The total value of projects under construction in the GCC will be worth a record $144 billion in 2016, driven by mega-projects for World Expo 2020 in Dubai, 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, Smart Cities, and infrastructure, a report said.

The value is on track to hit more than $1 trillion by 2030, the Saudi Gazette report cited the EC Harris study entitled “Middle East Major Construction Programmes”.

The UAE has $90 billion in capital development projects, the report said. Meanwhile, Qatar is the fastest-growing construction and infrastructure market in the GCC, set to spend $24 billion on infrastructure in 2015, according to BMI Research.

To support this massive growth, Tekla, a provider of model-based software for the construction industry, launched its Tekla Structural Designer software for the Middle East at The Construction Summit – UAE.

“The GCC being one of the world’s fastest-growing construction markets demonstrates the potential for how technology will enable the region’s architects, engineers, and field managers to drive innovation, collaborate, and meet strict code compliance across the design, build, and operation of the country’s projects,” said Paul Wallett, area business director, Tekla Middle East, was quoted as saying in the report.

By fully automating concrete and steel design and analysis with high-quality documentation, Tekla Structural Designer enables engineers to analyse and design multi-material buildings efficiently and profitably, the report said.

With Tekla Structural Designer, engineering businesses can quickly compare alternative design schemes, manage changes efficiently, and collaborate seamlessly using modelling solutions, according to the report.

“The Construction Summit was a strong success, and continues our support for the GCC’s construction sector. Our Tekla Structural Designer can help the country’s construction-related professionals enhance planning, costs, and productivity, and meet the needs of a more mobile workforce,” added Wallett.