UAE Deepens Investment in Social Infrastructure Amid Population Growth and Strategic Reforms
In 2024, the Middle East had a total value of US$1.6 billion in social infrastructure transactions, which is expected to grow to US$2.0 billion by 2027. According to the report, almost half (46%) of EMEA stakeholders cite population growth and improved quality of life as key investment drivers.
Ansarada's Social Infrastructure Outlook 2025 explores key themes such as procurement efficiency, risk allocation and the shift towards workflow digitalisation, providing up-to-the-minute insights into prevailing procurement trends.
explores key themes such as procurement efficiency, risk allocation and the shift towards workflow digitalisation, providing up-to-the-minute insights into prevailing procurement trends.
Justin Smith, Managing Director, Ansarada, said, 'We're seeing a notable shift in how infrastructure capital is being deployed across the Middle East, with the UAE playing a leading role in this evolution. Through strategic reforms, ongoing population growth, and government initiatives promoting technology-enabled procurement, the UAE appears to be enhancing project delivery while working toward higher standards for sustainable urban development. This progressive approach is contributing to changes in how healthcare, education, and housing infrastructure are funded, built, and managed throughout the region.'
The UAE federal government has allocated over AED 27 billion ($7.4 billion) to upgrade infrastructure, its most ambitious investment to date, driven by 4% annual population growth and rising global investor interest. To meet demand, the government is increasingly using public-private partnerships (PPP) models to fast-track delivery and leverage private sector expertise.
At the same time, EMEA has emerged as the most competitive region, with 30% of professionals reporting very high levels of competition during the bidding stage of their most recent projects, significantly higher than any other market surveyed. By comparison, only 10% of respondents in Asia-Pacific reported similar levels of competition, pointing to deeper structural differences and market maturity across regions.
More broadly, healthcare has emerged as the top investment priority for EMEA, with 68% of procurement professionals indicating the sector will see the greatest increase in value over the next two years. This is followed by leisure (56%) and education (52%), reflecting a broader focus on community well-being and long-term social resilience.
The findings come amid growing complexity and urgency in delivering high-impact social infrastructure projects, particularly in rapidly developing markets such as the UAE, where demand for quality healthcare and education is accelerating
The report confirms the UAE's emergence as the Middle East's infrastructure innovation hub, where digital-first procurement models are enabling faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable project delivery.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Soybeans subdued on strong yield prospects; wheat and corn rise
PARIS/BEIJING - Chicago soybean futures ticked lower on Thursday, pressured by the strong yield potential shown by a closely watched U.S. Midwest field tour. Corn edged up as robust export demand tempered supply pressure stemming from similarly favourable U.S. crop conditions, while wheat rebounded from contract lows. Grain markets were awaiting a demand update from weekly U.S. export sales later on Thursday, with investors largely focused on Friday's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium by U.S. Federal Reserve head Jerome Powell. Third-day results from the Pro Farmer crop tour showed Illinois has its highest soybean pod counts in at least 22 years and its second-highest corn yield potential. Western Iowa showed above-average yield prospects, though crop diseases could threaten final yields. The annual tour, running through Thursday, is closely followed by the grain market and especially scrutinised this year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected a much larger-than-expected 2025 corn crop. "Bearish seasonals are weighing on grains," Peak Trading Research said in a note. "Powell's comments tomorrow should give us clarity on where the dollar and risk appetite are headed." The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was down 0.1% at $10.35-1/4 per bushel, as of 1049 GMT. CBOT corn futures rose 0.4% to $4.05-1/2 per bushel, with brisk export demand supporting a recovery from contract lows last week. Exporters sold 100,000 metric tons of U.S. corn to Colombia and 125,741 metric tons to Mexico, all for 2025-26 delivery, according to the USDA. CBOT wheat added 1.0% to $5.33-1/2 per bushel in a bounce off new contract lows set on Wednesday. "It's mainly short-covering given current price levels," a European trader said of wheat. "You are also seeing international demand returning." Wheat markets have been weighed down by expectations of ample global supply, including rising estimates of Russia's harvest, though slow Russian exports and demand from Egypt and other importers have helped underpin the market. Prices at 1049 GMT Last Change Pct Move CBOT wheat 533.50 5.25 0.99 CBOT corn 405.50 1.50 0.37 CBOT soy 1035.25 -0.75 -0.07 Paris wheat 196.50 2.50 1.29 Paris maize 188.75 1.25 0.67 Paris rapeseed 471.50 -0.50 -0.11 WTI crude oil 63.32 0.61 0.97 Euro/dlr 1.16 0.00 -0.04 Most active contracts - Wheat, corn and soy US cents/bushel, Paris futures in euros per metric ton
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Dollar drifts as investors ponder Fed independence, await Jackson Hole
