter of intent by 22 February 2027.

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  Mark Dowdall
• 
  H&H continues to deliver Dubai projects

  29 October 2026

  

   

  Dubai-based developer H&H has launched Water Gardens, a mixed-use development in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and expects to award most of the construction contracts for its wider pipeline before summer 2027.

  Water Gardens comprises four buildings designed by UK architect David Chipperfield, arranged around a central garden and pedestrian-friendly public realm. The scheme combines offices, residences, hospitality and retail offerings, including the Four Seasons Private Residences Dubai at DIFC and residences under H&H’s Eden House brand.

  Construction is under way, and the developer says the project is scheduled for completion in 2028. DIFC Investments describes it as one of the final components of the original Gate District masterplan.

  Speaking to MEED at the launch, H&H chairman Shahab Lutfi said the office building and Eden House are due for completion in about 18 months. The Four Seasons residences are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2028, with a five-star hotel following later.

  Water Gardens is one of several projects H&H has under way. The company undertakes a selective portfolio of high-end real estate developments in prime locations in Dubai. These include the Carlyle Residences in DIFC; an Eden Hills villa community in Mohammed Bin Rashid City; and Dubai Peninsula, a waterfront scheme in the Jumeirah area that will include hotels operated by Aman and Rosewood.

  “We are awarding day in, day out,” says Lutfi. “I think we are awarding most of our contracts from now until summer next year.”

  Most of the company’s construction volume is in DIFC and Dubai Peninsula, with the Eden Hills villas accounting for a smaller share. Lutfi says H&H is talking to several of the emirate’s biggest contractors about upcoming packages.

  We are awarding [contracts] day in, day out

  Staged procurement

  H&H is managing cost pressures by splitting up its procurement. It awards main contracts covering concrete works with a large number of provisional sums, then tenders further packages as designs are completed. “We are taking on some of the risk, but we know how to manage the risk instead of just offloading it on the contract,” says Lutfi.

  He does not expect construction costs to fall in the next 12 months. Global inflation, driven by fuel prices and logistics costs, is already factored into the company’s plans. 

  “Waiting and trying to award at a cheaper price is not an option for us,” he says.

  Lutfi says rising costs need not erode margins for developers that keep unsold stock to sell at higher prices later in a project. Developers that sell out early are more exposed. “If you have already sold out two years ago, you are hurting your profitability,” he says.

  H&H is comfortable leaving 15%-20% of a project to sell on completion. The market usually expects developers to sell out before handover. 

  The company has not revised its masterplans or product mix in response to market conditions and continues to focus on large units.

  Supply chains have been a challenge this year, but Lutfi says the company is over that hurdle. H&H has sourced more materials locally and planned logistics further in advance. 

  Materials are reaching Dubai through bonded routes from Oman, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan in the UAE, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. 

  “It takes a little bit longer, but at least things are coming in,” he says.

  H&H relies on a relatively small group of contractors that work on most of its projects, and treats them as long-term partners. 

  Lutfi says contractors are attracted by the company’s financial stability and volume of work. “That can keep some people busy for the next five or six years,” he says.

  Lutfi notes that sales in the Dubai market have dropped, although enquiries have picked up since the summer as buyers weigh whether it is the right time to purchase. The distressed sales that some had expected have not materialised.

  “A 5% discount in some units is not really a distress sale,” he says. “It is just someone trying to get a discount because of the region’s situation, which actually builds confidence.”

  For Water Gardens, H&H has sold 85% of Four Seasons Private Residences Dubai at DIFC since sales began in 2024. The company launched sales at the Carlyle Residences before the regional disruption and has since sold units one-to-one to selected clients. More Four Seasons units have been sold in the past two weeks. 

  “Branding makes a big difference,” says Lutfi.

  The company markets its branded residences through a global network of brokers rather than via public campaigns or launch events. Eden Hills, which is aimed mainly at Dubai residents, is marketed more widely.

  Lutfi expects buyers to be more cautious about buying off-plan. H&H is building new sales centres at Dubai Peninsula and in DIFC so that clients can see the product before they commit. 

  “People have to come in, know exactly what they are buying, and they will feel comfortable paying the price – instead of just having a pretty brochure,” he says.

  He expects demand for villas to become more local and regional, while branded residences will continue to attract international buyers. 

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  Colin Foreman