4 - 5 May 2026
Dubai, UAE

About The Event

Event Overview

Now entering its third consecutive year, the Deep Foundations & Underground Infrastructure MENA Conference (DFUI 2026) has solidified its position as the region’s most influential platform for advancing geotechnical excellence and underground construction innovation. Returning on 4–5 May 2026 in Dubai, the conference continues to unite project owners, engineering consultants, contractors, solution providers, and policymakers to address the increasingly complex subsurface challenges shaping the Middle East’s infrastructure landscape.

As the region accelerates groundbreaking megaprojects, ranging from metro and rail expansions to large-scale tunneling works, utility corridors, water drainage systems, and next-generation industrial zones; the need for robust, data-driven, and future-ready deep foundation solutions has never been more critical.

The 3rd Annual DFUI Conference offers unparalleled opportunities to explore cutting-edge technologies, share real-world case studies, and engage in high-level discussions on design, safety, risk mitigation, digital transformation, and geotechnical engineering best practices tailored to the MENA region’s demanding soil conditions. Building on the success of previous editions, DFUI

2026 will focus on five strategic themes that reflect the region’s evolving underground engineering needs:

Event Objectives – DFUI 2026

Create the region’s leading platform driving technical excellence and collaboration in deep foundations and underground infrastructure.

Showcase transformative geotechnical insights from mega-projects to elevate design quality and reduce project risk.

Highlight cutting-edge soil improvement, digital geotechnics, and AI innovations that unlock commercial and operational value.

Strengthen regional capability by promoting resilient underground infrastructure essential for national giga-projects.

Post-Event Report

Current & Upcoming Projects in the region

Top 10 Mega-Scale Construction Projects

Al Maktoum International Airport Expansion
Type: Mega airport terminal (5 runways, 400 gates).
Value: AED 128 billion (US$34.8 billion)
Status: Planning/early works.
Dubai’s leadership has approved the design for an enormous new terminal (capacity 260 million passengers/year. Detailed design and early works (earthworks/foundations) are pending approval. This expansion will make DWC the world’s largest airport by capacity.
Stakeholders: Dubai Government, Dubai Airports, DP World.
UAE National Dams and Canals Programme
Type: Water infrastructure (dams, embankments and canals).
Value: Part of a US$12 billion water security strategy
Status: Approved (executive mandate).
The UAE President’s initiative greenlit the construction of 9 new dams (in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah) plus 2 dam expansions and 9 water canals. Work is slated to finish in ~19 months. This is largely an earthworks/mass-concrete program (foundation and embankment construction).
Key stakeholders include federal water authorities and local governments.
Hafeet Rail
Type:Type: High-speed passenger & freight railway (303 km)

Value: Value: Approx. $3 billion

Status: Under progress with approximately 50% of the project completed

More than 50% complete, with significant work in Oman (North Al Batinah, Al Buraimi) and Abu Dhabi. Major tunneling works have commenced in the Hajar Mountains in Al Buraimi.
Abu Dhabi–Dubai High-Speed Rail (Etihad Rail Phase 1)

Type:Type: Type: High-speed passenger railway (150 km)

Value: Multi-billion USD (part of a larger rail network)

Status: Over halfway complete as of October 2025

In January 2025, Etihad Rail issued a global tender for the design and construction of civil works and stations for the first 150 km phase (Al Zahiyah to Dubai Al-Jaddaf). Bids were due May 2025. This phase includes underground stations (Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi Airport, Dubai’s Al-Jaddaf) and elevated track.

Stakeholder: Etihad Rail
Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnels (DSST)

Type:Type: Type: Deep underground sewer tunnel network.

US$22 billion total (AED 80 bn concession)

Status: In early procurement (DBFOM PPP). Dubai Municipality has issued RFPs for the first two tunnel packages (J1 and W) in phase 1 (42 km Jebel Ali & 16 km Warsan sections) Bids are due Sep 2025.

Key players: Dubai Municipality (client), with prequalified consortia including Etihad Water & Electricity (UAE), Itochu/Plenary (Japan-Australia), Vision Invest (KSA), etc. Construction will involve deep piling and tunneling works.
Tasreef Stormwater Drainage Project

Value: AED 30 billion (USD 8.2 billion)

Stage: Construction started in early 2025 (first four contracts awarded); full network completion targeted by 2033.

Unified citywide stormwater drainage system to increase capacity by 700%

Deep tunnel construction, ~36 km of large-diameter pipelines (Phase 1), pump stations, infiltration systems

Key Contractors and Stakeholders:
Dubai Municipality (project lead), De Tech Contracting (West Deira works); further contractors to be appointed.
Engineering consultants and tunneling experts (delivery partner tender issued)
Qiddiya Entertainment/Sports City
Type: Type: Stadiums & infrastructure

Value: Approx US$10+ billion

Status: Under construction.

Qiddiya Entertainment City, Saudi Arabia's ambitious $9.8B giga-project, is nearing Phase 1 completion at 97% progress. Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia Water Park are set to open December 31, 2025, with 45 attractions launching amid Vision 2030 goals.

Stakeholder: Qiddiya Investment Company, PIF, HBK Contracting.
Burj Binghatti Jacob & Co Residences
Type: 100storey residential skyscraper (world’s tallest residential).

Status: Foundation/early works.

Developer Binghatti Properties appointed Granada Europe Construction as main contractor and has begun foundation piling. Ground construction was slated to start in 2025, with completion targeted by 2027.