SINGAPORE - The U.S. dollar drifted on Thursday as investors awaited policy cues from the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole symposium while keeping an eye on renewed concerns over central bank independence after President Donald Trump's latest salvo. The euro and sterling were flat at $1.1652 and $1.3451, respectively, while the Japanese yen and Swiss franc nursed modest losses. Odds of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month eased slightly to 82%, offering mild support to the dollar as focus remained on whether Powell will push back against market expectations for a September cut when he speaks on Friday. There would likely be a greater reaction if Powell were to indicate the Fed could keep rates steady again, than if he leans in the direction of a cut, said Kenneth Broux, head of corporate research for FX and rates at Societe Generale. "The risks are asymmetric. Because it (a cut) is already priced in, the risk is that we go back to 50-50," said Kenneth Broux, head of corporate research for FX and rates at Societe Generale. The reaction to that would be a sell-off in near-tenor U.S. treasuries and a firmer dollar, Broux said. U.S. President Donald Trump's call for Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign on the basis of allegations made by one of his political allies has meanwhile revived investor concerns over his efforts to gain influence over the central bank. Trump has also repeatedly criticised Powell for being too slow to cut rates, and has called for his resignation while acknowledging that the Fed's unique status prevents him from firing its board members over monetary policy disputes. "It has the potential to raise questions around the Fed's oversight and regulatory functions but it has little to no near-term monetary policy implications," said Prashant Newnaha, senior Asia-Pacific rates strategist at TD Securities. That explained the relatively subdued reaction in the currency markets to the news as the dollar initially dipped before quickly paring losses and nudging higher. Investors expect Trump will replace Powell, whose term ends in May, with a more dovish appointment. Earlier this month, Trump also said he would nominate Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Stephen Miran to serve out the final few months of a vacant Fed seat after Adriana Kugler unexpectedly resigned. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six other peers, was up 0.1% at 98.337, on course for a 0.4% rise this week. The benchmark U.S. 10-year yield was a touch higher at 4.30%, while the two-year yield, which is more sensitive to the monetary policy, ticked up slightly to 3.756%. Some analysts cautioned that markets could end up being disappointed by Powell's speech on Friday, noting that the impact of Trump's tariffs on inflation remains unclear. Elsewhere, the Norwegian krone rose 0.4% against the dollar and 0.5% against the euro, after data showed that Norway's mainland economy grew at a faster pace than economists had expected in the second quarter. First quarter growth was also revised up. Bearish bets on China's yuan, meanwhile, hit their highest since mid-May, with analysts turning short spurred by mounting concerns over the economy, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin was down 0.6% at $113,741 while ether fell 1.6% to $4,285.89.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
European stocks fall, dollar steady, traders wait for Jackson Hole
European stock markets fell slightly in early trading on Thursday, hovering just below recent highs, as traders avoided making big moves and waited for the Federal Reserve's three-day annual Jackson Hole symposium. Jackson Hole starts on Thursday and focus will be on Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Friday, which could move markets as traders look for hints about the likelihood of a September rate cut. 'People are sitting on their hands. You have a couple of big known unknowns coming, with Jackson Hole tomorrow and the Fed in September," said Tim Graf, head of macro strategy for EMEA at State Street Markets. 'This is the time to send the message, if you're going to ease, that it's coming," he said. "But I can also see them saying, we don't know the full effect of tariffs and inflation pressure is still not quite out of the economy and being a bit more balanced." Traders had ramped up bets for a September cut following a surprisingly weak payrolls report at the start of this month, and were further encouraged after consumer price data showed limited upward pressure from tariffs. But they lowered their expectations slightly following the release of minutes from the Fed's July meeting. Stock markets stayed near recent highs during Asian trading, and Australia's benchmark hit a new record. At 0946 GMT, the pan-European STOXX 600 was down by 0.2%, just below the five-month high it hit in the previous session . London's FTSE 100 was down 0.1%, Germany's DAX was down 0.1% and France's CAC 40 was down 0.4%. The MSCI World Equity Index was down 0.1% on the day . U.S. stock futures were mixed, with Nasdaq e-minis steady but S&P 500 e-minis down by 0.1% . A U.S. tech selloff had continued for a second day on Wednesday, in a move analysts attributed to concerns about high valuations, profit-taking and risk aversion. Euro zone business activity accelerated in August, PMI data showed, with Germany registering its fastest growth since March and France's downturn easing. Euro zone bond yields were mostly higher, with the benchmark 10-year German Bund at 2.7374%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield was at 4.3101%. The U.S. dollar index was up 0.2% on the day at 98.225, and the euro was steady at $1.1653. U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his effort to influence the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, calling on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign on the basis of allegations made by one of his political allies about mortgages she holds in Michigan and Georgia. Cook said she had "no intention of being bullied to step down" from her position at the central bank. Deutsche Bank analysts in a research note attributed a rise in gold overnight to renewed concerns about the Fed's independence. "The news was a reminder of the lingering concerns over future Fed independence and risks of fiscal dominance, though the extent of the market reaction was fairly modest," Deutsche Bank said. State Street Markets' Tim Graf said that although central bank independence is considered "sacrosanct" by markets, it was not yet problematic. 'Markets quite rightly look through this, price maybe a little bit of risk premium for sure, but it's not something that I think really upsets the apple cart too much," he said. Gold prices edged lower on Thursday, at $3340.61 per ounce. Oil prices rose, bolstered by signs of strong demand in the U.S.. (Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft in Paris; Editing by Toby Chopra)
