THE Gulf region is forging ahead with plans to improve its transportation infrastructure with $121 billion worth of road and bridge projects already under way or in the planning phase, said an expert ahead of a key industry event in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Nearly half of the regional spend is concentrated in the UAE, which has $58 billion worth of road and bridge projects planned or under way, revealed Richard Pavitt, the exhibition director for Gulf Traffic expo, which will be held this year from November 19 to 21 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

Saudi Arabia is the next largest spender on road and bridge infrastructure pledging $26.9 billion to upgrade the country’s transport infrastructure over the next five years, said Pavitt.

In Qatar, $17 billion worth of road projects are now in cruise control, as it prepares its expansive transport network ahead of the Fifa World Cup in 2022, while Kuwait underlines its position as one of the most active markets for road projects in the next two years, with $9 billion of schemes in the pipeline.

Oman and Bahrain round off the regional appetite for road and bridge spending, with $8 billion of projects in various stages currently ongoing in Oman, and a further $2 billion in Bahrain, he added.