A wave of giga-projects across the Gulf—most notably in Saudi Arabia—is triggering unprecedented demand for construction equipment rentals, as regional governments push ahead with large-scale infrastructure schemes to diversify their economies and accommodate rapid population growth.
In 2024 alone, Saudi Arabia awarded an estimated $148bn in construction contracts, the highest annual figure ever recorded by a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member, according to industry analysts. These included a US$4.7 billion deal with Webuild to construct an artificial lake at NEOM and a US$1.92 billion contract awarded to Saudi Binladen Group to resume work on the Jeddah Tower.
“The demand for rental equipment across the Middle East is huge—so much so that the supply chain cannot keep up, whether for products, people or anything else,” says Paul Rankin, managing director of Nationwide Platforms and chief operating officer of Loxam’s Powered Access Division.
Rankin pointed to NEOM, the Red Sea Project and Diriyah Gate as emblematic of a broader uptick in activity across the region, with construction and hydrocarbons forming the backbone of demand.