SNC-LAVALIN has opened its regional head office for Middle East and Africa (MEA) in Abu Dhabi – an important development milestone for the company, which has recently secured key Saudi contracts.

“With an estimated GDP growth of over 5.6 per cent per year until 2018, and with major projects in the infrastructure, oil and gas, mining and power sectors, the Middle East region offers significant development opportunities for SNC-Lavalin,” said Robert Card, president and CEO of SNC-Lavalin Group.

“The opening of this regional head office will allow us to strengthen our client relationships, expand our commercial opportunities and provide the best business platform to deliver projects according to clients’ expectations,” said Christian Jacqui, executive vice-president, global operations, SNC-Lavalin Group.

The office will work closely with existing offices across the region, specifically in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

In Saudi Arabia, SNC-Lavalin has signed an estimated $500-million contract with Ma’aden which includes the engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up of a three-line 15,150-tonne-per-day sulphuric acid plant. SNC-Lavalin also signed a general engineering services contract with Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil producer.

In Qatar, the local joint venture set up by SNC-Lavalin with its partner in Doha will continue to strengthen the activities of the group.