UAE drags on Gulf Projects Index

10 May 2016

GCC year-on-year contraction of 2.2 per cent continues, while Gulf’s total annual fall lies at 0.7 per cent

The Gulf Projects Index contracted by 0.1 per cent in the week ending 29 April. The market slowdown was mostly caused by a 3.3 per cent decline in the UAE, where $2.4bn-worth of schemes were cancelled or put on hold.

In numbers

22 Number of projects cancelled or put on hold in Gulf region

$2.7bn Value of Ashghal project cancelled in Qatar

$1bn Value of mixed-use project in Abu Dhabi on hold

The $1bn Renaissance City in Aby Dhabi planned by Italy’s Stile Italiano Real Estate Company (Sirei) has been put on hold as the company continues to search for finance for the scheme. Sirei is a group of Italian architects and builders that has come up with plans to construct an entire Italian renaissance-style city in the UAE capital.

Projects planned or under way, 29 April 2016
Country29-Apr-1622-Apr-16% change on week24-Apr-15% change on year
Bahrain72,76072,809-0.16587010.5
Kuwait253,632254,583-0.4232,4479.5
Oman174,574174,686-0.1164,4296.2
Qatar279,678282,740-1.1300,327-5.9
Saudi Arabia1,046,9261,017,3792.91,205,125-15.6
UAE862,137891,979-3.3786,79413.4
GCC2,689,7072,694,176-0.22,754,992-2.2
Iran268,423266,5780.7189,21240.9
Iraq368,253368,819-0.2407,463-9.5
Gulf Total3,326,3833,329,573-0.13,351,667-0.7
For further information visit www.meed.com/projects/gulf-projects-index

Qatar’s projects market decreased by 1.1 per cent as the $2.7bn Qatar Cultural and Sports Hub (QCSH) scheme being developed by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) was cancelled. It is unclear why the project was shelved, although it is understood to be part of Doha’s strategy to prioritise key schemes related to the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

The biggest gainer of the week was Saudi Arabia, which a witnessed a 2.9 per cent increase. This was mainly due to the addition of a major $3.2bn mixed-use development called Al-Noor City by the local Middle East Development.

Outside the GCC, Iran saw an uptick of 0.7 per cent, while Iraq contracted by 0.2 per cent.

Project updates this week
CountryProject nameStatus
OmanKhazaen Logistics HubMain contract bid
QatarBul Hanine Field Redevelopment Project: phase 1Execution
Saudi ArabiaAl-Noor City in BahrahStudy
Saudi ArabiaArabiyah-Hasbah Development: Hasbah sour gas field expansionExecution
Saudi ArabiaPumped hydro energy storage project at Wadi Baysh DamStudy
For further information visit http://www.meedprojects.com/home

There were 22 schemes put on hold or cancelled this week across the region, as budget constraints continue to have an impact on projects markets across all sectors.

The GCC index’s year-on-year change remains negative as a slowdown in schemes caused by changing economic dynamics perpetuates a decline that is currently sitting at 2.2 per cent.

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