Construction companies are expected to be the first ones to return to Gaza
Houses destroyed in previous Israeli strikes lie in ruin, ahead of the ceasefire that took effect on Sunday, in Gaza City January 16, 2025. Photo: Reuters file
[Editor's note: This article, originally published on January 16, is being reshared as a ceasefire in Gaza has begun, pausing a 15-month-long war. Read more details here]
The UAE is expected to play a central role in helping rebuild Gaza — from peacekeeping to providing aid, local experts said.
“The country is likely to play fundamental roles in reconstruction and security, particularly as mediators and facilitators, since the UAE can contribute financial resources and infrastructure expertise,” said Najla Al Midfa, researcher at Trends Research and Advisory. “The rebuilding will need a lot of effort, with a focus on immediate needs like humanitarian aid and infrastructure repair.”
The comments came ahead of the highly anticipated Gaza ceasefire that would come into effect on January 19.
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Besides the government, businesses may also have an important but delicate role in the rebuilding process, said Dr John E. Katsos, a professor at the American University of Sharjah (AUS).
“Our research has found that in the first five years or so after the end of conflict, there's a lot of money coming in from international aid organisations,” he said. “Businesses will help in the distribution and planning of this. But humanitarian and reconstruction aid tend to drop off at about the fifth year. Businesses will have to ramp up from year six through 10, rebuilding infrastructure to help develop the community.”
Dr John E. Katsos
Though the ceasefire agreement is now in the final stages, it remains to be seen whether the truce will be successful or not, another expert said.
“Right now, it is very unpredictable, to say the least,” said Abdulla Alkhaja, research assistant at Trends Research and Advisory. “Hamas currently is likely to abide by this agreement, as Palestinians, of course, have everything to lose if this fighting resumes. However, there are underlying issues that seems or remains unresolved by the ceasefire. And without resolving these matters, conflict is initially going to break out once more.”
The first focus of all aid groups when the ceasefire begins on Sunday will be to ensure aid gets into the Gaza Strip, he added.
“According to some reports, 608 trucks will be able to enter the enclave daily, and that assistance will most likely include food, fuel and aid allocated for specifically the devastated northern region, which would help address the dire shortages,” he said. “However, for Gaza to emerge from utter devastation, it will require massive investments, coordination, and even a political solution to deal with Gaza's current lack of status and governance.”
Dr John added that those who have survived the 15-month bombardment will likely emerge from it with a very strong entrepreneurial spirit. “Research by some of my colleagues at AUS has found that an entrepreneurial spirit is made more by conflict,” he said. “So, people who have gone through these types of conflict have the sort of risk-taking mindset, persistence and resilience that's required to have a small business. I would expect that very quickly small and local small businesses will start to find their way.”
He added that he expects construction companies to be the first to return to Gaza. “Engineering firms will have to build roads and pipes,” he said. “Anything to do with energy, such as electricity generators, will likely do well. Security companies will also do extremely well because they're going to be having to provide security for individuals who want to go in and out.”
Companies could also be detrimental in some cases, he added. “It's very easy for businesses to fall into the trap of thinking that just because they're doing business in a post-conflict setting that they're doing good but it's very easy to end up making things worse,” he said. “They can skew local dynamics that can unintentionally benefit some groups over others. In this first phase it's going to be critical for international companies to be guided by international organisations, humanitarian aid organisations and principally by Palestinians themselves.”
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Nasreen Abdulla is a Special Correspondent covering food, tech and human interest stories. When not challenged by deadlines, you’ll find her pulling off submissions on the jiu jitsu mats.