MENA Project Tracker: Rail projects in the execution stage in the region amount to $53bn

Rail projects across the region amount to a significant number with Egypt in the lead. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 30 May 2022
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MENA Project Tracker: Rail projects in the execution stage in the region amount to $53bn

RIYADH: Rail projects across the region amount to a significant number with Egypt in the lead with the state’s high-speed rail program. Oman’s Madayn is handling 30 infrastructure-related projects accumulating to a major amount. In addition, France’s Total Energies has signed a preliminary agreement to establish a major solar power plant in Libya to boost green installed capacity in the country. On another note, Sharjah Electricity, Water, & Gas Authority has invited firms to express interest in an independent water project. Meanwhile, Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has signed 23 development agreements.

·      Rail projects across the Middle East and North Africa region at the execution stage amount to $53 billion in value, according to MEED Projects. Egypt is leading the biggest number of rail projects at the execution stage worth $25 billion. The most significant rail projects in the North African country today are the three phases of the National Authority for Tunnels’ high-speed rail program.

·      Oman’s Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, also referred to as Madayn, has revealed that it is currently handling a total of 30 consultancy works and infrastructure projects amounting to $518 million, Trade Arabia reported.  Dispersed across 11 industrial cities in the sultanate, the projects are being controlled directly or through Madayn’s investment arm, Mubadarah and Shumookh Investment and Services. 

·      French multinational oil and gas company Total Energies has signed an agreement with General Electric Co. of Libya and the Renewable Energy Authority of Libya to develop a 500 MW solar power plant in the country, MEED reported. To be located in Al-Sadada region, the facility is projected to generate as much as 152 terawatt-hours of renewable energy per year upon completion. The plant is one of many planned solar and wind power plants aiming to bolster the African country’s green installed capacity.

·      Sharjah Electricity, Water, & Gas Authority has invited firms to bid for a contract to establish a sweater reverse osmosis plant, MEED reported. Also referred to as the Hamriyah independent water project, the planned facility is projected to have a potential capacity amounting to 90 million imperial gallons per day.

·      Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has announced that it has signed a total of 23 development agreements with private sector firms, amounting to $95.8 million in value. The agreements cover several sectors including business, sports, education, agriculture, and health, among others, Trade Arabia reported, citing Oman News Agency.


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.