Top 25 Projects in the GCC

[Saif al-Arab]

Wow. Are all of these financed by governments?

Yes, they are mostly financed by governments or state owned sovereign wealth funds. The GCC has sovereign wealth funds that are worth 3 trillion US dollars.

Sovereign Wealth Funds Rise & Shine in the GCC (Wealth Worth over USD 3 trillion)

Some projects are also financed by private firms or very rich individuals that work closely with the government. For example the Kingdom Tower, the upcoming tallest skyscraper in the world that is going to built a bit outside of Jeddah, in KSA, is financed by a rich Saudi Arabian prince and some rich civil Arab billionaires from KSA and outside of it.

Kingdom Tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think that our friends and partners in China follow a similar model.

 

[Ryuzaki]

very interesting location for Kingdom tower

 

[TheTruth]

Yes, they are mostly financed by governments or state owned sovereign wealth funds. The GCC has sovereign wealth funds that are worth 3 trillion US dollars.

Sovereign Wealth Funds Rise & Shine in the GCC (Wealth Worth over USD 3 trillion)

Some projects are also financed by private firms or very rich individuals that work closely with the government. For example the Kingdom Tower, the upcoming tallest skyscraper in the world that is going to built a bit outside of Jeddah, in KSA, is financed by a rich Saudi Arabian prince and some rich civil Arab billionaires from KSA and outside of it.

Kingdom Tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think that our friends and partners in China follow a similar model.

I was wondering if that was the case. That's great news, it would be ideal if we could have something like that too, the rich cooperating with the government and SWFs to fund projects benefiting the people.

I'll be following these developments with interest, thanks!

 

[Saif al-Arab]

I was wondering if that was the case. That's great news, it would be ideal if we could have something like that too, the rich cooperating with the government and SWFs to fund projects benefiting the people.

I'll be following these developments with interest, thanks!

Still for all the relatively positive developments in the GCC and the region booming with infrastructural projects, it must be said that there is still a big need for the market to become much more liberalized, effective and much more privatized. Too many organizations, firms etc. are state-owned for my liking.

In KSA must of the infrastructural projects are about improving the transportation system in KSA (new high-speed railways, new metros, new highways, new roads in the rural mountainous areas and in many villages etc.) and the building of numerous industrial cities, HOUSING complexes (there is a big need for that as the population is growing), dams, ports etc.

For instance recently a new road connecting KSA and Oman (through the famous Rub' al-Khali desert - home to some of the tallest sand dunes on the planet) was finished. Before if you for instance wanted to visit Dhofar Province during the monsoon there (khareef in Arabic) by car you had to drive through UAE which was/IS a big detour. Now I believe that one can reach Muscat for instance from Riyadh or other nearby areas in a matter of a few dozen hours.

It's the road painted with red to the right of the photo.

Quite some amazing engineering.

This is how the immediate area (Rub al'Khali) looks like.

The unique Arabian oryx lives (among other endemic animals) in that region of KSA and there are also a few national parks.



Arabian oryx - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The regime should also initiative more political and social reforms but that will hopefully follow or at least one can hope so. They are much needed.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

KAFD:

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I have mostly focused on KAFD in this thread.

See this thread below for many of the other top 25 projects in the GCC or the separate threads that I and others have created on this section of PDF.

GCC States Economy & Development

 

[Saif al-Arab]

KAFD

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[Saif al-Arab]

KAFD:

 

[Saif al-Arab]

A bit outdated but still relevant as most if not all of those projects below are underway or about to get underway. Many more projects have been added since 2010 and 2011 obviously.

Top 100 GCC projects (2011)
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Search the top 100 projects in the GCC, ranked by value, and click through to more details on those developments or the project owners.

