DUBAI – Ongoing roads and bridges developments across the GCC are currently valued at $109 billion according to the most recent figures from business advisory and research firm, Ventures Middle East.
The UAE, second worldwide for roads quality in the latest Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, has investments worth $58 billion in the pipeline for roads and bridges alone, while neighbor Saudi Arabia is undertaking infrastructural improvement projects valued at $77 billion that includes roads, bridges and rail.
As the host of the 2022 Football World Cup, Qatar leads the 2013 boom with an allocation of $20 billion for roads and highways, in addition to a $35 billion rail network. The combined share of roads and bridges projects in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia meanwhile represents more than 75 percent of the total $109 billion pot.
Oman is securing $14.8 billion on roads, rail and bridges infrastructure in the coming few years, while the Kuwaiti budget for infrastructure works is estimated at $13 billion. Bahrain meanwhile also declared earlier in 2013 that it will spend more than $2.5 billion on major road, bridge, and tunnel networks. The figures signify good news for the hundreds of transport infrastructure service providers participating at the Gulf Traffic exhibition and conference, taking place on Dec. 9 to 11, 2013 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Supported by Abu Dhabi Police and SAEED, the three-day event will bring together more than 100 exhibitors from 20 countries involved in the design, build, and maintenance of the region’s road, rail, parking and public transport projects.
Richard Pavitt, Exhibition Director for Gulf Traffic, said: “The Gulf region has been at the forefront of transport infrastructure developments for several years now, and 2013 marks another big year, where dozens of new projects have been announced across the six Gulf states.”
“Gulf Traffic will bring together industry leaders from across the globe involved in road, rail, public transport and parking industries. Suppliers will be able to showcase new trends and technologies offering cutting edge insights and industry solutions.”
Now in its tenth edition, Gulf Traffic focuses on the four key transport industry sectors including traffic infrastructure, parking, road safety, and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
Organized by Informa Exhibitions, the region’s foremost transport infrastructure event is also supported by ITS Arab, with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) signing on as Knowledge Partner.
The show returns this year with the Gulf Traffic Conference, bringing together senior-level professionals and government officials presenting the latest on road and safety management trends and global implementations of ITS.
