Today's Edition
A.SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Projects worth nearly $30 billion were awarded in 114 contracts during the first three months of 2026 in the UAE, signifying the robustness of the economic activity, according to data shared by MEED, a regional business intelligence firm specialising in projects data.
The figure is based on contract awards of $6.875 billion in January, $13.149 billion in February and $9.72 billion in March, which together add up to $29.744 billion.
February was the strongest month of the quarter, both in terms of value and number of awards, with $13.149 billion worth of contracts awarded across 52 deals. January saw $6.875 billion in awards across 46 contracts, while March recorded $9.72 billion across 16 contracts.
The March figure represented a nearly 26% decline in value from February, while the number of contracts fell sharply from 52 to 16.
MEED said the UAE projects market remained active despite regional developments, with work on most sites staying steady.
The presentation noted that a few sites near oil, gas and port areas paused for checks before resuming, indicating continued planning and control on the ground.
Available sector-wise data in the presentation, which runs up to February 2026, showed transport leading contract awards at $9.871 billion, followed by construction at $3.941 billion.
Power sector awards stood at $1.793 billion, oil at $1.442 billion, gas at $500 million and water treatment at $120 million.
The presentation also highlighted several major projects shaping the UAE pipeline. These include the Dubai Metro Gold Line, described as Dubai’s largest transport project, with an estimated value of Dh34 billion, or $9.2 billion. The fully underground line will run for more than 42 kilometres and include 18 stations, connecting Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai with Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Another flagship scheme is the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, where the passenger terminal design approved in 2024 is valued at Dh128 billion, or $35 billion.
The wider airport plan includes five parallel runways, passenger terminals, four mega-concourses, 400 aircraft gates and a 14-station automated people mover system.
Phase 1 is targeted for completion in 2032, raising capacity to 150 million passengers annually.
MEED also cited the UAE’s fourth federal highway, a Dh6 billion, or $1.63 billion, corridor scheme.
The project comprises a 68-kilometre route with 10 major interchanges, four flyovers and six to eight lanes in each direction.
Route alignments are being finalised.
The UAE projects market has expanded significantly in recent years, with the total value of projects rising to about $1.27 trillion in 2026 (up to February), compared with around $878 billion in 2024 and $1.14 trillion in 2025.
This marks a strong recovery from the post-pandemic dip, when project values fell to nearly $539 billion in 2022 before rebounding steadily through 2023 and beyond.
