Dubai to boost infrastructure spending by 43 per cent in 2018
19 December, 2017 | By COLIN FOREMAN
Dubai will increase its spending on infrastructure and construction projects by 43 per cent next year as it continues to prepare for Expo 2020 as well as invest in other strategic projects.
The Dubai government has a budget of AED11.886bn ($3.2bn) to spend on infrastructure projects based on the budget approved on 11 December by Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. An estimated AED5bn has been allocated for Expo 2020 alone.
The 2017 budget for infrastructure spending was just over AED8bn.
For 2018, the government says infrastructure spending accounts for 21 per cent of the total budget expenditure of AED56.6bn. The spending will mean Dubai runs a budget deficit of AED6.2bn in 2018, which is 1.55 per cent of GDP. The overall 2018 budget spending is a 19.5 per cent increase on spending for 2017.
The increase in government spending on infrastructure projects does not necessarily translate into an increase in contract awards next year. This is because many of the infrastructure schemes that will receive spending in 2018 have already been awarded, and include major projects such as the Route 2020 extension to the Red Line of the Dubai Metro. According to regional projects tracker MEED Projects, there were $5bn (AED18.35bn) of public sector contract awards across all sectors.
The government says its spending for the Expo will total AED25bn. Spending on the metro expansion is estimated to be about AED10.6bn. This spending will not all be made in 2018.
Dubai is tendering contracts that will be awarded next year. Two major deals were recently tendered by the Roads & Transport Authority for the construction of the Infinity Bridge crossing Dubai Creek and the elevation of Al-Khail Road.
These projects will add to construction work on real estate projects that are being developed by private sector developers.
Related Posts
Executive Council circular says contractors’ contracts should be amended to ensure prompt supply chain payments
Abu Dhabi has made further moves to address the payment problems facing the emirate’s construction sector. Its ...
READ MORE
GlobalData foresees more complex and comprehensive power-purchase agreements post Covid-19
Confinement measures to combat Covid-19 could have drastic implications on existing and new power-purchase agreements (PPA) around the world.
According to a GlobalData ...
READ MORE
The lowest bidder is the local Al-Naboodah followed by another local company DBB
Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has received bids from contractors for the contract to build the next ...
READ MORE
Contractors warns that firms do not have the resources to support the development of a large number of projects at one time
Public-private partnership (PPP) projects around the world face a ...
READ MORE
Adnoc is evaluating bids received from companies looking to invest in its refineries unit
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) could make a decision about awarding stakes in its refining business ...
READ MORE
GlobalData tracker finds regional contractors are most exposed to the downturn in construction activity
Contractors in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region are most likely to be impacted by Covid-19 ...
READ MORE
Mashreq CEO says customers can expect a transformation in the way they do their banking
The banking sector is on the cusp of a robotics revolution that is set to transform ...
READ MORE
The client received prequalification entries for PV solar plant earlier this month
Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) is planning to issue the request for proposals (RFP) for a planned 1.5GW ...
READ MORE
Middle East manufacturers need to decarbonise their operations to be competitive. It is not easy.
Watch the on-demand webinar here
Middle East manufacturers must invest in decarbonising their operations and their supply ...
READ MORE
The Kuwait Oil Company project is worth $4.1bn
The first phase of the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Ratqa Lower Fars Heavy Oil megaproject is on course to be completed in March ...
READ MORE
Abu Dhabi orders construction payments to be made
Power purchase negotiations expected to slow
Dubai receives Shindagha Road Corridor construction bids
PPP projects face contracting bottleneck
Adnoc plans to award stakes in refining business
Middle East contractors most impacted by Covid-19
EXCLUSIVE: Robots set to transform GCC banking
Abu Dhabi sets target tender date for 1.5GW
Net zero challenge for Middle East manufacturers
EXCLUSIVE: Phase one of Kuwait heavy oil scheme
19 December, 2017 | .By COLIN FOREMAN