
GCC Mega Projects
With over $1tn worth of mega construction projects in the GCC, either planned or under construction, the region is not short of construction activities and potential opportunities for the near future. There has been a slowdown of new mega projects being announced since 2019 due to fall in oil prices and the corona virus pandemic. However, the mega projects announced in the last few years present a wide array of opportunities to the industry participants especially in the Buildings, Manufacturing and Infrastructure sectors. These massive developments will create significantly advanced tourist attractions, residential and mixed-use areas, sports and entertainment venues, educational, financial and healthcare facilities. Utility projects remain a priority for the region. Even with lower Oil prices, Oil and Gas sector is still attractive with many projects in FEED Stage and EPC Bidding Stage and more fields being developed. We saw new projects announced since beginning of 2021 – Masaar in Sharjah,UAE; Future City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Furjan Wadi Lusail in Qatar to name a few.
The below is a list of 24 Mega Projects handpicked by Ventures ONSITE which will keep the construction industry in the GCC region active in the near future. The projects are either in the pre-execution stage with construction expected to commence later this year or in the early construction stages.

Neom Business City, Saudi Arabia
The project calls for the construction of a 26,500 square kilometers new industrial development called Neom stretching across the borders of northwest Saudi Arabia into Jordan and Egypt.
The city will include nine specialized investment sectors - energy and water, mobility, biotech, food, technological and digital sciences, advanced manufacturing, media, and entertainment. Robots may outnumber humans in a new pioneering city billed by Saudi Arabia as "a new blueprint for sustainable life", which would be entirely powered by renewable energy, and served by driverless vehicles and vertical farms.
The project calls for the construction of a 26,500 square kilometers new industrial development called Neom stretching across the borders of northwest Saudi Arabia into Jordan and Egypt. The city will include nine specialized investment sectors - energy and water, mobility, biotech, food, technological and digital sciences, advanced manufacturing, media, and entertainment. Robots may outnumber humans in a new pioneering city billed by Saudi Arabia as "a new blueprint for sustainable life", which would be entirely powered by renewable energy, and served by driverless vehicles and vertical farms.
Project Brief : Project Manager
Consultants Involved include : AECOM, WSP
Contractors Involved include : Al Tamimi Group, Solar Water PLC, Red Sea International Company, Saudi Arabian Trading & Construction Co. Ltd. (SATCO), Saudi Arabian Baytur, Saudi Pan Kingdom - SAPAC Fraih M. Al Harbi Sons Trading & Contracting Co. Mofarreh M. Al-Harbi Est. for Contracting
Client : Public Investment Fund (PIF)
Project Value : US$500 Bn
Status : Under Construction

North Field Expansion Project (North Field East Project & North Field South Project), Qatar
The facility will produce an additional 32 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG, which will raise Qatar’s production from 77 to 110 mtpa, an increase of around 43 percent from its current production capacity in the first phase of the project called North Field East Project. North Field East Project Onshore Facilities work is split in to 4 Packages.
The onshore facilities will receive over 4.6 billion standard cubic feet per day of feed gas from the southern sector of Qatar’s North Field. The processing of the feed gas will produce approximately 4,000 tons/day of ethane as feedstock, 260,000 barrels / day of condensate, 11,000 tons/day of LPG, and approximately 20 tons per day of helium.
The offshore facilities will be integrated with the four new 7.8 MTPA mega LNG–trains in Ras Laffan Industrial City. First LNG production is expected in 2025.
FEED Consultants Involved include : Chiyoda Corporation, McDermott International
EPC Contractors Involved include : Chiyoda Corporation, McDermott International, Technip, Samsung C&T Corporation
Client : Qatar Petroleum / Qatar Gas
Project Value : US$40 Bn
Status : Under Construction

KA-Care - Alternative Energy Projects - Nuclear Plants, Saudi Arabia
Project Brief : The project calls for the supply and installation of the first fleet of 16 nuclear reactors producing 17.6 GW combined nuclear power
at the City of Nuclear and Renewable Energy Research which will be located in Riyadh.
Developer Involved : China Nuclear Engineering Corporation (CNEC)
Client : King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-care)
Project Value : US$32 Bn
Status : Tender for Construction

Redevelopment of Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, UAE
The project involves construction of a mixed-use development located in a 150-acre site on the Mina Zayed pier overlooking the Arabian
Gulf with views of the Corniche and Abu Dhabi's skyline at Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed (Port Zayed) area. The development will comprise of hotels, residential districts, commercial and retail areas. The old port and surrounding area is set for redevelopment to transform the area into a new tourist, commercial and residential destination. A new fish market has been designed and the plant souk and fruit and vegetable markets will also be a major part of the redevelopment.
Consultants Involved include : Broadway Malyan, Dar Al Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), AEDAS, Ramboll, WSP
Contractors Involved include : Amana Contracting & Steel Buildings Company
Client : Modon Properties, ADQ (Abu Dhabi Investment Holding), Aldar Properties
Project Value : US$15 Bn
Status : Under Construction