2011 Rank 2010 Rank Project Name Project Owner Location Sector Budget ($bn)
1 1 King Abdullah Economic City Emaar, The Economic City Saudi Arabia Real Estate 93
2= 3 Capital District Urban Planning Council UAE Real Estate 40
2= 18 Sudair Industrial City Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon) Saudi Arabia Industry 40
4= 4= Al-Reem Island Bunya (Sorouh Real Estate; Tamouh Investments; Reem Developers) UAE Real Estate 37
4= 4= Yas Island Development Aldar Properties UAE Real Estate 37
6 72= Lusail Mixed-use Development Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company Qatar Real Estate 33
7 9= Qatar Integrated Rail Project Qatar Railway Development Company Qatar Transport 28.8
8= 7= Jizan Economic City Saudi Binladin Group; MMC Corporation Berhad Saudi Arabia Real Estate 27
8= 7= Saadiyat Island Tourism Development & Investment Company UAE Real Estate 27
10 9= Kingdom City Emaar Properties; Kingdom Holding Company Saudi Arabia Real Estate 26.6
11 12 Masdar City Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) UAE Real Estate 22
12= 13= Al Gharbia Chemicals Industrial City Tacaamol UAE Petrochemicals 20
12= 13= Downtown Burj Khalifa Emaar Properties UAE Real Estate 20
12= 13= Duqm New Town Oman Tourism Development Company; Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company Oman Real Estate 20
12= 13= Nuclear Power Plant Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) UAE Power 20
12= NEW Yanbu Integrated Refinery & Petrochemicals Complex Saudi Aramco; Mitsui & Company; Nabaa Industrial Development & Investment Company Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas 20
17= 17= Downtown Jebel Ali Limitless/ Nakheel Corporation UAE Real Estate 19
17= 17= Pearl GTL Shell (Qatar Shell GTL) Qatar Oil & Gas 19
19 NEW Clean Fuels Project 2020 Kuwait National Petroleum Company Kuwait Oil & Gas 18.5
20 19= Upper Zakum Full Field Development Zakum Development Company (Zadco) UAE Oil & Gas 15.6
21= 19= Al-Raha Beach Development Aldar Properties UAE Real Estate 15
21= NEW Ghantoot Green City International Capital Trading UAE Real Estate 15
21= 19= New Refinery Project Kuwait National Petroleum Company Kuwait Oil & Gas 15
24= 33 Dubai Marina Emaar Properties UAE Real Estate 12.3
24= 27 Palm Jumeirah Nakheel Corporation UAE Real Estate 12.3
26 NEW Emirates Road Masterplan Dubai Roads & Transport Authority UAE Infrastructure 12
27 29 Shah Gas Development Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) UAE Oil & Gas 11.3
28 23 New Doha International Airport New Doha International Airport Steering Committee Qatar Transport 11.1
29= 30 Integrated Gas Development Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (Gasco) UAE Oil & Gas 11
29= 31 Shah Sulphur Railway Etihad Rail UAE Transport 11
31 32 Dubai Metro Dubai Roads & Transport Authority UAE Transport 10.6
32 34 Ruwais Refinery Expansion Project Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) UAE Oil & Gas 10.1
33= 35= Al-Uqair Tourism Development Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities Saudi Arabia Tourism 10
33= 35= Jubail New Petrochemical Complex Sadara Chemical Company (Saudi Aramco; Dow Chemical Company) Saudi Arabia Petrochemicals 10
33= 35= Khalifa Port & Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi Ports Company UAE Transport 10
