The contracting sector in Saudi Arabia witnessed a strong start during January 2026, as official data from the Saudi Contractors Authority showed a distinctive volume of new projects that were awarded, reflecting continued activity and expansion in the construction, energy and other sectors.
Official data from the Saudi Contractors Authority showed a distinctive volume of new projects that were awarded, reflecting continued activity and expansion in the construction, energy and other sectors.
<A report issued by Saudi Contractors Authority revealed that the total value of projects awarded during January 2026 amounted to SAR 11.73 billion, distributed across five major projects. The building and construction sector accounted for the bulk of this value with a share of 80%, where four projects were awarded with a total value of 10.61 billion riyals, while the oil and gas sector recorded one project worth 1.12 billion riyals, representing 20% of the total projects.
In detail, these projects were distributed across five subsectors, where the data center sector topped the list with a huge value of about 10.125 billion riyals, followed by the oil and gas pipelines project worth 1.125 billion riyals. In other sectors, the projects included residential apartments worth SAR 281.25 million, an airport costing SAR 187.5 million, in addition to a small commercial project worth SAR 18.75 million.
Riyadh leads with two projects
Geographically, the Riyadh region led with two projects, accounting for 40% of the total projects, followed by the Eastern Province, Medina, and Makkah with one project each. Riyadh topped the list of regions in terms of the total value of awarded projects, exceeding SR10.143 billion, followed by the Eastern Province with SR1.125 billion, Medina with SR281.25 million, and Makkah with SR187.5 million. The report predicted that four of these projects will be delivered by 2028, with a total financial value of more than 11.55 billion riyals, while the fifth project is expected to be delivered in 2029 at a cost of 187.5 million riyals.
The fifth project is expected to be delivered in 2029 at a cost of 187.5 million riyals. As for February 2026, the report indicated that about 11 new projects could be awarded, half of which will be in the construction and building and oil and gas sectors, with half of these projects concentrated in Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern Province, reflecting the continued momentum in these vital sectors and key geographical areas.
For the month of February 2026, the report indicated that about 11 new projects could be awarded, half of which will be in the construction and building and oil and gas sectors.
