The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has formally adopted a methodology for identifying energy efficiency in buildings developed in Abu Dhabi by Masdar Carbon.

Iraq's cabinet has approved a US$692mn contract for the construction of a cement factory in southern Iraq, a government official said.

Lafarge Emirates Cement opened its first distribution centre in the region, in cooperation with Al Saeed AL Zaabi General Trading.

The Saudi government signed contracts worth US$630mn with national companies to work on road projects across the kingdom.

A five-year project for French engineering group Alstom to build an above-ground urban metro line in Baghdad will cost US$1.5 billion and be funded by the French government and banks, Iraqi officials said.