ALEC’s IPO on the DFM raised $381m with demand topping $8.1bn, marking the UAE’s biggest-ever construction listing by size and value
Construction
ALEC
Dubai IPO: ALEC Holdings offers 1bn shares, market cap up to $1.91bn
ALEC Holdings sets Dubai IPO price range at AED1.35–1.40 per share, valuing firm at up to AED7bn, with AED500m dividend planned for 2026
UAE construction output to hit $130.8bn by 2029: Knight Frank report
Construction output across the UAE has increased since the start of the decade
Arada
Arada awards $593.6mn construction contract for Madar Mall in Sharjah
Madar Mall spans a built-up area of 3.9 million square feet and serves as the anchor attraction and phase of Madar, the family entertainment district at Aljada
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi approves 30m sqm of new projects in record urban growth surge
Abu Dhabi has approved over 30m sqm of new projects in H1 2025, a 133% surge, driving record urban growth across housing, business, and community hubs
Saudi construction
Saudi construction sector surges with $1.7tn pipeline of projects
Saudi Arabia’s construction sector is booming with a $1.7tn project pipeline, Turner & Townsend cites giga-projects and Vision 2030 as key drivers
Marjan
Marjan completes infrastructure at RAK Central development in Ras Al Khaimah
RAK Central is a business district designed to be the commercial nucleus of Ras Al Khaimah
Diriyah
Diriyah awards $5bn contracts as 3.6m visits mark global rise in 2025
Diriyah awarded $5bn in contracts and welcomed 3.6m visits by mid-2025, boosting its global profile with new landmarks, culture and Vision 2030 projects
Jeddah
Saudi Arabia’s $692bn projects pipeline to headline Jeddah Construct 2025
Saudi Arabia’s $692bn projects pipeline will headline Jeddah Construct 2025 at the Superdome, uniting 13,000 professionals and more than 200 global exhibitors
Dubai construction
Dubai to host Big 5 Global 2025 as $7tn construction projects drive record demand
Dubai to host Big 5 Global 2025 as $7tn construction projects drive record demand
Construction
Oman launches construction digitisation drive to boost real estate standards
Muscat has signed four cooperation deals with universities, industry bodies and a digital platform to modernise construction, boost efficiency and attract investment, officials say
Branded residences
UAE holiday, petrol price changes, tax update, Saudi property reforms, new Kuwait laws – 10 things you missed this week
From a new UAE holiday and petrol price changes to a significant tax update, Saudi property reforms and new Kuwait laws — here are 10 big Gulf business stories you may have missed this week
Abu Dhabi
TAQA Distribution, Aldar sign new partnership for Abu Dhabi infrastructure development
TAQA Distribution and Aldar will assess areas of cooperation across Aldar’s infrastructure portfolio, with a focus on enhancing utility delivery and long-term operational efficiency for Abu Dhabi
Dubai
TECOM Group acquires $435mn land plots in Dubai Industrial City
The purchase will expand TECOM Group’s land portfolio to exceed 209 million square feet
Dubai construction
Dubai warns firms over villa construction costs
Dubai Municipality warns firms over inflated villa designs, enforcing Building Code to cut costs and ensure safe, sustainable construction
construction cost inflation
Saudi construction costs increase in July 2025
The cost of construction in Saudi Arabia saw year-on-year increases as residential prices rise
bay villas
636 luxury villas coming to Dubai Islands as Nakheel awards $708m contract
Nakheel awards AED2.6bn Bay Villas contract to Fibrex for Dubai Islands luxury community
