Construction Dubai launches $30m project to upgrade historic creek Dubai Municipality is undertaking a project to rebuild and rehabilitate parts of the historic Dubai Creek with a total investment of AED112 million ($30.5 million). The project aims to improve the creek’s retaining walls by upgrading the dock, reconstructing sections that have been damaged and dilapidated over the past 50 years and preventing potential flooding […] February 26, 2024
Construction ADQ to invest $35bn in Egypt’s ‘new city’ project UAE’s ADQ has unveiled plans to invest $35 billion to build the “largest new city” in Egypt to promote tourism and drive economic growth. The Abu Dhabi state-owned company will acquire the development rights for Ras El-Hekma for $24 billion to develop the region as a Mediterranean holiday destination, including a free zone, state-run WAM […] February 25, 2024
Construction Dubai Science Park reveals expansion plans Dubai’s biotechnology free zone is adding 60 percent more offices, laboratories and warehouses over the next few years to cater for an influx of new companies, its senior vice-president told AGBI. Dubai Science Park, part of Dubai-listed Tecom Group, is planning an expansion of 200,000 sq ft of additional storage and logistics facilities at the […] February 23, 2024
Transport Saudi Arabia loans $55m for Tunisian rail renewal Saudi Arabia has signed a $55 million loan deal with Tunisia to finance the renewal of the North African country’s rail network. The railway is used to transport phosphate, a sector that makes up around 4 percent of Tunisia’s GDP and 15 percent of the country’s exports. Tunisia plans to produce eight million tonnes by […] February 23, 2024
Construction Omani contractor signs tower deal for billion-dollar project Omani conglomerate Tawoos Group has signed a deal to build two mixed-use towers within the sultanate’s billion-dollar Al Khuwair Downtown Project. The project in the Muscat governorate has raised $1.3 billion in investments, according to a report from the Oman Observer, and covers an area of 3.6 million square metres. Tawoos Group will be responsible […] February 23, 2024
Construction PIF explores buying stake in Saudi Binladin Group Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is planning to acquire a stake in Saudi Binladin Group, one of the biggest construction groups in the kingdom, a media report said. The sovereign wealth fund is working with US investment bank Morgan Stanley on a potential deal, Bloomberg reported, citing people aware of the matter. The $700 […] February 23, 2024
Real Estate UAE developer to build $2bn project in Egypt’s New Cairo Egypt’s New Urban Communities Authority and the UAE’s UDC Real Estate Development Company have signed a contract to develop an EGP60 billion ($1.9 billion) urban development project in New Cairo. Named The Crest, the development in the Hadayek Al-Andalus area will be built on a plot spanning 665,000 sq m. It will comprise residential, commercial […] February 22, 2024
Giga-projects Neom announces ‘ultra-modern’ wellness resort Saudi Arabia’s mega-city Neom has announced plans for another wellness resort on the Gulf of Aqaba. The new site, Elanan, will be a wellness resort with architecture that uses “ultra-modern design techniques to form intricate sculptures that merge with the surrounding natural beauty,” Neom said on its website. The website shows images of a futuristic-looking […] February 22, 2024
Real Estate Bahrain and UAE sign $4bn real estate deal A UAE property investment and development company has signed a $4 billion deal to develop real estate across Bahrain. Abu Dhabi’s Eagle Hills International has finalised a joint cooperation agreement to set up Binaa Al-Bahrain, with a focus on residential, commercial and entertainment projects across the kingdom. The new company will work with Edamah, the […] February 22, 2024
Infrastructure Iraq seeks investors for rail projects in Baghdad and beyond Iraq is seeking investors for two major rail projects including a seven-line metro system to serve Baghdad’s growing population. The National Investment Commission (NIC) has issued International Investment Opportunity documents for Baghdad metro and phase one of a 90km four-station railway linking Najaf International Airport with Karbala city centre. Investors have until April 11 to […] February 22, 2024
Construction Nakheel’s 3D concrete printing project seen as catalyst Dubai’s first licence for 3D concrete printing in a building project is a catalyst for the technology to become the norm in the construction sector by the end of the decade, experts believe. The licence was issued in December by Dubai’s planning and development department, Trakees, the regulatory body of the Ports, Customs and Free […] February 21, 2024