33= 35= King Abdullah Sports City Saudi Aramco Saudi Arabia Real Estate 10
33= 35= Meydan City Meydan UAE Real Estate 10
33= NEW Riyadh to Abu Dhabi Highway Government of UAE; Government of Saudi Arabia UAE Infrastructure 10
33= 35= Yanbu Export Refinery Saudi Aramco; China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas 10
40 43 Aluminium Project Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden); Alcoa Saudi Arabia Industry 9.9
41 26 Jubail Export Refinery Jubail Refining & Petrochemical Company Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas 9.6
42 45 Barzan Gas Development RasGas Company (Qatar Petroleum; ExxonMobil Global Services) Qatar Oil & Gas 9.4
43 46= Jumeirah Village Nakheel Corporation UAE Real Estate 9.3
44 48 Pan-Arab Grid (Saudi Arabia-Egypt Undersea Link) Electricity & Energy Ministry (Egypt); Water & Electricity Ministry (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Power 8.5
45 49 Al-Zour North Power & Desalination Plants Ministry of Electricity & Water Kuwait Power & Water 8.4
46= 53= Barwa City Barwa Real Estate Company Qatar Real Estate 8.3
46= 50 Manifa Arabian Heavy Crude Programme Saudi Aramco Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas 8.3
48 53= King Abdulaziz International Airport General Authority for Civil Aviation Saudi Arabia Transport 8.2
49 51= Jubail Petrochemicals Complex Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company Saudi Arabia Petrochemicals 8.1
50= 53= Al-Marjan Island Development Rakeen Development UAE Real Estate 8
50= 53= Jeddah Central Development Project Jeddah Central District Company Saudi Arabia Real Estate 8
50= 44 Knowledge Economic City Seera City Real Estate Development Company Saudi Arabia Real Estate 8
53 58 Bahrain Monorail Network Government of Bahrain Bahrain Transport 7.9
54 60 Jubail Petrochemicals Complex (Phase III) Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) Saudi Arabia Industry 7.6
55 59 Rawabi Rumah Mixed-used Development Emaar Properties; Al-Shoala Group of Establishment Saudi Arabia Real Estate 7.2
56= 61= Abu Dhabi Metro Department of Transport UAE Transport 7
56= NEW Eight New Hospitals Partnerships Technical Bureau Kuwait Healthcare 7
56= 61= Jizan Refinery Project Saudi Aramco Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas 7
56= 61= Kuwait City Metropolitan Rapid Transit (Metro) Partnerships Technical Bureau Kuwait Transport 7
56= 61= New Doha Port Government of Qatar Saudi Arabia Transport 7
56= NEW Petro-Rabigh - Phase II Petro-Rabigh Saudi Arabia Petrochemicals 7
56= 61= Riyadh King Abdullah Financial District Rayadah Investment Company Saudi Arabia Real Estate 7
56= 61= Kingdom Riyadh Land Kingdom Holding Company Saudi Arabia Real Estate 7
56= 61= Saudi Landbridge Saudi Railways Organization Saudi Arabia Transport 7
65= 51= Abu Dhabi Airport Expansion Abu Dhabi Airports Company UAE Transport 6.8
65= 61= Haramain High-Speed Rail Network Saudi Railways Organization Saudi Arabia Transport 6.8
67= NEW Arabiyah-Hasbah Development Programme Saudi Aramco Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas 6.6
67= 75= Education City Qatar Foundation for Education; Science & Community Development Qatar Education 6.6
71= 87= Sabah al-Ahmed Township Public Authority for Housing Welfare Kuwait Real Estate 6.2
