Read the October 2020 MEED Business Review

04 October 2020
The search for project opportunities in 2021; Saudi Arabia's economy set to recover despite ballooning debt; Medical tourism to aid travel sector's return to health


Project contract awards hit an all-time low in 2020, as governments focused on battling the Covid-19 health crisis and providing financial support for the economy.  

As we enter the final quarter of 2020 without a vaccine, we are still vulnerable to further lockdowns and disruption. But we are unlikely to see a repeat of the total economic shutdown in March and April. 

The October 2020 issue of MEED Business Review looks at what this means for new projects.

Despite the battering received in the first half of 2020, the good news is the regional outlook for project activity remains strong. There are projects under design and bid worth $855.6bn, or 125 per cent of the value of all projects under execution across the region ($682.7bn). Of this, $301bn, or 35 per cent, is already in the bidding phase.

There is no shortage of ambition or project planning in the region, only failings of delivery. Follow the market update links below for the regional highlights of project activity across the Middle East’s highly varied country markets, including the key projects to keep a look out for as indicators of the state of their project sectors.

This month's exclusive 17-page Market Focus, meanwhile, offers a comprehensive look at Saudi Arabia and finds Riyadh rolling with the punches of 2020

Economically, Saudi Arabia is on a non-oil growth curve that is unlikely to be significantly diminished by the pandemic in its ultimate trajectory, even if growth has faltered this year. 

Other must-read sections in the October 2020 edition of MEED Business Review include:

> AGENDA: What to expect project-wise in 2021

> BOARD REPORT: Monthly Mena news roundup

> ISRAEL: UAE and Bahrain eye $550m Israel opportunity

> EAST MEDITERRANEANTensions continue to rise in the East Med

> HEALTHCARE REPORT: Medical tourism will assist travel recovery

LEADERSHIP: The digitalisation of wealth management

LEGAL: Redressing the balance with litigation funding

> INSIGHT: Power projects push forward despite pandemic

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects market holds steady

BUSINESS OUTLOOK: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts

We hope you find the October issue of MEED Business Review informative.

To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here


> Algeria: Algiers focuses on social infrastructure schemes
Bahrain: PPPs to drive Bahrain’s future projects
Egypt: Cairo tackles construction and transport projects
Iran: Tehran strives to maintain oil project momentum

Iraq: Projects sector suffers from instability
Jordan: Amman maintains focus on renewable energy
Kuwait: Transport schemes could drive development
Lebanon: Reconstruction projects prevail in Lebanon
Morocco: Rabat continues to push renewables projects
Oman: Muscat eyes major civil engineering projects
Saudi Arabia: Riyadh anticipates project progress in 2021
Tunisia: Government prepares to step up project development
UAE: Adnoc schemes buoy UAE projects market


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