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MEED Report: Projects in UAE - Key Trends and Opportunities - July 2025

Projects in UAE – Key trends and Opportunities

With nearly $875bn-worth of projects planned or underway in UAE, it is the second largest projects market in the MENA region after Saudi Arabia. There are nevertheless brighter things on the horizon, with more than $92.5bn-worth of projects in different phases of bidding. The passage of these schemes into execution should only be hastened by the hale and hearty state of the wider economy.

Projects Market Size:

The market saw contract awards just more than $20.4bn in 2020, down from an average of about $42.6bn in the years (2015-2019) preceding the pandemic. While 2021 saw a recovery to $28.7bn-worth of awards, the 2022 figure of $32.6bn remains some way off matching this figure. However, the first half of 2023’s performance surpassed all the expectations. In another concerning trend, UAE project completions have continued to outweigh project awards. The shift to alternative models such as public private partnerships (PPP) will continue in the future.

In terms of future projects, the construction sector is the largest, with nearly $375bn worth of projects in the tender, design or study phase.

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To find more free resources within the construction industry, download our webinar presentation on the GCC Rail & Metro Projects 2025.