MEED
Jeff Roberts

Full contributor list at http://www.meed.com/jeff-roberts/92.contributor

Saudi Ministry goes on spending spree

22 July 2010, 14:40 GMT
The Ministry spent an estimated $206m on 19 contracts in mid-July
Iraq to launch 60 new projects in Diwaniya

22 July 2010, 13:44 GMT
Investments will include projects in healthcare, power and education sectors
Bid deadline extended on Jeddah’s Al-Mada Towers

22 July 2010, 8:53 GMT
At least nine groups have prequalified for the estimated $533m contract
Bid deadline extended on Saudi Arabia's $6bn security project

22 July 2010, 7:25 GMT
Contractors now have until 24 August to submit bids on scheme to build network of security compounds
Mourjan to invite bidders on Morocco marina by mid-2011

21 July 2010, 14:30 GMT
The Dubai-based developer is seeing a recovery in the regional property market
Saudi Education Ministry to award Najran hospital in August

20 July 2010, 15:02 GMT
Contract award due for $150m hospital project
Cypriot contractor wins Bahrain Theatre deal

20 July 2010, 11:19 GMT
The National Theatre is part of strategy to boost tourism in the kingdom
Bid deadline for Barwa roads gets second extension

20 July 2010, 9:30 GMT
Barwa roads are part of Qatar’s plans to invest $20bn in infrastructure by 2015
Malaysian government eyes real estate in Mecca

20 July 2010, 8:34 GMT
Tabung Haji is still awaiting approval to move forward with its $267m hotel
Japan loans Kurdistan $130m for water project

18 July 2010, 15:07 GMT
Japanese contributions to rebuild Iraq exceed $3.2bn
Algeria to spend $286bn on development projects by 2014

18 July 2010, 13:36 GMT
Presidential Plan outlines a $136bn spending increase over next five years
Riyadh plans $200m flyover for city’s busiest intersection

14 July 2010, 10:39 GMT
The bridge is part of a large-scale overhaul of King Abdullah road in Riyadh
Shura council delays discussion of Saudi mortgage law

13 July 2010, 14:30 GMT
Discussions are not expected to resume until after summer
Dubai contractor wins Riyadh tower deal

Issue No 29 16-22 July 2010
Burj Rafal will be Riyadh’s first tower to offer mixed-gender public space
Gaddafi bankrolls Libya's development

Issue No 29 16-22 July 2010
If Tripoli sticks to its spending plans for development, the country will be transformed into an economic powerhouse
Gulf states are building green for the local environment

Issue No 29 16-22 July 2010
Gulf governments are increasingly backing homegrown ratings systems to encourage the eco-friendly developments of the future
Libya's firms need to plan long-term

Issue No 29 16-22 July 2010
The conundrum for contractors is that margins come with risk and in Libya there is plenty
Algeria blocks use of imported building materials

8 July 2010, 12:52 GMT
Move after delay in delivery of 5.1 million tonnes of cement
Kuwait Fund approves $250m for North Africa

6 July 2010, 14:29 GMT
Morocco has received almost $650m in international aid in 2010
Damac awards Drake & Scull Jeddah tower

6 July 2010, 11:04 GMT
Damac is one of a few foreign developers building in Saudi Arabia
Alfanar wins Saudi power plant expansion

Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010
The $122m project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2011
Developer reissues tenders for Jeddah housing scheme

Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010
Ewaan al-Farida is seeking competitive bids from several of Saudi Arabia’s smaller contractors
Kurdistan approves $500m Avro City

Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010
Avro City had been put on hold until the security situation in Kurdistan stabilised
Saudi ministry to build emergency communications network

Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010
The $1.3bn tender comes weeks after the Interior Ministry issues its largest ever contract
Saudi-Turkish consortium awarded Riyadh's Qurtoba

Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010
The estimated $266m Qurtoba housing project is being developed by Alargan Homes
Maaden to award Ras Al Zour housing contract in August

1 July 2010, 15:46 GMT
At least eight contractors have submitted bids for the estimated $450m contract
First phase of Jeddah Gate scheduled for completion by end of 2010

