The news
Saudi Arabia awarded its highest-value construction contracts of 2026 in May, with 18 projects worth more than SR30.03 billion ($7.99 billion), according to the Saudi Contractors Authority's monthly sector report, which tracks projects on the SCAVO platform.
Where the money went
Infrastructure dominated the month, accounting for the highest value with 10 projects worth more than SR25 billion. The remainder of the value was split across manufacturing at 17 percent, construction at 17 percent, and water and energy at 11 percent. The single largest award was the Aseer-Jazan Expressway at more than SR18 billion, alongside the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Road and the Khuzam-Nour Khuzam residential district in Riyadh.
The regional picture
By project count, Makkah led with seven awards, or 39 percent of the total. By value, Aseer topped the table at more than SR18 billion, while Riyadh exceeded SR8 billion. The spread points to activity concentrated in large transport and urban-development schemes rather than a single flagship region.
What it means for investors
The record monthly haul is a signal that Vision 2030 capital spending continues to flow despite oil-price softness and regional geopolitical headwinds. For contractors, building-materials suppliers, and the banks that finance these projects, the pipeline points to durable non-oil project momentum.
What to watch
The Saudi Contractors Authority expects 20 projects to be awarded in June, with 47 percent in construction and building and around half concentrated in the Eastern Province and Riyadh. Anticipated owners include the Public Investment Fund, Al-Khafji Joint Operations, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Saudi Aramco — a roster that underlines the role of state-linked entities in sustaining the project cycle.