71= 74 Riyadh Ajmakan Al-Rajhi Development; Al-Shoula Holding Group; Land Company for Property Development & Investment Saudi Arabia Real Estate 6.2
71= 75= Arzanah Capitala UAE Real Estate 6
71= 75= Ras Laffan Olefins Complex Qatar Petroleum; Shell Qatar Petrochemicals 6
73 80 Rabigh Power Plant Expansion Saudi Electricity Company Saudi Arabia Power 5.8
74= NEW Lehbab Power Plant Dubai Electricity and Water Authority UAE Power 5.5
74= 82= Musheireb Msheireb (formerly Dohaland) Qatar Real Estate 5.5
74= 82= Port of Arabia (Mina al-Arab) RAK Properties UAE Real Estate 5.5
77 NEW Security compounds Ministry of Interior Saudi Arabia Real Estate 5.3
78= 84= Al-Falah Development Aldar Properties UAE Real Estate 5.2
78= 84= Al-Uqair South Power Plant Saudi Electricity Company Saudi Arabia Power 5.2
78= 84= Sabah al-Salem New University Campus Kuwait University Kuwait Education 5.2
81= 87= Awali Field Redevelopment Tatweer Petroleum Bahrain Oil & Gas 5
81= 87= Dorra Gas Field Development Khafji Joint Operations Company Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas 5
81= 87= Duqm Refinery Oman Oil Company; International Petroleum Investment Company Oman Oil & Gas 5
81= 35= Emal Project Phase II: Aluminium Smelter & Power Plant Emirates Aluminium International UAE Industry 5
81= 87= International City Nakheel Corporation UAE Real Estate 5
81= 87= Jubail Petrochemicals Complex National ChevronPhillips Saudi Arabia Petrochemicals 5
81= NEW Khairan Residential City Public Authority for Housing Welfare Kuwait Real Estate 5
81= 87= Metropolitan Development Strategy for Arriyadh (Medstar) Arriyadh Development Authority Saudi Arabia Real Estate 5
81= 87= Nujoom Islands Al Hanoo Holding Company UAE Real Estate 5
81= 87= Pearl Qatar United Development Company Qatar Real Estate 5
91= 99 Bahrain International Airport Upgrade Bahrain Airport Company Bahrain Transport 4.7
91= 100= Muscat & Salalah International Airport Expansion Ministry of Transport & Communication Oman Transport 4.7
93= 100= Jeddah South Power Plant Saudi Electricity Company Saudi Arabia Power 4.6
93= 81 Mecca Tareeq al-Mawazee Dallah Albaraka Group Saudi Arabia Real Estate 4.6
95= 72= Borouge 3 Expansion Project Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge) UAE Petrochemicals 4.5
95= NEW Dubai investment Park: Dubai Lagoon Schon Properties; Town Centre Management UAE Real Estate 4.5
97 NEW Dubai Airport Expansion Department of Civil Aviation UAE Transport 4.3
98 NEW Northern Border Security Fence Ministry of Defence & Aviation Saudi Arabia Defence 4.1
99= NEW 2022 FIFA WorldCup Football Stadiums Qatar Olympic Committee Qatar Construction 4
99= NEW Al Furjan Development Nakheel Corporation UAE Real Estate 4
99= NEW Deepwater Gas Pipeline Government Of Oman / Government Of India Oman Oil & Gas 4
99= NEW Housing Development Presidency of The National Guard Saudi Arabia Real Estate 4
99= NEW ICAD: Abu Dhabi Polymer Park Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation UAE Petrochemicals 4
99= NEW Station Q Dubai Electricity and Water Authority UAE Power 4
99= NEW Yanbu Power & Desalination Plant: Phase 3 Saline Water Conversion Corporation / Marafiq Saudi Arabia Power 4
Table sorted by project value; New=New to the top 100; Source: MEED Projects