1 July 2010, 11:08 GMT
Emaar Middle East plans additional Jeddah Gate projects for the first and second quarters of 2011
Beauty is on the eye of the beholder

July 2010 Online Content
Riyadh launches ambitious plan to fight pollution
French to build pharmaceutical plant at King Abdullah Economic City

30 June 2010, 14:39 GMT
The first phase will produce medication for Saudi population
Riyadh tackles environmental deficiencies

30 June 2010, 14:09 GMT
Government plans to build 10 facilities to monitor air quality in Riyadh
World Bank to fund $291m of water projects in Morocco

27 June 2010, 14:47 GMT
Morocco’s National Potable Water Board will tender contracts on two schemes
Saudi developers reconsider office projects in saturated Riyadh market

27 June 2010, 13:50 GMT
At least 1.3m square-metres of new commercial space forecast to be added by 2015
UAE student architects to build school in rural Cameroon

24 June 2010, 14:26 GMT
Open Source Arc to coordinate similar efforts throughout the Middle East
Baghdad looks for foreign companies to build $550m sports city

24 June 2010, 14:21 GMT
Iraq offers unprecedented incentives to build 360-acre Basra Sports City
Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry tenders biggest ever construction contract

24 June 2010, 12:57 GMT
Bids due on 26 July for $6bn deal to build security compounds in Saudi Arabia
Qatar National Hotels puts twin towers project on hold

24 June 2010, 12:33 GMT
Company is unsure if $500m project will proceed
Riyadh commits $266m to university projects

24 June 2010, 11:36 GMT
Tenders for new university projects to be issued by the end of 2010
KEO International wins $241m monorail design deal

23 June 2010, 13:30 GMT
King Abdullah Financial District transportation will include a monorail and a pedestrian skywalk
Arriyadh Development awards $300m heritage city construction contract

22 June 2010, 9:19 GMT
The Addiriyah township must be rehabilitated under strict international guidelines
Mid-July deadline set for $480m Grand Egyptian Museum prequalification

21 June 2010, 14:38 GMT
International contractors will be given priority on $480m museum
Two month extension for King Abdullah International Gardens bid deadline

21 June 2010, 12:44 GMT
$200m contract covers external construction services for the site and building
Tenders issued for two contracts at Jubail Industrial College

17 June 2010, 14:33 GMT
The Royal Commission in Jubail is no longer prequalifying contractors
Iraq to tender Grand Faw port in 2011

17 June 2010, 11:42 GMT
Designs for Grand Faw port are being completed by an Italian consortium led by Impregilo
Al-Saad wins Rocco Forte Assila Towers superstructure

Issue No 25 18-24 June 2010
Project planned for Jeddah’s Tahlia district
KEO to finish Hail economic city masterplan in July

16 June 2010, 13:35 GMT
Construction tenders expected no earlier than end of 2010
Enemies and allies

15 June 2010, 7:16 GMT
The key to success in the Middle East is choosing the right partner
Holy cities facing huge shortage in hospitality sector

14 June 2010, 12:10 GMT
If travel patterns persist, Mecca and Medina will see almost 14 million tourists annually
Baghdad to spend $50bn on one million more homes

13 June 2010, 12:15 GMT
The plan to build homes for government workers comes two months after Iraq’s first million-home initiative
Squeezing contractors’ margins

Issue No 24 11-17 June 2010
The region’s contractors are now looking for contracts and better returns beyond the Gulf
King Abdullah Economic City: Open for business

Supplement: King Abdullah Economic City
MEED talks to Fahd al-Rasheed, managing director and CEO of King Abdullah Economic City developer – Emaar, The Economic City
Qatar to award university construction contract in July

3 June 2010, 14:15 GMT
Contractors will submit bids for the Education City contract in June
Jeddah Municipality to invite contractors to prequalify for Red Sea projects

3 June 2010, 12:45 GMT
Al-Mujayrimah and Al-Lith are the latest in a $40bn plan to develop 19 destinations
Dawawen to tender housing projects in Riyadh and Mecca

