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.

Housing projects in Egypt could see delays in delivery to clients and even face cancellations due to impact of the recent revolution in Egypt, according to a report by Jones Lang LaSalle.