The graph is much better viewed in this link below.

Top 100 Projects | Knowledge Bank | MEED

Top 10 sustainable developments in the GCC

Discover Construction Week Online’s list of the top 10 sustainable buildings in the Gulf:​

Posted 08/23/2015

1. Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, UAE​

In 2008, Masdar City broke ground and started the journey of developing the world’s most sustainable eco-city in the UAE.

A mix of educational and recreational, housing, retail, manufacturing, and office spaces give commuters and residents easy access to everything they need, reducing transport needs.

The city is designed to maximize convenience and reduce environmental impacts.

When complete, 40,000 people will live in Masdar City, with an additional 50,000 commuting every day to work and study.

2. King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Saudi Arabia​

In June 2010, the sustainable architecture of the KAUST campus earned a Platinum rating on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) scale, produced by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The university buildings have been specifically constructed to utilize natural light and ventilation. Also, the buildings support a roof capable of carrying 12,000 sqm of solar thermal and photovoltaic arrays.

High levels of recycled products can be found in the campus construction materials, and 75% of the construction material.

The physical campus and its operations will minimize the environmental footprint through efficient use of water, electricity and other resources, and through materials reuse and recycling.

3. Msheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar​

Msheireb Downtown Doha will have one of the highest concentrations of LEED certified sustainable buildings, making it the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project.

With a 32% energy reduction goal, all buildings are targeting LEED Gold certification, with some buildings targeting LEED Platinum.

Buildings are massed to shade one another and light coloured to reduce cooling requirements.

Integration with Doha’s new Metro and a safe and convenient public realm will encourage both cycling and walking.

4. The Sustainable City, Dubai, UAE​

Located off Dubai’s Al Qudra Road, nestled between Arabian Ranches and Layan, the 46ha development is billed by Diamond Developers as the GCC’s first ‘fully fledged’ sustainable community.

TSC will be home to 2,700 residents, the majority of whom will be housed across 500 three- and four-bedroom eco-friendly villas.

TSC, scheduled for completion by the end of next year, will boast 10,000 trees, 10MWp of solar production, a green spine and its own farm.

5. Bahrain World Trade Center, Manama, Bahrain​

The Bahrain WTC consists of two sail shaped towers designed to funnel wind to three skybridges each holding a 225KW wind turbine, capable of generating 11% to 15% of the towers’ total power consumption.

The turbines operate approximately 50% of the time on an average day.

Built in 2008, it is first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design.

It was designed by Atkins with the goals of using renewable energy sources intertwined with sustainable architecture.

6. Qatar National Convention Center, Doha​

With its huge treelike structure, the Qatar National Convention Center is one of the world’s most energy-efficient convention centers built to date.

The LEED certified building was designed by Japanese architects Yamasaki Architects, who based their proposal on the concept of architect Arata Isozaki.

Isozaki’s initial concept was based on the holy Islamic Sidra Tree, which symbolizes the end of the seventh heaven.

The center officially opened on 4 December 2011 in Doha, and offers a 4,000-seat theater space, three auditoriums, 52 flexible meeting rooms and many other spaces for hosting local, regional and international events.

7. Pacific Controls Headquarters Building, Dubai, UAE

The headquarters of Pacific Controls is the first Platinum rated green building in the Middle East and 16th in the world.

The building has already won two international awards one at Boston in June 2007 as the Extreme Office Building award in the world; and the Best Intelligent Building in the World in, Chicago Buildcon 2007.

Located in Dubai Technopark, the building features solar thermal air-conditioning, photovoltaic cells for lighting, water-efficient equipment and captive water treatment plant.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Continued

8. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The new Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) plans to include three hospitals under one roof spread over 300,000m².

SKMC, managed by Cleveland Clinic, is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA).

The hospital is aiming for a Two Pearl rating under the Estidama guidelines for sustainable design, which is equivalent to a LEED Gold certification.

The facility is expected to be completed in 2018.

9. King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

KAFD is being developed under the US Green Building Council’s LEED-rating methodology.

Contractors working on KAFD include some of Saudi Arabia’s largest firm, such as Saudi Binladen Group, El Seif, Nesma, Al-Fanar, Saudi Systra, Cityscape (for landscaping), and Al-Bawani.

The KAFD comprises more than 40 individual buildings including the Capital Market Authority (CMA) tower.

The world’s largest green building development worth $11.6bn, is yet to be assigned a completion date.

10. Siemens Headquarters, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Siemens Headquarters is the first building in Abu Dhabi to achieve a Leed platinum rating.

The building has around 18,000 sqm of space, with Siemens occupying 12,000 sqm of this. The remaining 6,000 sqm is available as commercial space for rent. This includes around 1,000 sqm of retail and F&B units within a semi-enclosed, multi-level courtyard.

The Masdar City anchor building has won 16 prestigious awards, including the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards 2012 in the Offices Category and the International Property Award Winners – Arabia 2012 for Best Office Architecture.

Top 10 sustainable developments in the GCC | Design Middle East

 

[Saif al-Arab]

King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center:

Futurism for the win!

@ebray are you alive my friend? If you see this give me a call. Hope everything is well.

Same with you @Halimi . This thread will likely interest you given our past discussions.