27 May 2010, 14:22 GMT
Housing tenders for $123m projects to be launched by year-end
Libya aims to build $500bn in projects by 2020

27 May 2010, 14:04 GMT
Tripoli plans to award 477 projects in $500bn spending boom
Keppel tenders Jeddah high-rise scheme

Issue No 22 28 May - 3 June 2010
At least nine groups have prequalified for the contract
Riyadh prepares construction tenders for Al-Dohra high-rise district

Issue No 22 28 May - 3 June 2010
The estimated $3.5bn project is being financed through a build-operate-transfer scheme
Aecom begins infrastructure design on $3bn Al-Marina development

23 May 2010, 15:47 GMT
The local Zaid al-Hussain Group finished backfilling the site in early May
Almoayyed Contracting completes 25 per cent of Bahrain tower

20 May 2010, 16:49 GMT
Al-Seef tower project unlikely to hit original completion date in 2011
Morocco to finish $1.6bn roads project three years early

20 May 2010, 16:49 GMT
The plan aims to finish 2,000 kilometres of roads per year
Deadline extended Kuwait’s College of Engineering and Petroleum

20 May 2010, 12:54 GMT
At least nine contracting groups have prequalified to build the project
Saudi government considering second land rehabilitation project in Riyadh

20 May 2010, 12:53 GMT
The $275m Wadi Hanifa project finished in April after ten years under construction
Alargan to target foreigners at Al-Murjana project in Dammam

19 May 2010, 11:23 GMT
Design complete, contractors invited to bid in July this year
Main contract to be awarded on Riyadh’s Burj Rafal in June

Issue No 21 21 - 27 May 2010
The estimated $800m project will be Riyadh’s first development to combine guest space
Saudi government fund to tender Jubail housing complex in June

Issue No 21 21 - 27 May 2010
Project to build 696-units estimated to be worth $300m
Cutter suction dredger to begin work on King Abdullah Economic City

18 May 2010, 14:18 GMT
The estimated $133m Al-Sakab ship can remove up to 20,000 cubic-metres of material per day
Al-Arrab to finish infrastructure on Riyadh's Ajmakan by June

18 May 2010, 14:17 GMT
Local contractor is the favourite to build the entire project
Dredging starts at King Abdullah Economic City seaport

18 May 2010, 14:17 GMT
Construction work to finish by the first quarter of 2012
Building the right homes for the people

17 May 2010, 7:14 GMT
Saudi Arabia needs to build 163,000 homes ever year
Kuwait University tenders Sabah al-Salem campus contract

13 May 2010, 10:58 GMT
Korean contractors lead list of bidders for Kuwait University campus
Saudi Oger to finish Riyadh's King Abdullah Road this year

12 May 2010, 7:18 GMT
Local contractor was awarded the three-year project in June 2007
Saudi Oger to send 8,000 workers to Riyadh university to meet deadline

Issue No 20 14 - 20 May 2010
Construction on the Riyadh-based campus started in January 2009
Saudi Oger wins King Abdulaziz cultural centre construction contract

Issue No 20 14 - 20 May 2010
Saudi Aramco is developing the project in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province
Mabanee secures $345m for third phase of Kuwait mall

9 May 2010, 14:10 GMT
Third phase construction contract was scheduled to be awarded in the first quarter of 2010
France gives Morocco $310m loan for phosphate pipeline

6 May 2010, 14:51 GMT
The funds were given to Morocco’s national phosphate company
Local contractor to finish Sharm El-Sheikh resort in two years

6 May 2010, 14:46 GMT
Groundbreaking is scheduled for May this year, with completion to follow in 2012
Contracts awarded on Riyadh housing scheme

5 May 2010, 14:15 GMT
Diplomatic housing is the latest project in Gosi’s ongoing portfolio worth at least $850m
Contractors submit revised bids for kilometre-tall Kingdom Tower

