GlobalData: Construction output in MENA region to take downturn

Yasmine Ghozzi, Economist at GlobalData, comments: “Oil and gas dependent countries will face funding challenges given the decline in oil prices, which will have a negative impact on investment in major public-funded development projects. Although an historic agreement on production cuts was reached on 12 April between OPEC members and the group’s major oil producing allies to cut production by 9.7 million bpd, oil prices are set to remain at low levels given the severe decline in global demand.”

While Saudi Arabia is still maintaining its renewable energy programme impetus and Aramco is issuing tenders for offshore construction works, other parts of the GCC, including Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, are revising their spending and their construction pipelines.

Ghozzi continues: “Dubai’s Department of Finance has also ordered a 50% cut in capital spending and has called for a freeze on new public construction schemes. Outside the GCC, the Iraqi Government announced that COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a force majeure for all projects and contracts, creating uncertainty in Iraq’s construction sector.

“In North Africa, the outbreak threatens to devastate Egypt’s US$12.5 billion-a-year tour-ism industry, which accounts for 12% of GDP, and will likely have a severe impact on the commercial buildings works, as investment plans in the hospitality sector are expected to be halted, if not cancelled outright.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/17042020/globaldata-construction-output-in-mena-region-to-take-downturn/