The total value of 21,893 active construction projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reached $2.4 trillion at the beginning of September 2017, according to a report. Of these, the total value of urban construction projects reached $1.18 trillion, said the BNC Construction Intelligence report.

More business opportunities in the GCC have opened up for Brazilian investors with $32 billion worth of large-scale urban construction projects now being tendered in the region, the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) said.

Kanoo Automotive and Industrial Equipment (KAIE), which has grown to become one of the largest divisions of the Bahrain-based Ebrahim K. Kanoo B.S.C (c), has recently been rebranded as KAIE. This is following its expansion into the industrial sector.

Kuwait National Petroleum Company’s (KNPC) expenditure over the next five years is likely to touch KD3.5 billion ($11.6 billion), CEO Mohammad Al Mutiari said. In an interview with the local Al-Rai daily, he said that the expenses were earmarked for ongoing projects as well as launching new ones.

Case Construction Equipment has appointed Jose Cuadrado (right) as the new vice-president for its operations in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.

Kuwait plans to build an eco-friendly water treatment plant with a capacity of 400,000 cu m per day in South Al Mutalaa, said a report. The plant will have features that are not normally seen in conventional treatment plants, the Al Jarida reported, citing a senior official of Ministry of Public Works.

The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) is likely to offer projects worth nearly KD3 billion ($10 billion) to local companies and investors soon, a report said.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) hospitality market is witnessing robust growth with a total of 891 hotel projects under construction in the region, said a report. Of this, about 583 projects comprising 164,898 rooms are under contract in the Middle East, stated STR, a leading provider of global hotel data, in its August 2017 Pipeline Report.

Kuwaiti authorities said work was progressing well on the KD84.6-million ($280 million) Wafra Road and the first phase of the project would be completed by March next year. The project involves construction of nine intersections, nine flyovers and over 41 km of four-lane roads, reported the Kuwait Times, citing a top official.

Roundabout revamp completed Bahrain’S Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning has completed the revamp of Wali Al Ahad Roundabout.

Oman’s Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (Sezad) has signed an agreement with Boskalis Westminster (Oman) for the construction of the liquid bulk berth at Duqm Port at a cost of RO199.1 million ($515.4 million).

Kuwait’s Jahra Road project is about 94 per cent complete, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Public Works Ahmad Al Hassan said. The development project is the upgrade of existing at-grade Jahra Road located in bustling industrial area of Shuwaikh. The project consists of 17.

Oman’s Tanfeedh, a national programme for enhancing economic diversification, has revealed that feasibility studies for establishing the Air Cargo Village at Muscat International Airport have commenced.

Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has opened two new tunnels at Pearl Interchange on Lusail Expressway aimed at reducing traffic congestion. Ashghal President Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi said the opening of the tunnels will have a big impact on reducing traffic congestion at the interchange.

National Industrial Contracting Company (NICC) has been awarded a contract for infrastructure works on the central district of a mixed-use development in Doha. One of the largest private real estate projects in Qatar, Al Wa’ab City (AWC) is spread over an area of 1.2 million sq m in the very heart of Al Wa’ab area.

The hospitality industry in Egypt is booming as the country is witnessing a significant increase in hotel projects, primarily represented by five- and four-star properties, a new report said.

Four consortiums led by global players – JGC, GS Inima, Acwa and Tedagua – are in the race to develop a seawater desalination plant in Sharqiyah area of Oman, with a capacity of 17.6 million gallons per day.

A major distribution facility for building materials in Duqm will be ready by the middle of 2019, according to an official at Oman Wanfang.