Saudi Arabia

Faced with increasing consumer demand, the water and power sector is receiving a $37.5bn injection of state funding in 2014. These projects, chiefly in power generation, will be accompanied by a restructuring of the mostly state-owned power company that accounts for 85% of public supply. Electricity subsidies remain in place, with consumer prices near production costs, making them well below...

Already the world’s largest oil producer and second-largest repository of reserves, Saudi Arabia is now looking to boost output of natural gas, including through deep-water and unconventional exploration, as well as to increase refining output. Total oil production in 2013 was 11.53m barrels a day, down 1.1% on 2012’s record levels, but still amounting to 13.1% of global output. This chapter...

Home to the world’s largest conventional oil field, and Saudi Arabia’s largest province by size, the Eastern Province is responsible for much of the Kingdom’s oil production. It is the most important centre for heavy industry in the country and home to the world’s biggest petrochemicals cluster at Jubail, which is currently in the midst of a major expansion. Other large-scale projects at Ras Al...

The results of efforts to address decades of rapid unplanned growth in Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city are beginning to become clear as transportation plans advance and major development projects get under way. With a focus on public- private partnerships, affordable housing and the redevelopment of large parts of the city, and a number of mega-projects and a $12bn integrated urban transport...

As both the number of pilgrims and the number of residents in Islam’s holiest city continue to rise, the development and expansion of infrastructure is the main theme in Makkah at present. Investing in the necessary facilities to accommodate visitors, boosting the number of available hotel rooms and building more affordable housing for residents will all be major focuses going forward. This...

One of the largest in the GCC, Saudi Arabia’s insurance industry is expanding at a rate which some believe will soon see it surpass the UAE to claim the title of regional leader. 33 insurers are currently licensed to operate in the Saudi market, while a further three have been approved for establishment. This makes for a crowded sector, with intense competition played out largely in the arena of...