Key stakeholders: Binghatti (developer), Granada Europe (contractor), Silver Stone Engineering (design)
Dubai Metro Blue Line
Type: Urban metro extension (new 30 km line with 14 stations)

Value: AED 20.5 billion (~US$5.6 billion)

Status: Contract awarded / construction about to start.

In late 2024 an international JV won the metro Blue Line contract, and construction is scheduled to begin April 2025. Blue Line includes ~15.5 km underground (crossing Dubai Creek) and 14.5 km elevated.

Client: Dubai RTA (contract already awarded; technical bidders included CSCEC–Alstom, etc).
The Island (Dubai Waterfront Resort)
Type: Man-made island resort complex.

Value: AED 4.4 billion (US$1.2 billion)

Status: Main contract awarded, pre-construction.

Wasl Hospitality (Dubai’s state-owned developer) has contracted China State Construction (CSCEC) to build the island’s infrastructure.The 26-acre project will include MGM, Bellagio and Aria hotels (1,400+ rooms) Foundation and reclamation works will follow.

Key parties: Wasl Hospitality (owner) and CSCEC (contractor)
Madinat Al-Hareer (“Silk City”)
Type: Mixed-use city development.

Value: ~ USD 132 billion

Status: Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port ~50% complete (Feb 2025). Overall full completion targeted ~2045–2050, with early estimates for core elements by 2035.

Active development; recent advancements include China-funded infrastructure (Sep 2025) and port contracts. Budget allocation: KWD 1.497B for construction (2025/26). Delays noted due to fiscal/bureaucratic issues.

Key stakeholders: Developer: Madinat Al-Hareer Authority; Tamdeen Group & Ajiyal Real Estate.
Design/Consultants: Eric R. Kuhne & Associates (master plan), Atkins Middle East (engineering).
Contractors: China State Construction & Communications (port EPC, Feb 2025); OHA Engineering
Kuwait International Airport Expansion
Type: Infrastructure

Value: ~ US$ 5.8 billion

Status: General Aviation Building: Tender issued Nov 9, 2025; bids due Jan 11, 2026; award by May 2026; completion Q4 2027. Runway 1 Refurb: Ongoing modernizations for safety/efficiency; expected 2025–2026

Key stakeholders: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Kuwait; Ministry of Public Works (MPW)
Main Contractors: Limak Insaat (T2, $4.3B EPC); Cengiz İnşaat (T4); AVIC International (runway)
The Bahrain Metro
Type: Infrastructure

Value: ~ US$ 2 billion

Status: Pre-construction phase: Land acquisition in Northern Governorate completed (Oct 2024); design and feasibility studies ongoing. Phase 1 civil works tenders expected soon. 7 consortia prequalified for Phase 1 bids (Oct 2025); decision on preferred bidder and rail technology by Dec 2025.

Key stakeholders: Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT).
Design/Consultants: IDOM (lead for Phase 1), Egis (technical advisor), ESB International
Sultan Haitham City
Type: Urban Development/Smart City

Value: ~ US$ 2.5 billion

Status: RO228M ($592M) infrastructure contracts awarded (2025); RO1B ($2.6B) partnerships signed (2024–2025)

Key stakeholders: Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP).

Design/Masterplan: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); consultants: Kohler Architekten, Panther Hudspith Architects, Altavia, Renardet, Mace, Meinhardt. Contractors: Sarooj Construction (roads/tunnels, RO63.2M)

Who Should Attend?

Key Stakeholder Categories

  • Real-estate developers
  • Mining companies
  • Main contractors
  • Other project owners
  • Bridges
  • Metros
  • Tunnels
  • Pipelines
  • Dams
  • Consultants
  • Planning consultants
  • Technical consultants – architectural, structural & geotechnical consultants
  • Cost consultants
  • Project management consultants
  • Geo-technical and civil engineers
  • Sub-contractors
  • Government & regulatory bodies
  • Academia

Job titles

CEOs, Directors, Regional Managers and Heads of:

  • Infrastructure
  • Planning
  • Development
  • Utilities
  • Drainage
  • Power
  • Projects
  • Technical Services
  • Facilities
  • Operations

Why Attend the 2026 Edition?

01.

Explore landmark case studies from across the middle east showcasing geotechnical excellence.

02.

Understand the evolving challenges of deep foundations in rapidly expanding urban, industrial, coastal, and desert environments.

03.

Address rising concerns around cost overruns and design inefficiencies, and learn how optimized foundation engineering can significantly reduce project risk and lifecycle costs.

04.

Gain insights into low-carbon and sustainable geotechnical engineering, including innovations in materials, construction techniques, and environmentally responsible ground improvement.

05.

Experience practical applications of digital engineering, AI-driven modelling, and real-time geotechnical monitoring, transforming decision-making across the full project lifecycle.

06.

Learn about the latest advances in soil–structure interaction analysis, and how new modelling tools are improving the performance and resilience.

07.

Discover state-of-the-art ground improvement technologies, including deep mixing, biogeotechnology, smart grouting systems, and energy geotechnics.

08.

Stay ahead of the curve on tunnelling and trenchless innovations, from high-precision microtunnelling to integrated systems.

09.

Hear expert perspectives on the future of geotechnics, including the impact of automation, robotics, digital twins, and new-generation construction materials on subsurface engineering.