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Despite the global credit crunch and a suggested economic slowdown in the Gulf, latest analyses show there are still more than 250 major civil construction projects worth some US $120 billion (AED440 billion) in the region up for grabs.
As the most important five days for the construction sector in the Middle East approaches, the Big 5 organisers have said the show is now a sell- out with industry exhibitors.
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“The exhibitors are coming in record numbers to promote themselves in a region continuing to grow and develop,” said Paula Al Chami, exhibition director for DMG World Media, which organises the exhibition.
The Big 5 is the largest show for the industry in the Gulf and one of the world’s largest trade shows for the construction industry and associated suppliers. The 2007 show featured more than 2830 exhibiting companies from 53 countries.
“We are already well over 3000 exhibiting companies for the 2008 show and we are looking at more than 50,000 visitors,” said Al Chami.
Analysis carried out by The Big 5 research partner Proleads has identified more than 250 major civil construction projects across the GCC countries, which have gone beyond initial planning and are in the bidding phase for consultants, contractors and suppliers.
They range in value from $12 million to $13.6 billion with 135 of them in the UAE and 60 in Saudi Arabia.
The top 10 projects in bidding alone are valued at $64.3 billion, headed by the building of new cities in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia .
| Top 10 GCC CIVIL construction projects currently in bidding |
| 1. Al-Zorah Development, UAE– $13.6 billion. This Solidere -Aqaar project is a 10km2 development in Ajman, UAE, including residential buildings, commercial office district, a marina, a golf course, hotels, hospitals and schools. |
| 2. Al Wasl Development, Saudi Arabia – $12.5 billion. Planned by the UAE’s Limitless north of Riyadh to include more than 55,000 homes, 300 hectares of open space, one million m2 of office space; three large mosques, seven shopping centres, schools, a university, a hospital and a sports stadium. |
| 3. King Abdullah Financial Centre, Saudi Arabia – $7.8 billion. Owned by the Public Pension Agency of Saudi Arabia, it is an integrated financial complex in north Riyadh. The centre aims to be the largest financial complex in the Middle East. |
| 4. Saudi Landbridge Project – $7 billion. Composed of two main railway lines – Riyadh-Jeddah and Dammam-Jubail – primarily for container traffic to and from Jeddah on the Red Sea to Dammam on the Arabian Gulf, the line will carry up to 40 double stack container trains a day and will also carry passengers between Jeddah and Riyadh. |
| 5. Makkah-Madinah Railway, Saudi Arabia – $6 billion. A high speed rail network linking the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with up to 100 trains a day carrying around 2.5 million pilgrims during the Hajj and 9.5 million Umrah visitors during the year. |
| 6. Arabian Canal, Dubai Waterfront, UAE – $5 billion. The canal will flow from the Dubai Waterfront in Jebel Ali and pass to the east of the Dubai World Central airport development before turning back towards Palm Jumeirah. |
| 7. Dubai Pearl Development, UAE – $4 billion. Comprising four 68-storey mixed use towers, connected by a podium and a bridge, the development will include residential, hotel, commercial and retail space and a 1500-seat performing arts theatre. |
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8. International Humanitarian City, UAE – $3 billion. Within the Dubai World Central airport development scheme, the project will comprise 28 warehouses, seven office buildings and a United Nations building. |
| 9. The World, UAE – $3 billion. The World involves 300 islands offshore from Dubai. All islands will only be accessible by marine or air transport, with marinas to berth boats, yachts and cruise liners. Two mainland marinas will service the islands. |
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10. King Saud University Women’s College, Saudi Arabia – $2.4 billion. A new women’s college at King Saud University in Riyadh to include 12 buildings. The development will cover an area of some one million m2. |
“These statistics underline that there is still a lot of activity planned in civil construction in the coming years, which is being reflected in the growth of the show,” said Simon Mellor, vice- president, construction for DMG World Media.
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