Laing O’Rourke has begun the process of selling its Middle East operations as it refocuses on major construction opportunities in the UK and Australia.
The contractor has appointed Lumina Capital Advisers to identify a buyer for the regional business, which has operated in the Middle East for around 50 years. The move follows a period of strong growth, including the recent delivery of data centre projects for clients such as Khazna and Equinix.
Group chief executive Cathal O’Rourke said: “Given this enviable set of circumstances, now is the right time to secure a new owner for the Middle East business to build on that strength moving forward.”
The company’s earlier projects in the region include Atlantis The Palm, Ski Dubai, Al Raha Beach and Expo 2020. More recently, its work has included major data centre developments, reflecting the growing demand for digital infrastructure across the Gulf.
Laing O’Rourke said the decision would allow it to concentrate on major opportunities in the UK, including Sizewell C, the Great Grid Upgrade and the New Hospitals Programme. In Australia, its priorities include projects associated with the AUKUS defence programme and the Olympic Games.
The proposed disposal comes after the group reported a record order book of £17.2bn for the year to 31 March 2026, compared with £11.9bn a year earlier.
Its latest accounts showed that revenue from its Rest of World operations, which include the Middle East, increased by 51 per cent to £170.5m in the year to March 2026. However, Laing O’Rourke does not publish separate revenue or profit figures for the Middle East business being offered for sale.
During the same financial year, the contractor was appointed to deliver Project Pilot, described by the company as the UAE’s largest data centre.
Laing O’Rourke has not disclosed an asking price, identified potential buyers or provided a timetable for the sale process.