Issue No 19 7 - 13 May 2010
Three groups have submitted fresh prices for Jeddah tower
Al-Kokache to finish Riyadh hotel expansion in June

4 May 2010, 13:56 GMT
Al-Faisaliah Hotel expansion will increase the number of rooms by 32 per cent
InterContinental Hotels to add 1,434 rooms by 2013

4 May 2010, 13:38 GMT
World’s largest hotel operator has 36 new properties planned in Middle East
Al-Mansour to finish Iraq housing development in May

2 May 2010, 14:02 GMT
The Penjah Ali project is the first of several schemes planned for Kirkuk
Jumeirah Group's portfolio to double in size by 2013

2 May 2010, 13:59 GMT
Dubai hotel operator eyes Saudi Arabia as part of expansion plans
Kingdom Hotel plans Africa and Asia projects

2 May 2010, 13:58 GMT
Kingdom Hotel Investments has an estimated $700-800m of projects in the pipeline
Tripoli to build 2,000 hotel rooms by 2012

2 May 2010, 10:41 GMT
Tourism revenue in Libya is expected to increase to $22bn by 2019
Addressing Jeddah’s most pressing need

May 2010 Online Content
The municipality says it needs a million homes by 2020
Libya plans $94bn of housing and infrastructure projects

29 April 2010, 13:32 GMT
Libya has 256 ongoing projects with 300 more to be launched by 2020
CityStars to break ground on Sharm el-Sheikh scheme

28 April 2010, 13:50 GMT
Egyptian developer plans to start work by mid-May
Construction to start on $100m first phase of Iraq schools project

28 April 2010, 13:50 GMT
Overall scheme involves building 48 new schools across Iraq
Al-Maabar to break ground on Jordan scheme in May

28 April 2010, 13:39 GMT
The first phase of $10bn Marsa Zayed project is scheduled to be complete by 2014
Saudi Arabian market demands affordable housing

Issue No 18 30 April - 6 May 2010
While Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province has several high-end property projects under way, the growing requirement for low-cost homes is not being met
Turkish contractor frontrunner to win Yanbu public housing deal

26 April 2010, 13:20 GMT
Bulgu Construction is already working on phase two and three of the scheme
Al-Tilal plans to build $150m resort in Saudi Arabia

25 April 2010, 13:24 GMT
The Al-Tilal development will attract local tourists to Al-Qassim
Al-Kharafi & Sons wins $164m Kuwait airport contract

22 April 2010, 13:15 GMT
The project is the latest in a series of contracts to expand facilities at the airport
Combined Group wins Kuwait University contract

22 April 2010, 13:14 GMT
Academic and sporting projects tendered at Shuwaikh campus
Contractors to hand over Abu Dhabi's Ferrari World in August

21 April 2010, 14:16 GMT
Aldar Properties will open the Yas Island theme park in October
KEO wins design work for four Abu Dhabi projects

21 April 2010, 14:15 GMT
New schemes are planned by Aabar and Urban Planning Council
Sagia set to approve Hail Economic City masterplan

21 April 2010, 12:10 GMT
KEO International Consultants to move forward with detailed design
Al-Maabar to issue tenders for Libya and Jordan projects

Issue No 17 23 - 29 April 2010
Al-Maabar has $11.5bn of projects in North Africa and the Levant
Kuwait invites firms for Bubiyan port consultancy contract

Issue No 17 23 - 29 April 2010
Winning firm will audit designs and supervise the construction of Bubiyan port
UK developer secures funding for Karbala timeshare hotel

Issue No 17 23 - 29 April 2010
Range Karbala hotel will be located near pilgrimage sites
World Bank proposes $60m to develop Tunisia's northwest region

18 April 2010, 14:52 GMT
The plan is the latest in a $180m strategy to develop Tunisia’s rural northwest
Aramco receives bids for petroleum research centre

15 April 2010, 14:43 GMT
King Abdullah Petroleum Studies Research Centre development is part of $60bn investment programme
Impregilo awarded $387m contract for Libyan conference centre