Hail and Ghasha Sour Gas Development in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Project calls for the development of Hail & Ghasha sour gas fields in Abu Dhabi. The Hail Sour gas project aims at producing 1 billion cf/d in sour gas.
The project is one of the largest sour gas fields as well as the largest upstream project that ADNOC is developing. It is expected to produce about 1 billion cu ft of sour gas per day. The infrastructure requirements for the Hail and Ghasha Project include a minimum of 11 offshore artificial islands to be designed and constructed.
FEED Consultants Involved include : Bechtel, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Amec Foster Wheeler, Engineering Consultants Group S.A. (ECGSA), Sogreah (Artelia Group)
Project Manager : Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR)
EPC Contractors Involved include : Al Jaber Energy Services, Abu Dhabi, National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC)
Client : Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
Project Value : US$15 Bn
Status : Under Construction

The Red Sea Project, Saudi Arabia
The project calls for the construction of a mega resort located between the cities of Amlaj and Wajh, Tabouk Province. The project will cover 50 islands and 34,000 square kilometers. The first phase will include hotels and luxury residential units,
as well as all logistical infrastructures and sea transport hubs.
The project includes attractions like protected coral reefs, dormant volcanoes, and a nature reserve inhabited by rare wildlife like Arabian leopards and falcons, tours to the ancient ruins of Madain Saleh, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and activities such as parachuting, trekking and rock climbing
Consultants Involved include : Foster + Partners, Buro Happold, Mott MacDonald, Killa Design, Kengo Juma (Japan), Turner & Townsend, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG),
Contractors Involved include : Archirodon Construction Company, Nesma & Partners Contracting Company, Mofarreh M. Al-Harbi Est. for Contracting, Almabani General Contractors, Al Bawani Company Ltd
Client : The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC)
Project Value : US$10 Bn
Status : Under Construction

Amaala - the Riviera of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia
The project is the new luxury destination located in Tabouk Province, Saudi Arabia. The project will cover an area of more than 3,800 sq. km. and will target more than 2,500,
hotel keys and 800 residential villas, 200 retail establishments, and sports facilities.
Financed by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the project is part of a strategy to reduce the Saudi economy’s dependence on oil revenue, and aims to promote international tourism. The project will be a leading coastal destination, located on a number of Virgin Islands in the Red Sea.
Consultants Involved include : Foster + Partners, Egis International, Denniston International, HKS Architects
Project Manager : Parsons Corporation
Contractors Involved include : Beijing Emirates International Construction Co. (BEC), HASCO (Hasan Al-Harbi Corp.), Al Saad General Contracting Ltd., Saudi Real Estate Infrastructure Company (BINYAH)
Client : Saudi Amaala Company
Project Value : US$6 Bn
Status : Construction

Renewable Energy Program - Round 2, Saudi Arabia
Project calls for the construction of 11 Solar power plants at various locations in Saudi Arabia under round 2 of renewable energy scheme. Saudi government intends to deploy 40 GW of solar power as part of an
overall 58.7 GW renewable energy by 2030. Current locations include Alfaisalia ( 600MW) , Rabigh (300MW), Jeddah (300MW), Alras (300MW) , Saad (300MW), Qurrayat (200 MW & 40MW), Wadi Adwawser (70 MW), Madinah (50 MW), Rafha (20 MW) and Mahad Dahab (20 MW).
Consultants Involved include : Fichtner Consulting Engineers, DLA Piper
Developers / Contractors Involved include : Marubeni Corporation, Al Jomaih Energy and Water Company, Larsen & Toubro, Electricite de France (EDF), Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company), Nesma Holding Co. Ltd., Acwa Power, Saudi Arabia, Gulf Investment Corporation, Al Babtain Group.
Client : Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO)
Project Value : US$6 Bn
Status : Construction

Jafurah Gas Plant, Saudi Arabia
Project Brief: Project calls for the construction of Jafurah Unconventional Gas Field Development Program. Scope include Gas Processing Plant, Gas Compression Plant, Sulphur Utilities & Interconnecting Facility
Pipelines & well tie-ins, Co-generation Steam & Power Plant & temporary facilities.
FEED Consultants Involved: Wood Group
EPC Contractors Involved include: Sinohydro Corporation, Kalpataru Bin Omairah Company Limited
Client : udi AramcoSa
Project Value : US$6 Bn
Status : Construction

