Real Estate Qatar’s real-estate buyers wait on lower interest rates Consumer expectations that interest rates will continue decreasing in the coming months appear to have dented Qatar’s residential real-estate market growth in the third quarter of this year. Mortgage transactions fell 10 percent in Qatar from July to September over the previous three months, and 8.5 percent over the same period last year, according to […] November 28, 2024
Real Estate Egypt and Qatar to explore ‘major’ real-estate project Egypt will collaborate with Qatar on a “major real estate project” in the North Coast region, prime minister Mostafa Madbouly said. The Gulf country has sought investment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sectors, local media reported, citing the prime minister, who met his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Egypt. No other […] November 28, 2024
Analysis Giga-projects Rise in major US law firms setting up in Saudi Arabia Attracted by the host of complex and potentially lucrative legal issues raised by Saudi Arabia’s development push, several of the largest law firms in the US are formally setting up shop in the kingdom, either directly or through mergers and acquisitions. Among those making the leap is Atlanta-based company King & Spalding. A spokesperson confirmed […] November 28, 2024
Analysis Real Estate Why Saudi real estate stocks are less popular than you might think Most developers are unlisted Land ownership is fragmented Dubai-style compounds not popular Saudi Arabia has rising property prices, soaring homeownership rates and steady mortgage approvals – so you might think its real estate sector w... Register now: It’s easy and free This content is available for registered members only. Register for your free account today […] November 27, 2024
Economy Saudi Arabia forecasts 2025 fiscal deficit of $27bn Saudi Arabia has approved its 2025 state budget, which estimates total revenues at SAR1.18 trillion ($314 billion) and expenditures at SAR1.28 trillion – resulting in a fiscal deficit of SAR101 billion ($26.9 billion). The finance ministry said this would represent 2.3 percent of gross domestic product, which is lower than the 3 percent of GDP […] November 27, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Infrastructure Riyadh Metro aims to break Saudi capital’s car gridlock World's longest driverless system City's traffic problems growing Just 1% use public transport The first phase of Saudi Arabia’s $22.5 billion Riyadh Metro is opening on December 1, marking a significant step toward transforming public ... November 27, 2024
Construction Qatar awards $2.8bn contract for Doha desalination plant Qatar Electricity and Water Authority (Kahramaa) has awarded Samsung C&T Construction Group a $2.84 billion contract to build a combined-cycle power plant in Doha. The gas-fired power plant, Facility E, will produce up to 2,400 megawatts of electricity and 500,000 tons of desalinated water per day. When completed in 2029, the plant will account for […] November 26, 2024
Renewable Energy Poland’s Hynfra to build green ammonia plant in Egypt Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones is linking up with Polish energy company Hynfra to build a green ammonia plant. The facility will produce ammonia for export from Egypt to the European Union, the GAFI and Hynfra said in a joint statement. It will require an investment of $1.6 billion in its first […] November 26, 2024
Opinion Infrastructure Africa’s port assets are irresistible for the UAE The privatisation of maritime infrastructure is often controversial in Africa November 25, 2024
Real Estate Bahrain’s GFH buys $300m US student housing assets GFH Partners, the DIFC-based asset management arm of Bahrain-based GFH Financial Group, has acquired student housing in the United States valued at $300 million. The assets have been added to GFH Partners’ US student housing platform, which now has more than 5,500 beds and assets under management worth $900 million. The assets are 99 percent […] November 25, 2024
Real Estate ANAX Developments to add $1bn to Dubai’s real estate sector Dubai’s ANAX Developments plans to build more than 2,000 homes in Dubai and contribute $1 billion to the emirate’s real estate market in a pipeline of new projects. This includes developments in Al Furjan, Meydan and Dubai Islands. Apartments at Evora Residences in Dubai’s Al Furjan neighbourhood are scheduled for completion by the third quarter […] November 25, 2024 In association with
Transport Saudi railway network to reach 8,000km, says minister Saudi Arabia will look to expand its railway network by around 45 percent in the coming years, the transport minister told a conference in Riyadh. “The kingdom is set to experience unprecedented growth in its rail network, expanding to over 8,000km in the coming years,” Saleh Al Jasser, minister of transport and Saudi Arabia Railways […] November 22, 2024
Real Estate Turks drawn to overseas property investments Turkish property investors are increasingly looking further afield as they seek real-estate opportunities. High interest rates and cooling returns on assets at home make the domestic market less appealing both to Turks and foreigners. While Turkey remains a property investment destination, with a net positive balance of capital movement, inflows are tapering off just as […] November 22, 2024
Infrastructure Public-private tenders worth $1bn on offer in Egypt Eleven tenders worth more than $1.2 billion for public-private partnerships (PPPs), mainly involving water and waste water treatment, are about to be issued by the Egyptian government. Atter Hannoura, director of the PPP Central Unit at the Egyptian finance ministry, said that the total value of PPP agreements to be tendered is about EGP62 billion […] November 22, 2024
Construction Former Drake & Scull CEO returns to lead growth plans Construction engineering company Drake & Scull International (DSI) has reappointed a former CEO to lead it. The company said it is entering “a new chapter of growth and development” following its debt restructuring earlier this year. Muin Al Saleh, who was CEO between 2017 and 2019, returns to the Dubai contractor in the same position. […] November 21, 2024
Construction US charges billionaire Gautam Adani in $265m bribery case US prosecutors have indicted Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and seven others, including his nephew Sagar Adani, in connection with an alleged $265 million bribery scheme tied to India’s largest solar power project. Adani has extensive business interests in the Arabian Gulf. The indictment, unsealed in New York on Wednesday, accuses the Adanis and Vneet Jaain, […] November 21, 2024
Construction Private money leading charge in Saudi construction industry Private sector participation in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry is powering investment in the sector, according to a senior economist. Overall gross fixed capital formation – a measure of investment in an economy’s infrastructure, schools and other physical assets, as well as related tools and machinery – is up 3 percent year on year in the […] November 21, 2024
Giga-projects Saudi’s Diriyah adds cultural districts to $63bn plan Diriyah Company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has started construction on multi-billion dollar educational and arts districts in the $63.2 billion giga-project. Spanning an area of 14 sq km, the “world’s biggest urban development projects” will house the Qurain Cultural District and Northern District. The Qurain Cultural District will include a range of arts, […] November 21, 2024
Giga-projects Saudi Arabia’s big bet on ‘immersive cities’ Kingdom's plans for cities enhanced with virtual reality could be a blueprint for others to follow November 20, 2024
Opinion Development Trump must focus on rebuilding a war-torn Middle East It is imperative that the US addresses reconstruction in the region November 20, 2024
Construction Bahrain to tender for ‘airport city’ in early 2025 Bahrain will issue tenders early next year to build a new “airport city” based around the existing Bahrain International Airport. The project will include commercial and residential development, according to Mohamed Yousif AlBinfalah, CEO of Bahrain Airport Company. “We have a significant amount of space that will be coming to the market soon for development,” […] November 19, 2024
Oil & Gas Oman’s OQGN to expand network as demand grows State-owned OQ Gas Networks (OQGN), the pipeline subsidiary of Oman energy major OQ, is enhancing its gas network capacity as part of a major infrastructure expansion strategy. A new 193km loop line from Fahud to Sohar, described as “one of the largest ever”, will be constructed to address rising energy needs in the Suhar and […] November 18, 2024