CityBuild Construction Summit turns Abu Dhabi spotlight on massive opportunities for suppliers from rail and transit developments
Abu Dhabi, 20 March, 2011: The GCC countries are forging ahead with railway projects worth US$106.2 billion, new research has revealed in the build up to next month's CityBuild Construction Summit in Abu Dhabi.
Saudi Arabia leads the way with a total of 23 projects valued at US$ 25.6 billion, including the US$ 6 billion Makkah-Madina Railway Link which is currently under tender for construction.
In the UAE, eight railway projects valued at US$20.6 billion are under way, including the US$11 billion Emirates Railway Project on which construction begins in the middle of this year.
Meanwhile, Qatar is investing heavily in its transport infrastructure in preparation for the 2022 Football World Cup. The US$25 billion Qatar National Rail Scheme will link to the GCC Railway network - the US$30 billion, 2,200 km system that will connect all six GCC states by 2017.
Highlighting enormous opportunities for suppliers of construction products, the latest figures have been released by market research specialists Ventures Middle East ahead of the CityBuild Construction Summit. This runs alongside CityBuild Abu Dhabi, the region's premier exhibition for construction products, taking place from 17-20 April at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The CityBuild Construction Summit welcomes Emirates Steel as a Principal Sponsor.
Other major regional railway development also under way include Kuwait's National Rail Road Network and Metro System worth a combined US$17 billion, Oman's National Freight and Passenger Railway valued at US$10 billion, and Bahrain's Rapid Transport Network at an estimated US$ 8 billion.
Experts set to address the CityBuild Construction Summit will spotlight the growing significance of rail travel in the region and the huge business opportunities available.
"The rail and transit market has never been stronger in the Middle East," said Tom Topolski, Vice President of Transportation Middle East for AECOM, one of the summit speakers. "The rapid industrialisation of the region has created significant freight rail opportunities."
AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services, and Topolski will pinpoint ways to capitalise on new market opportunities on the second day of the CityBuild Construction Summit. The event features more than 30 speakers, 21 focused conference sessions, and four interactive workshops, including one hosted by Masdar City.
The opening day of the Summit will feature a 'Leaders in Construction Series' address by a keynote panel whose members include H.E.Fatima Al Jaber, Chief Operating Officer of Al Jaber Group, the Abu Dhabi-based construction, heavy lifting and logistics specialists.
Underlining the importance of the Summit she said: "Railway transportation is a large initiative and an additional sector that presents a huge area of opportunity in the Middle East."
The CityBuild Construction Summit brings together leaders shaping the future of the Middle East's construction industry, drawing attention to new strategies and innovative ideas used to thrive in the construction industry in the Middle East.
By popular demand, CityBuild Abu Dhabi will once again be co-located with Cityscape Abu Dhabi and, for the first time, Malaysia Services Exhibition. Cityscape and CityBuild Abu Dhabi, which together attract more than 30,000 visitors, are under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
VALUE OF RAILWAY PROJECTS IN GCC
Number of projects | Projects value (US$) | % of GCC rail projects by value | |
Saudi Arabia | 23 | 25.6 billion | 24% |
Qatar | 1 | 25 billion | 23% |
UAE | 8 | 20.6 billion | 20% |
Kuwait | 2 | 17 billion | 16% |
Oman | 1 | 10 billion | 9% |
Bahrain | 1 | 8 billion | 8% |
Total | 36 | 106.2 billion | 100% |
-Ends-
CityBuild Abu Dhabi is organised by IIR Middle East, the largest trade and consumer event business in the region with a portfolio of more than 40 large scale events across a variety of industries. IIR Middle East is part of Informa plc (www.informa.com) the largest publicly owned organiser of conferences and courses in the world with more than 10,000 events annually.
For further press information please contact:
Lindsay Johnston / Gareth Wright / Ahmad Huzayen
Total Communications
Tel: +971 4 336 9909
Fax: +971 4 336 9905
Email: lindsay@totalcompr.ae / gareth@totalcompr.ae / ahmad@totalcompr.ae
© Press Release 2011
