MEED | Middle East Economic Digest

We are excited to introduce Abdulelah Alsheikh, Country Director at Jacobs, as a speaker at the Saudi Giga Projects 2025 Summit! With over 25 years of experience in real estate development, urban strategy and economic planning, Abdulelah Alsheikh has played a key role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s evolving landscape. A specialist in urban economics, real estate development, funding and governance, Abdulelah is known for driving high-impact strategies that deliver strong financial returns and transformative urban projects. Join Abdulelah Alsheikh at the summit on 12-14 May 2025! Buy your 15% OFF delegate pass here: https://lnkd.in/dTtMrP8F Sponsors & Attending Partners: Platinum Partner: ALBADDAD Group Gold Partner: Autodesk | Nemetschek Group | Procore Technologies | UNIMAC - United Maintenance and Contracting Company Contracting Partner: IHCC Consulting Partner: HKA | Kirkland & Ellis  Design Partner: SETS  MEP Partner: Victaulic  Bronze Partners: Affinitext | J.S. Held LLC | RAFA Gulf Contracting Company | RIB Software Attending Partners: AGC Obeikan Glass | ALEC | Chubb | DAR ENGINEERING | Hassan Allam Holding | Henkel-Polybit | HFW | Qanbar Ready Mix | Al Ansari Holdings | Revizto | Rutherford + Partners LLC. | Treysan Prefabricated Steel Construction Industry & Trade Corp. | UCC Holding | ZWSOFT #SGP2025 #MEED #SaudiGigaProjects #Speaker

President Donald Trump may visit Saudi Arabia in the next six weeks, with discussions around the kingdom’s civilian nuclear power plant potentially on the agenda. While Russia, Ukraine and Middle East peace are expected to be key topics, energy cooperation – including nuclear industry developments – could also take centre stage. Trump’s first overseas trip during his first term in 2017 was to Riyadh, where he announced $350bn in Saudi investments. More details here: https://lnkd.in/dducZCYf   #TrumpInSaudi #NuclearEnergy #USSaudiRelations #GlobalInvestments

Introducing Yasir Iqbal as a speaker at the Saudi Giga Projects 2025 Summit! Yasir Iqbal is MEED’s Construction Editor and has been with MEED | Middle East Economic Digest for over four years, working as a researcher, writer and construction expert. Before joining MEED, Yasir worked as an analyst at a regional project tracking platform, leading a team of researchers in analysing the projects market and providing expert assessments for key stakeholders across the region. His expertise lies in the Saudi construction market, with a particular focus on giga projects, for which he is widely known for his insights and commentary. Join Yasir at Saudi Giga Projects 2025, where he will share his expertise on the current and future landscape of Saudi Arabia’s construction boom. Buy your 15% OFF delegate pass here: https://lnkd.in/dEw4_U-h Sponsors & Attending Partners: Platinum Partner: ALBADDAD Group Gold Partner: Autodesk | Nemetschek Group | Procore Technologies | UNIMAC - United Maintenance and Contracting Company Contracting Partner: IHCC Consulting Partner: HKA | Kirkland & Ellis  Design Partner: SETS MEP Partner: Victaulic Bronze Partners: Affinitext | J.S. Held LLC | RAFA Gulf Contracting Company | RIB Software Attending Partners: AGC Obeikan Glass | ALEC | Chubb | DAR ENGINEERING | Hassan Allam Holding | Henkel-Polybit | HFW | Qanbar Ready Mix | Al Ansari Holdings | Revizto | Rutherford + Partners LLC. | Treysan Prefabricated Steel Construction Industry & Trade Corp. | UCC Holding | ZWSOFT #SGP2025 #MEED #SaudiGigaProjects #Speaker