Qiddiya City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The project calls for the construction of an entertainment city located in Qiddiya, Riyadh Province. The project will include entertainment area, new theme park Six Flags, sport city, and large safari area.
The project will cover an area of 334 square kilometers and will be implemented in three phases: the first phase will include the construction of the entertainment city, the second phase will include 4000 residential units, the third phase - the growth of the city - includes the construction of 11,000 residential units.
Consultants Involved include : Parsons Corporation, Dar Al Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Atkins Global
Contractors Involved include : Freyssinet Limited, Haif Company (Haif Trading & Contracting Establishment), Abdul Ali Al Ajmi Company Ltd, Dubox Precast Products Industrial LLC (An Amana Group Co), Shibh Al Jazira Contracting Company (Shibh al-Jazira Establishment), Samsung C&T Corporation, Saudi Pan Kingdom – SAPAC.
Client : Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC)
Project Value : US$5 Bn
Status : Construction

Borouge 4 Complex in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Project Brief:Borouge 4 complex in Abu Dhabi will include downstream derivative units for both polyolefin and non-polyolefin products. The project is expected to increase the current petrochemical production
to almost 10 million tonnes per year. Primary products will be ethylene, propylene, butadiene, MTBE, 1-Butene, Pygas,1-Hexene
and benzene from the new mixed-feed cracker and its derivative units. Ethylene and propylene will be converted into polyethylene and polypropylene products.
FEED Consultants Involved: Maire Tecnimont
Project Manager: Worley Parson
Client : Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge), Borealis A/S
Project Value : US$4.5 Bn
Status : Tender for Construction

The Avenues Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The project calls for the construction of a shopping mall, one 5-star and one 4 star hotels with 500 rooms, two residential towers with 1050 units and medical tower with 240 clinics.The development will be
located at the intersection between King Fahd Road and King Salman Road in Al Malqa district across an area of 390,000 sq.m.
The project will have a total built up area of 1400000 sq.m, and will have a parking area of 402,000 sq.m. for 18000 cars.
The project will have the following districts - Prestige, Grand Avenue, The Souk, The Mall, Electra, Oasis, and Grand Plaza
Consultants Involved include : Atkins Global, Meinhardt, KEO International, Al Zaid Engineering Consultants, Pan Arab Consulting Engineers (PACE), Callison RTKL, Henning Larsen Architects (Henning Larsen Tegnestue), Saudi Arabia, Faithful & Gould
Contractors Involved: Nesma & Partners Contracting Company
Client: Shomoul Holding Company
Project Value : US$3467 Mn
Status : Construction

Facility E - IWPP, Qatar
"Facility E” calls for the construction of Combined Cycle power plant, desalination plant, water transmission networks, substations, transformers and switchgear. The scheme will have a capacity of
approximately 2,600 MW and a desalination capacity of 100 - 130 million gallons a day (g/d) of water and could be executed as one project or separately as a power project and a desalination plant.
FEED Consultants Involved: PwC, Clyde & Co, Energo
Client : Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa)
Project Value : US$3000 Mn
Status : Tender for Construction

Masaar in Sharjah, UAE
The project calls for the construction of a master planned community in Juwaiza, Sharjah. The 1,760 million square meter project is located near Tilal City and Nasma Residences development.
There will be 4,000 villas and townhouses set in 8 gated districts. The districts are linked by a landscaped "green spine." Over 50,000 trees will be planted in the green spine, incorporated with footpaths and a sporting facilities. There will be an international school and nursery in the masterplan. Masaar’s community center will comprise of an anchor supermarket, shops, cafes and restaurants.
Consultants Involved : Arcadia Engineering, Sharjah (a part of KBW Investments)
Client:Arada Development (A part of KBW Investments)
Project Value : US$2200 Mn
Status : Design

Jubail Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE
The project calls for the construction of a mixed use development located in the coastal area between Yas Island & Saadiyat Island with a total area of 32 million square meters - 9 million
sqm north of Shk. Khalifa Highway & 23 million sq.m on the south.
The mixed use project will have 6 distinct zones & interconnected villages including residential, commercial, F&B, retail, Hotel & serviced apartments & community areas, schools, clinic, mosques & a marina and Bed’a Al Jubail.
Consultants Involved : Parsons Corporation, DLR Group, Ramon Esteve Studio, EHAF Consulting Engineers, Louis Berger Engineering Consultant, Broadway Malyan
Project Manager : LEAD Development
Contractors Involved : Gulf Contractors Co. (GCC), National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC)
Client : Jubail Island Investment Company (JIIC)
Project Value : US$1736 Mn
Status : Construction

