Dhaman: The Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) reported on Monday that Arab countries attracted 1,129 foreign construction projects between January 2003 and July 2024, with a combined investment value of approximately $430 billion, generating over 611,000 jobs. According to Jordan News Agency, Dhaman's statement highlighted that the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, and Oman led in foreign investment, attracting 765 projects collectively worth over $269 billion and generating more than 371,000 job opportunities. Among these, the UAE emerged as the top investor in the Arab region, with 242 projects valued at over $139 billion, contributing over 170,000 jobs. Saudi Arabia, recognized for its favorable investment conditions and minimal risk, ranked as the most attractive Arab market for infrastructure investments, followed by the UAE, Qatar, and Oman, respectively. Looking ahead, Dhaman projected that construction activity in the Arab region will expand by 3.6 percent, reaching $498 billion by the end of 2024, accounting for over 5 percent of the global construction market. By 2030, the sector is expected to grow further, reaching an estimated $707 billion. Additionally, the total added value from construction is anticipated to rise by 3.9 percent, reaching about $219 billion by the end of this year, with projections of $317 billion by 2030. The report also noted a 3 percent increase in foreign trade of construction-related goods and services in 2023, totaling over $193 billion, which represents 5.7 percent of overall Arab trade in goods and services. The corporation's study focused on four main areas: the development and future trajectory of construction activity through 2030, foreign trade in construction-related products and services in 2023, foreign investments in the sector, and an assessment of risks and business conditions within the infrastructure market. Established in 1974 and headquartered in Kuwait, the Dhaman Corporation is a joint Arab body supported by Arab states a nd four regional financial entities.
