Arab countries secured 1,129 foreign construction projects valued at around USD 430 billion by July 2024, according to the Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman). These projects, launched since January 2003, generated over 611,000 jobs.
Dhaman reported that the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, and Oman attracted 765 of these projects, making up 68% of the total with a combined investment of over USD 269 billion (63% of the total). Notably, the UAE led regional investment, initiating 242 projects over the past 22 years with a capital expenditure exceeding USD 139 billion, creating over 170,000 jobs.
Saudi Arabia topped the rankings for infrastructure investment, viewed as the lowest-risk Arab market with the highest incentives, followed closely by the UAE, Qatar, and Oman. Dhaman anticipates the Arab region’s construction sector to grow by 3.6% by the end of 2024, reaching USD 498 billion and representing over 5% of the global construction output. This growth is expected to continue, aiming for USD 707 billion by 2030.
Additionally, Arab foreign trade in construction-related goods and services is expected to rise by 3% in 2023, surpassing USD 193 billion and accounting for 5.7% of the region’s total trade in goods and services.