15 April 2010, 14:43 GMT
Zaha Hadid commissioned to design the three-building project
Contractors submit bids for King Abdulaziz Centre for Knowledge & Culture

15 April 2010, 14:09 GMT
Aramco is developing Eastern Province project
Iraq launches $1bn tourist city

15 April 2010, 14:05 GMT
Wasit Tourist City will create new employment opportunities
Iraq's Al-Muthanna signs industrial city agreement

15 April 2010, 13:50 GMT
Samawa industry city is the latest Iraqi project for Lebanon’s Concritech
Egypt issues tenders for Alexandria University hospitals

15 April 2010, 7:36 GMT
Finance Ministry has prequalified 14 groups
Arab Fund approves $359m worth of regional development

11 April 2010, 14:16 GMT
Ninety-five per cent of economic aid goes to Sudan, Morocco, Djibouti and Yemen
Saudi investors open $260m cement plant in Yemen’s eastern region

7 April 2010, 13:25 GMT
Cement plant is the latest Saudi-sponsored project in Hadramout province
Algeria’s Great Mosque delayed until 2014

Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010
Religious Affairs Minister blames changes to the architectural design
Al-Khobar office building to be tendered by end of 2010

Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010
Preliminary designs have been submitted to the local municipality
Developer reviews Riyadh’s $400m Al-Faisaliah Tower 2

Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010
Competing tower projects at King Abdullah Financial District have forced the rethink
Delayed Qatar affordable housing scheme to be finished in July

4 April 2010, 13:48 GMT
Construction was delayed on the Mesaken Saliyah project after disputes with the original contractor
Yemen to build new port at Sokatra Island

4 April 2010, 11:19 GMT
Sokatra Island’s $40m port will connect the isolated island to the rest of the region
Kuwait Fund loans Lebanon $19m for Qaisamani Dam Project

1 April 2010, 15:29 GMT
Loan is latest offering in almost $1bn of economic aid for Lebanon
Patience is key in Libya

April 2010 Online Content
Consultants already working in the country urge patience
Ashghal invites bids on $82.4m Al-Khor sewer network

31 March 2010, 16:19 GMT
Northern township is being developed as a resort destination for energy workers
Baghdad approves plan to build one million new homes

Issue No 14 2-8 April 2010
National Investment Commission originally planned only 500,000 homes
Iraq looks to develop $150bn of infrastructure by 2025

Issue No 14 2-8 April 2010
Amendments to Iraq’s Investment Law have streamlined foreign investment and ownership
Aldar to open Al-Bateen school in 2011

Issue No 14 2-8 April 2010
Abu Dhabi school will cost $35m to develop
Abu Dhabi tenders main construction deal on $1bn Louvre

Issue No 14 2-8 April 2010
Construction consortiums hope to win Abu Dhabi museum contracts
Ashghal awards $184m road contract

Issue No 14 2-8 April 2010
Contract is the latest in Qatar’s $20bn plan to modernise national infrastructure by 2014
Qatar’s Al Darwish Engineering awarded $36m roads contract

29 March 2010, 14:37 GMT
Contract covers three packages as part of plans to connect Al Waab City with Doha’s main roads
Qatar launches first version of green building rating system

28 March 2010, 14:31 GMT
Sustainability assessment system is already one of the region’s most prolific green building rating tools
Combined Group bids low for Kuwait university expansion

25 March 2010, 13:31 GMT
Combined Group Contracting Company leads nine other Kuwaiti companies on $102m deal
Iraq to invite contractors to bid on $6bn port construction deal

24 March 2010, 16:03 GMT
Grand Faw port is latest project in Iraq’s infrastructure investment programme for 2010
Japan loans Morocco $261m for road, water projects

23 March 2010, 6:00 GMT
Infrastructure loan is the latest in a series of economic assistance deals between the countries
Tender issued for $400m Kuwait University buildings

Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010
College of Engineering and Petroleum is the first tender issued on the $3bn Sabah al-Salem University campus
Sudan's Darfur region to receive $850m from international donors

Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010
Infrastructure and public projects given highest priority in Darfur development
Algeria extends deadline for $3bn Djamaa el-Djazair mosque bid

Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010
Mosque will be world’s third largest
Housing crisis looms in Saudi Arabia

Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010
The preference of developers to build luxury housing means there is a serious shortfall of homes for the kingdom’s rapidly expanding low and middle-income population
Housing crisis looms in Saudi Arabia

Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010
The preference of developers to build luxury housing means there is a serious shortfall of homes for the kingdom’s rapidly expanding low and middle-income population
Local firms dominate bids for $1.8bn of Kuwait housing deals

Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010
Jaber al-Ahmed and Sabah al-Ahmed townships to see new homes by 2013
Typsa Group to finish Casablanca resort by end of 2011

Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010
Anfa Place Living Resort is Foster & Partners’ first project in Morocco
Kuwait to spend $10.8bn on infrastructure

22 March 2010, 11:03 GMT
Boubyan Port, Sheikh Jaber bridge and hospital top list of priorities
Construction to start on two King Abdullah Financial District schemes

18 March 2010, 12:16 GMT
Fxfowle and Buro Happold prepared the design and engineering
Iraq to invest $25bn in homes in 2010

18 March 2010, 12:08 GMT
The full programme includes 2 million homes and infrastructure by 2025
Hungarian firm awarded $413m contract to build infrastructure in Libya

17 March 2010, 14:14 GMT
Libya has allocated $65bn for infrastructure and development
Jacobs to manage Marafiq developments at Jubail and Yanbu

17 March 2010, 5:46 GMT
Saudi Arabia’s Marafiq has appointed the US firm to manage industrial projects for three years
Riyadh’s race to build homes

Issue No 12 19-25 March 2010
Saudi Arabia needs more housing, but its expanding population does not have the financing to buy them
Tender to be issued for Tunis Financial Harbour infrastructure in July

11 March 2010, 15:12 GMT
Gulf Finance House development aims to create 16,000 new jobs for Tunisia
Contractors prepare bids for King Abdullah International Gardens

11 March 2010, 12:07 GMT
Locals Saudi Oger, Saudi Binladin Group and South Korea’s Samsung are the bidders
Saudi Arabia to open world’s second tallest tower in August

11 March 2010, 11:21 GMT
The Makkah Clock Royal Tower will be 577 metres tall
Building work starts on Amman's new stock exchange

11 March 2010, 6:28 GMT
The $100m development will house the country’s new stock exchange
Barwa officially offers to buy Alaqaria

9 March 2010, 14:19 GMT
Shareholders of Barwa and Alaqaria to vote on proposal on 30 March
Iraq votes to extend contract for 200 schools

7 March 2010, 5:51 GMT
Iraq building project plagued by funding and procurement delays
Barwa finalises merger deal with Alaqaria

4 March 2010, 14:32 GMT
Qatari Diar to fund proposed transaction
Contractors to bid on King Abdullah International Gardens

3 March 2010, 17:50 GMT
Riyadh project centrepiece includes plant laboratory
Diyar al-Kuwait appoints consultant to oversee Lusail construction

3 March 2010, 17:25 GMT
KEO International Consultants to design and manage building work
Gaca extends deadline for bids on Jeddah airport

2 March 2010, 14:01 GMT
The aviation authority is tendering two design and build contracts
Cowi to design Al-Khobar’s first green hotel

2 March 2010, 11:23 GMT
Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province continues to court global architects and engineers
Qatari Diar joins forces with Saudi Binladin Group

2 March 2010, 9:24 GMT
Partnership will provide range of construction and industrial services
Bidders line up to build Samba headquarters

Issue No 10 5-11 March 2010
Saudi bank tower to be constructed in King Abdullah Financial District
Dewan to design two hotel projects in Iraq

24 February 2010, 16:53 GMT
Karbala hotels to provide accommodation for religious pilgrims
Antiquities council to prequalify contractors for pyramids museum

Issue No 9 26 February - 4 March 2010
Construction to start on $500m project in October

MEEDJeff Roberts

MEED
Jeff Roberts