Real Estate Lottoland founder bets on Dubai’s ultra-luxury property market The founder of a global lottery gambling platform has bet $136 million on the launch of his latest venture, an ultra-luxury property development company initially focused on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah. David von Rosen, who set up Lottoland in 2013, said he has now invested heavily in 25 Degrees, named after Dubai’s latitude, alongside a Dubai-based […] February 19, 2024
Logistics Expansion of Jeddah Islamic Port complete The Saudi ports authority said this week it had completed a SAR1 billion ($270 million) expansion of Jeddah Islamic Port as tensions in the Red Sea continue. The project to deepen and expand the northern container terminal in Jeddah, to be operated by the Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) company, more than doubles capacity from 700,000 […] February 16, 2024
Giga-projects Neom opens for business in US with New York office Saudi Arabian giga-project Neom has opened an office in New York in a move designed to attract investment from the US for its green industries. Neom said in a statement on February 6 that the Manhattan office would facilitate its business across the US, citing “industries, corporations, and investors” who could help in the development […] February 16, 2024
Real Estate UP to invest $1bn in real estate projects as profits rise Union Properties (UP), a previously troubled Dubai real estate developer, has said it plans to spend AED5 billion ($1 billion) on new projects, after its financial results rebounded last year. Net profit for 2023 increased by 2,600 percent year on year to hit AED811 million, according to a bourse filing on Thursday. UP, best known […] February 16, 2024
Analysis Infrastructure Digital economy central to UAE-Greece partnership The UAE’s Ministry of Investment and Greece’s Ministry of Digital Governance have signed an agreement to create a framework for investments in digital infrastructure. The UAE government is keen to invest in data centres and become a technological leader in south-east Europe. Data centres to be developed under the deal will reach a total capacity […] February 15, 2024
Finance Union Properties issues final notice to former chairman Dubai developer Union Properties has issued a final notice to former chairman Khalifa Al Hammadi, his family members and another unnamed person. It accuses them of defaulting on a multi-million dollar settlement agreement. The settlement deal was announced at the company’s annual general meeting last year and involved payments totalling AED620 million ($163 million). Under […] February 14, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Real Estate Trump still has ‘big pull’ for $2m branded villas in Oman Donald Trump may be facing criminal investigations in the US, but the 45th president’s brand continues to wield substantial influence in the Gulf. Last week there were more than 100 expressions of interest in a launch of 20 Trump-branded villas in Oman, within 24 hours, according to the project’s developer. “Trump as a brand still […] February 14, 2024
Trade Hundreds of companies consider Saudi Arabia A survey of 660 companies described as high-growth and from more than 50 countries around the world found more than two thirds were considering expanding into Saudi Arabia. Of the 450 across 37 sectors looking to move into the kingdom, half of them plan on doing so within the next six months. Ease of doing […] February 14, 2024
Giga-projects Neom announces exclusive beach club Xaynor Saudi Arabia’s mega-city Neom has launched its latest development – Xaynor, an exclusive private beach club on the Gulf of Aqaba for “the most fascinating people in the world”. Xaynor will be a “discreet destination where club members can unwind on the Gulf of Aqaba’s beautiful unspoiled coastline”, Neom said in an announcement. Neom has […] February 13, 2024
Construction Empower’s profit falls 5% despite record revenue Empower, Dubai’s, and the world’s, largest district cooling company, reported a net profit of AED960 million ($261.37 million) for 2023, down five percent from AED1 billion in 2022. Revenue was at a record high of AED3 billion, rising 8.7 percent year on year, the company said in a statement to the Dubai bourse on Monday. […] February 13, 2024
Markets Investcorp lines up diverse strategies for east and west Multibillion-dollar asset manager Investcorp Capital is planning listing activity from its companies in the east in the next six months, but sees more profit in mergers and acquisitions in the west. The Bahrain-based company, which was listed on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange in November, on Monday reported income of $34 million for the first […] February 12, 2024
