South Korea Sets Sights on UAE’s $24 Billion Infrastructure Goldmine

South Korea is making a strategic move to secure a larger slice of the United Arab Emirates’ booming infrastructure market, with government officials and industry leaders joining forces in an unprecedented push. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a high-level delegation heading to the UAE, targeting lucrative contracts in railways, airports, and renewable energy. This aggressive approach comes as Korean companies have already secured $24 billion in UAE contracts during Q1 2025 alone—six times higher than the same period last year.

Strategic Government-Industry Partnership

South Korea’s mission combines government agencies and private sector players to present a unified front in an increasingly competitive global infrastructure market.

• The delegation will visit the UAE from April 16-19, 2025, with a packed 4-day agenda
• Key participants include the Korea Railroad Corporation, Overseas Construction Association, and Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND)
• Private companies specializing in construction, engineering, and renewable energy are joining the mission

UAE: Korea’s Second-Largest Construction Market

The UAE has emerged as a critical market for Korean construction firms, with cumulative contracts reaching $86.9 billion.

• UAE ranks as the second-largest market for Korean overseas construction projects
• Korean firms have secured cumulative contracts worth $86.9 billion in the UAE
• The Middle East region accounts for approximately half of all Korean overseas construction contracts

Beyond Oil: Targeting Next-Generation Infrastructure

As the UAE diversifies beyond petroleum, Korean firms are positioning themselves to capture contracts in renewable energy and transportation networks.

• The UAE is rapidly expanding investments in solar power, hydrogen, and other renewable energy sources
• Major railway expansion projects and the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion present immediate opportunities
• Korean companies are leveraging their technological advantages and cost competitiveness in the “K-Railway” sector

Chemical and Power Plant Opportunities

The delegation is looking beyond traditional infrastructure to secure contracts in specialized industrial facilities.

• Chemical plant projects represent significant potential for Korean engineering firms
• Power generation facilities, particularly those incorporating renewable components, are high-priority targets
• These specialized projects typically offer higher profit margins than conventional infrastructure work

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding overseas construction contracts in preparation for the “post-oil era,” stating a target of $50 billion in overseas contracts for 2025—a goal they now aim to achieve ahead of schedule.

Keywords

UAE infrastructure, Korean construction, overseas contracts, renewable energy

Hashtags

#KoreaUAE #InfrastructureProjects #RenewableEnergy

한국어 요약

• 국토교통부가 UAE에 수주지원단을 파견하여 고속철도, 공항, 신재생에너지 분야 프로젝트 수주 지원
• 올해 1분기 UAE 수주액은 약 24억 달러로 전년 동기 대비 6배 증가, 누적 수주액은 869억 달러에 달함
• 한국의 기술력과 가격 경쟁력을 바탕으로 K-철도, 알막툼국제공항 확장 사업 등 주요 인프라 사업 수주 목표
• 박상우 국토교통부 장관은 포스트 오일 시대 대비 해외건설 수주 확대와 올해 500억 달러 수주 목표 조기 달성 의지 표명