Jurassic Production Facility - JPF4 and JPF5, Kuwait
The project calls for the construction of two Jurassic Production Facilities - JPF4 and JPF5 with a capacity of 160 million cubic feet and 50,000 barrels per day of light crude
production from each facility.
Client:Kuwait Oil Company (KOC)
Project Value : US$1500 Mn
Status : Tender for Construction

2000 MW (2GW) Solar Photovoltaic IPP at Al Dhafra, UAE
The project calls for the construction of a 2000 MW (2GW) green field photovoltaic power generation plant and related infrastructure works on a flat land in Al Dhafra region, about 50 kilometers
east from the city of Abu Dhabi. This will be the second solar power plant in Dhafra, Abu Dhabi.
Project scope includes Installation of PV modules, Construction of control rooms and associated facilities.
Developers / Contractors Involved include : Jinko Solar, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), China, Electricite de France (EDF), Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company), Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA).
Client : Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC)
Project Value : US$1500 Mn
Status : Construction

Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront Project, Oman
The project calls for the development of a mixed use community called Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront project. The development will include business and residential zones, a destination mall, six hotels (including three, four and five-star), recreation amenities, tourist
attractions, as well as docking facilities for cruise liners and yachts. The overall built-up area of the project is 45000 sqm. The project will be developed in four phases.
Consultants Involved : Dar SSH International Engineering Consultant (SSH International Consultants), Harper Downie, 23 Degrees North
Client: Omran Office
Project Value : US$1300 Mn
Status : : Design

The Bahrain Metro Project - Phase 1, Bahrain
Phase 1 featuring 2 lines will consist of 28.6 km of LRT and tram network covering 20 stations and 2 Interchanges. The Red Line connecting
Bahrain International Airport with the suburban Seef District through the Bahrain Financial Harbour, while the Blue Line would start from the Juffair suburb and go through the Diplomatic Area before ending at Isa Town. Both lines would meet at a central station at the Bahrain Financial Harbour. The driverless trains are expected to carry a total of 43000 passengers every hour. Connected to buses and taxi services, it is aimed in reducing the kingdom's traffic congestion and air pollution.
Consultants Involved : IDOM Consulting, KPMG
Client : Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning
Project Value : US$1200 Mn
Status : Design

Belbazem Oil Field Development in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Project calls for the development of the Belbazem offshore Oil Field located up to 50km from Zirku Island and 120km northwest of Abu Dhabi.
The block consists of three oil-bearing structures namely, Belbazem, Umm Al Salsal, and Umm Al Dholou.
The project aims to produce about 45,000 barrels per day of oil and up to 27 million cbf/ day of gas from the Belbazem block.
FEED Consultants Involved : National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), Petrofac Ltd., SNC Lavalin International
Project Manager : Mott MacDonald, SNC Lavalin International
Client: Al Yasat Petroleum
Project Value : US$1000 Mn
Status : Tender for Construction

Hayy Al Sharq (Sharq District), Oman
The project calls for the construction of an integrated theme park, a wildlife and water theme park, an equestrian centre, and edutainment centre as well as multiple hotels, a residential zone and retail
areas spread over an area of 1.5 million sq.m.
Consultants Involved : Surbana Jurong Private Limited
Client : Muscat National Development and Investment Company (Asaas)
Project Value : US$1000 Mn
Status : Tender for Construction

Yas Living in North Yas (NOYA), Abu Dhabi, UAE
The project calls for the construction of a residential development that sits on a site area of 212,638m2, with a total GFA of 84,220m2 and an efficiency ratio of 50.42%. The development is a gated
residential community that consists of 420 Townhouses, 90 villas and a community club with shared facilities.
Consultants Involved : Hyder Consulting (Arcadis)
Client: Aldar Properties
Project Value : US$989 Mn
Status : Tender for Construction

New Independent Power Project (IPP-F3) In Fujairah, UAE
Project calls for the construction of an Independent Power Plant (IPP) and associated facilities in Fujairah having a generation capacity between 2,400MW and 3,000MW.
Consultants Involved : ILF Consulting Engineers
Developers / Contractors Involved : Marubeni Corporation, Samsung C&T Corporation, Jan De Nul Dredgin
Client :Emirates Water And Electricity Company (EWEC)
Project Value : US$952 Mn
Status : Construction

The Grove in Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The project calls for the construction of a mixed use development which will consist of a residential area with a GFA of 72981 sqm, retail/mall with a GFA of 418500 sqm, hotel with a GFA of 53301 sqm and
community facilities with GFA of 4610 sqm. The development is located on Plot No. C2 - Sector SDN8, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.
Consultants Involved : AECOM
Client: Aldar Properties
Project Value : US$630 Mn
Status : Tender for Construction