We are pleased to welcome Mohamed Ahmed Amer, M.Sc., Managing Director for the MENA region at the International Code Council, to the stage at the Saudi Giga Projects 2025 Summit! Mohamed Amer joined ICC to run the Dubai office by providing essential on-the-ground support to organisations involved in building safety in the region, including various stakeholders like AHJs, consultants, manufacturers and architects. With over a decade in oil/gas, project management and TIC industries, he leads ICC’s operations and business development aspects in the MENA through existing and new partners, to help deploy/lead/facilitate ICC’s service lines for new business offerings across its family of solutions spectrum. Hear from Mohamed at the summit on 12-14 May 2025! Buy your 15% OFF delegate pass here: https://lnkd.in/dEw4_U-h Sponsors & Attending Partners: Platinum Partner: ALBADDAD Group Gold Partner: Autodesk | Nemetschek Group | Procore Technologies | UNIMAC - United Maintenance and Contracting Company Contracting Partner: IHCC Consulting Partner: HKA | Kirkland & Ellis Design Partner: SETS MEP Partner: Victaulic Bronze Partners: Affinitext | J.S. Held LLC | RAFA Gulf Contracting Company | RIB Software Attending Partners: AGC Obeikan Glass | ALEC | Chubb | DAR ENGINEERING | Hassan Allam Holding | Henkel-Polybit | HFW | Qanbar Ready Mix | Al Ansari Holdings | Revizto | Rutherford + Partners LLC. | Treysan Prefabricated Steel Construction Industry & Trade Corp. | UCC Holding | ZWSOFT  #SGP2025 #MEED #SaudiGigaProjects #Speaker

With so many of the world's tallest buildings located in the Middle East, do you think the region should now be considered the global capital of tall towers? Vote below! #MiddleEast #TallestTower #MEED

Setting new benchmarks in banking excellence, UOB has been named The Asia Trailblazer of the Year 2025 (Institution) at the Retail Banker International Trailblazer Awards 2025! 🏆 This prestigious accolade recognises UOB’s unmatched growth, innovation and customer engagement. From AI-driven insights to market-first partnerships, UOB is redefining banking with seamless digital adoption and cross-border payments—powering financial connectivity across ASEAN like never before. Congratulations, UOB! Register your interest in RBI 2026 here: https://lnkd.in/daHkCgKz #RBI2025 #APAC #UOB #ASEAN #Finance #Banking

Leading the way in customer-first banking, Standard Chartered Hong Kong has won two awards at the Retail Banker International Trailblazer Awards 2025! 🏆 Best Savings Plan Offering 🏆 Best Retail Bank – Hong Kong Congratulation Standard Chartered Hong Kong! From seamless digital experiences to smarter savings solutions, you have continued to make banking rewarding, accessible and tailored to customers’ evolving needs. Register your interest in RBI 2026 here: https://lnkd.in/daHkCgKz #RBI2025 #APAC #StandardChartered #HongKong #Finance

Congratulations Maybank Singapore! 🏆 Maybank Singapore has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to sustainability at the Retail Banker International Trailblazer Awards 2025, winning: 🏆 Best in ESG Strategy 🏆 Best in CSR Initiative Environmental Impact Your dedication to sustainable finance for SMEs and game-changing partnerships is driving real impact, helping businesses assess, finance and advance their sustainability goals. A well-deserved recognition! 🌍👏 Register your interest in RBI 2026 here: https://lnkd.in/daHkCgKz #RBI2025 #APAC #Maybank #Singapore #ESG #Finance

Dubai-based real estate developer Nakheel – now part of local developer Dubai Holding – has issued a tender for the construction of another 550 villas on the fronds of Palm Jebel Ali, an artificial island located south of Jebel Ali Freezone. The tender follows the award of three contracts worth AED5bn ($1.3bn) to construct 723 villas on Palm Jebel Ali in October last year. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d5u7p72P #construction #villas #palm #jebelali #dubai #uae #nakheel

That’s a wrap on the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2025! 🎉 A huge thank you to all our attendees, judges, nominees and winners for making this event a celebration of excellence in retail banking. Your innovations and achievements continue to inspire the industry and drive banking forward. We look forward to seeing you again for RBI 2026—until then, keep trailblazing!  Become a winner and register your interest for the 2026 edition: https://lnkd.in/dRv6rP63  #RBIAwards2025 #APAC #Finance #Banking #RetailBanking