The value of new contracts awarded in Qatar will rise to a new record of $30bn in 2015, MEED’s Qatar Projects Conference in Doha was told this morning.

“This is a new record for the Qatari projects market,” said MEED Projects director of projects analysis Edward James.

“Some of the big projects to be awarded this year include packages A-E of the mega water security reservoir scheme; contracts for at least three stadia; the Al-Khor expressway; the first contracts of the Idd al-Sharqi platforms and pipelines, the QP jet fuel pipeline and the remaining packages of the New Doha Port,” James said.

James said the largest planned projects due to be awarded after 2015 include the Barwa City, worth almost $7bn, the Barwa Real Estate Company Golf City and other major real estate schemes.

“MEED Projects has identified $45bn-worth of construction projects and a similar value of transport projects,” James said. “Oil and gas has played second fiddle to other sectors since 2007. Qatar doesn’t need to invest very much in the sector.”