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Laing O'Rourke seeks buyer for Middle East business amid strategic refocus

By Zawya

By Staff Writer

UK-based construction group Laing O'Rourke has appointed London-headquartered Lumina Capital Advisors to identify a buyer for its Middle East business, following a period of strong growth in the region, according to a company press statement.

Group CEO Cathal O'Rourke said the decision to seek new ownership would allow the Middle East operations to build on their established market position while the group focuses on major infrastructure opportunities in the UK and Australia.

The company’s Middle East business has recently delivered data centre projects for repeat clients including Khazna and Equinix, alongside a portfolio of major construction projects developed over its 50-year presence in the region.

These include Atlantis The Palm, Ski Dubai, Al Raha Beach and Expo 2020.

The proposed sale comes as the Laing O'Rourke reported a record order book of 17.2 billion British pounds ($23 billion) for its 2026 financial year, marking its third consecutive record order book.

The company, which is regarded as the UK's largest privately owned engineering and construction group, is currently involved in several major UK infrastructure programmes, including the Sizewell C nuclear power project, the Great Grid Upgrade and the New Hospitals Programme.

In Australia, its portfolio includes projects associated with the AUKUS programme and the Olympics.

"We have a proud 50-year legacy of doing just that in the Middle East – delivering some of the region's most iconic projects, and most recently working with repeat clients in the data centre sector," O'Rourke said.

"The quality of our people and their work have built our reputation for delivery excellence in the Middle East and across our Group, resulting in three consecutive record order books."

He added: "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 did not disclose the expected valuation of its Middle East operations, a timetable for the sale process or details of potential buyers.

(Editing by Anoop Menon) (anoop.menon@lseg.com)

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