President, Infrastructure EMEA at Parsons Corporation
Today, the Middle East stands at the cusp of a significant transformation, driven by ambitious national visions, sustained population growth and mega-events like the World Expo and FIFA World Cup.
Massive infrastructure projects in the kingdom and strong tourism and hospitality sectors in the UAE will see the two country’s economies growing exponentially in the next two years.
As critical sectors continue to fuel economic growth, we are far from reaching peak spend and activity, presenting an unparalleled opportunity for infrastructure development.
The past year proved to be a dynamic year for infrastructure development in the region, underscoring its role in driving long-term economic growth, enhancing connectivity, and improving quality of life. Despite a global economic slowdown, the region continued to invest strategically in critical infrastructure, recognising its power to fuel innovation and create a more sustainable future.
As half a billion air travellers are projected to flow through the Middle East in 2025, the need for continued infrastructure development to meet the growing demands of this vital sector is clear.
Today, there is a strong emphasis on creating future-ready cities with urban spaces where people can thrive. We are delivering project management services to develop Soudah Peaks, an upcoming year-round luxury mountain tourism destination set 3,015 metres above sea level on Saudi Arabia’s highest peak, and the transformative mixed-use AlWadi waterfront development.
In the UAE, the Dubai government has allocated 46 per cent of the total spending proposed in its 2025 budget for the infrastructure sector and its related construction projects. The five-year plan for internal roads (2025-2029) has also been approved, which encompasses 21 projects spreading across 12 residential, commercial and industrial areas, with a total of 634 kilometres of new roads costing Dhs3.7bn.
Underpinning our regional impact is a 65-year legacy of partnership and investment. In 2024, we officially opened a new Regional Headquarters in Riyadh and more than doubled the employee count to nearly 3,000; as well as inaugurated our EMEA headquarters in Abu Dhabi, with over 500 projects successfully completed across the region.
This year marks a turning point as the tangible impact of artificial intelligence (AI) begins to take shape across industries including infrastructure. This transformative technology will see twofold impact in terms of revolutionising operations and fueling the demand for infrastructure where we expect an increased need for infrastructure development in this region with readily available, low-cost energy.
As data continues to play a critical role in smart cities and thriving nations, building a robust data infrastructure is not only important — it’s essential. The GCC is poised to lead this charge, with massive investments in digital infrastructure, AI, and advanced manufacturing creating unprecedented growth opportunities. Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are already driving digital infrastructure as well as smart networks and power supply, and advanced manufacturing segments such as semiconductor chips are also quickly becoming attractive investments.
As the skills gap persists, there is an opportunity to upskill, reskill and cross-skill existing talent within the industry. Saudisation and Emiratisation programmes are seeing great promise as the next generation of nationals have a strong passion for supporting their countries. The new generation demands ethics and transparency, which companies are prioritising to attract and retain talent. Parsons – recognised every year since 2010 as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere and is one of only three honorees in the Engineering Services category – continues to reinforce the importance of ethics and integrity in driving its culture of performance.