The mild hydrocracking unit at the Dangote refinery
HPI Market Data Book 2026: Global construction – EMEA
Middle Eastern countries are investing in hydrocarbon processing to diversify their economies while African countries are looking to satisfy growing domestic fuel demand
The GEI database records more than 190 active projects in the Middle East, representing nearly $390b in capital investments. Most are within the petrochemicals sector (45%), followed by refining (34%) and gas processing/LNG (21%). Most active projects are in Iran, followed by Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE (see Fig.1). For more than a decade, Middle Eastern companies have made significant investments in new refining, petrochemicals and gas infrastructure to wean themselves off reliance on crude oil export revenues and to diversify their economies into refined and petrochemical products. FIG.1: Active project market share in the Middle Eas
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
