How to Find Tenders and New Projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the GCC

Quick answer: register on the official procurement portals for the countries and entities you sell to, but do not stop there. The biggest wins often come from awarded contracts and announced projects, where the winning company now needs suppliers and subcontractors. Track tenders, awards and project news together, and approach the right person before their supplier list is fixed.

Three places tenders and projects show up

• Official procurement portals. Government and semi-government buyers in Saudi Arabia and every GCC country publish tenders on official portals. Registration, a valid commercial registration and the right classifications are usually required before you can bid.
• Entity and company announcements. Ministries, giga-projects, listed companies and large groups announce awarded contracts, new projects and partnerships in press releases and disclosures.
• Business news and social posts. Local business news, often in Arabic, reports new hospitals, factories, schools, hotels and retail rollouts before construction starts.

Why you should track awarded contracts, not only open tenders

Open tenders have deadlines, strict qualification rules and many bidders. An awarded contract is different: one main contractor or operator now has a confirmed budget and a timeline, and needs materials, equipment, software, staff, training and specialist subcontractors. Many of those purchases never become public tenders. Reaching the project director or procurement manager of the winner early can be the fastest route to a deal.

How to judge whether a tender or project fits you

1. Scope: does it need what you deliver, directly or as a subcontractor?
2. Location: can you serve that city or country, including local presence requirements?
3. Size and timing: is the value and the start date realistic for your team?
4. Qualification: do you have the registrations, certificates and references required?
5. Relationship: do you know anyone at the buyer or the winning contractor?

How to approach the buyer or contractor

Keep the first message short and specific: congratulate them on the award or project, name one relevant result you delivered for a similar project in the region, and ask who handles that package. Send it in Arabic or English depending on the company, and follow up by LinkedIn and, once they reply, WhatsApp.

Avoid attachments in the first email; a link to a short profile or case study is enough. Your goal is a 20-minute call, not a full proposal.

Doing this every week without a research team

Checking portals, disclosures and news in two languages every day takes hours. mirror’s Market Signals do the scanning for you: describe what you sell and who you sell to, and the AI returns tenders, awarded contracts and project announcements that match, each with its source link, date and a fit score. You can send the best ones straight into a campaign that writes a personal message about each project.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find government tenders in Saudi Arabia?

Register on the official government procurement portal and with the entities you target, keep your commercial registration and classifications up to date, and set alerts for your activity codes. Track awarded contracts too, so you can approach the winners.

Can foreign companies win projects in the GCC?

Yes, often through a local partner, a regional office or as a subcontractor to the main contractor. Requirements differ by country and buyer, so check each tender’s conditions.

What is the difference between a tender and a project signal?

A tender is a formal request for bids. A project signal is any announcement — a new hospital, factory or branch — that will create purchases, with or without a tender.

Next, read how to find B2B business opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, or book a call to see a sample scan for your sector.