A new research report by Ventures ME has said Gulf countries are to spend over $900m by the end of 2012 into interiors contracting and fit-out developments in the healthcare and education sectors.
Qatar, with an investment of $192m and Saudi Arabia with investments worth $145m, have secured the biggest shares of the healthcare interiors contracting and fit-out segment this year, overtaking the UAE and Omani investments of $119m and $13m, respectively.
The study expects the thriving Qatari market to see healthcare projects worth $2.4bn ready by the end of this year. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also set to launch this year healthcare projects worth $1.8bn and $1.49bn, respectively, ranking as the second and third largest spenders in the Gulf healthcare sector, clinching a 30% and 25% market share, respectively. 
Saudi and Qatar also lead the region in the education interiors contracting and fit-out sector with investments of $261m and $84m, respectively, surging ahead of Kuwait and the UAE, who have investments of $40m and $26m, respectively, according to the report.
