Consortium Proposed for Export of Engineering Services to UAE

TEHRAN (Iran News) The meeting, attended by Iran’s Consul General in Dubai and several engineering and construction industry representatives, focused on enhancing Iran’s organized presence at BIG5—one of the world’s largest construction and engineering trade events.

Erfan Shakeri, head of the Iran-UAE Joint Chamber of Commerce, noted that while entering the UAE market is relatively easy, maintaining a lasting presence there is far more challenging.

“To align with international standards, we must continuously update our technical capabilities,” he said.

Shakeri proposed forming a consortium of interested engineering and technical service providers to coordinate participation and expand exports to the UAE. He also highlighted that by 2030, over 70% of UAE buildings are expected to transition to green energy through smart and advanced technologies, urging Iranian firms to adapt to these trends.

Ali Naqavi, head of the Chamber’s Commission on Engineering and Construction Services, pointed out that although Iranian engineering firms operate in high-risk but potentially lucrative markets, UAE’s housing market offers both strong demand and profitability.

“However, sanctions and banking restrictions threaten investments,” he warned, adding that the Chamber can play a key role in supporting Iranian participants and preventing “damaging competition” among them.

Naqavi further mentioned that participants from more than 160 countries will attend BIG5, stressing the importance of joint planning between the Iran Chamber and the Iran-UAE Joint Chamber to ensure tangible outcomes. He also urged Iranian diplomatic efforts to ease work visa restrictions currently faced by Iranian professionals in the UAE.

Shahram Khasipour, Director of the Arab-African Department at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, said that the UAE remains one of Iran’s top three trade partners in both imports and exports. He highlighted potential areas of cooperation in transit, high-tech industries, renewable energy, oil and petrochemicals, and construction services.

“Combining Iranian engineering expertise with Emirati capital and technology can open new avenues for collaboration, even in third countries,” he said.

Amin Maghomi, head of the Iranian Construction Engineering Organization, emphasized the need for pre-event coordination among Iranian participants to maximize efficiency at BIG5.

“The UAE market is extremely competitive, and we must plan to overcome our limitations,” he said, noting that Iran’s domestic construction market is nearing saturation, making export of technical and engineering services a necessity.

Ghazal Raheb, head of the Research Center at Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, announced the center’s readiness to issue and translate international quality assurance certificates for Iranian construction companies.

“We are prepared to provide official translations of these certifications for use at BIG5,” she said, adding that companies seeking to import technology could also receive necessary technical approvals through the center.

Alireza Mahmoudi, Iran’s Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, pointed out the enormous scale of UAE’s real estate market, where 12 billion dirhams worth of properties are traded weekly.

“Iran currently exports between $500 million and $1 billion worth of construction materials to the UAE annually, but this figure could potentially increase fifteenfold,” he noted.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to forming a unified consortium for the export of Iranian engineering and technical services to the UAE, leveraging the BIG5 exhibition as a key platform to strengthen Iran’s presence in the regional construction and infrastructure market.