Kuwait to get US$17.5B construction deals by end of 2014

Kuwait's construction sector has witnessed remarkable growth at a steady pace, driven by the announcement of several infrastructure projects in recent times. According to a recent report by Ventures Middle East, the construction contracts in the country are set to reach US$17.5 billion by the end of 2014 from US$9.8 billion in 2011. Among the major infrastructure projects under various stages of planning and construction are Kuwait International Airport (KIA) re-development project, Kuwait Metro project, and the Kuwait National Rail Road System.
Airport Expansion
The USD 698.5 million KIA redevelopment project is one of the key projects in Kuwait, which includes improvement of airport buildings and enhancement of other facilities such as fire stations, rescue centers and service roads. The planned expansion will increase the airport's annual capacity to 20 million passengers. Likewise, the construction of the second terminal worth USD 3.3 billion will be able to handle 13 million passengers annually during the first phases, with plans to increase to 25 million and 50 million during subsequent phases.

Infrastructure Development

The USD 7 billion Kuwait Metro project is another vital project currently in the stages of design and supervision. Nearly 65 per cent underground, the Metro will cover more than 160 km, comprising 69 stations on its three lines. Lastly, the Kuwait National Rail Road System to be built at an investment of USD 10 billion will be an integrated rail network with a total length of 511 km double track. To be built on a "build, operate and transfer" (BOT) basis, the project is currently in the final process of design with budget and allocation being already made and the tendering process expected to commence soon.

Andy White, Group Event Director, The Big 5, said, "The demand for fresh technology and new building material is on a steady rise in Kuwait, driven by a robust performance of the construction and infrastructure sector. The total cost of infrastructure and construction projects in 2014 will touch USD 23.2 billion.

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