Engineering group WS Atkins yesterday said that profits were on the rise thanks to a clutch of Middle Eastern infrastructure contracts.
Revenues for the Middle East division rose by 16.2% to £96m and operating profits for the first half doubled from £4.2m last year to £8.9m.
The company is working with Qatar as a key designer to deliver the country’s development plans up to 2030. In July it was appointed lead designer on the Doha gold line metro in Qatar, which will generate £80m in fees over the next two years.
Revenues in Europe meanwhile fell by 18.5% t £428.3m for the first half, with profits down 19.1% to £22.4m
Staff numbers in the Middle east have increased by 23% to 2400, while in Europe the headcount has been cut by 5.9% to 9,400.
Daily Telegraph Business, 6
