Latest News

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  Dubai sets October deadline for metro Gold Line

  Administrator

  7 September 2026

  

   

  Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has set a deadline of 9 October for contractors to submit their prequalification statements for a contract to build the new Gold Line as part of the Dubai Metro network’s expansion.

  The previous deadline was 7 September.

  The RTA issued the request for qualification notice for the project in June, with an initial submission deadline of 17 August, as MEED exclusively reported.

  The prequalification notice followed the RTA’s invitation to contractors to express interest in building the new Gold Line in May.

  Dubai officially announced the launch of the new Gold Line in April.

  In a post on social media site X, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said the project will cost about AED34bn ($9.2bn).

  The Gold Line will increase Dubai Metro network’s total length by 35%.

  The project is scheduled for completion in September 2032.

  The Gold Line will be a fully underground network covering more than 42 kilometres, with 18 stations.

  It will pass through 15 areas in Dubai, benefiting 1.5 million residents.

  The project is expected to provide connectivity to over 55 under-construction real estate development projects.

  The Gold Line will start at Al-Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai and end at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

  It will connect to Dubai Metro’s existing Red and Green lines and integrate with the Etihad Rail passenger line.

  The contractor will be responsible for the design and build of all civil works, electromechanical equipment, rolling stock and rail systems.

  The selected contractor will also be required to assist in the systems maintenance and operations during an initial three-year period.

  In October last year, MEED exclusively reported that the RTA had selected US-based engineering firm Aecom to provide consultancy services for the Dubai Metro Gold Line project.

  Stage one covers concept design, stage two covers preliminary design, stage three covers the preparation of tender documents, stage four encompasses construction supervision, and stage five covers the defects and liability period.

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  Yasir Iqbal
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  Oman power firms move closer to merger

  Administrator

  7 September 2026

  Oman’s Financial Services Authority has given in-principle approval for the proposed merger of Al-Suwadi Power Company and Al-Batinah Power Company.

  In a disclosure to the Muscat Stock Exchange on 6 September, Al-Suwadi said the proposed merger remains subject to legal and regulatory requirements as well as approvals from relevant lenders and shareholders of both companies.

  Al-Suwadi and Al-Batinah are independent power producers (IPPs) that operate two major gas-fired power plants in Oman. Al-Suwadi operates the 750MW Barka 3 IPP, while Al-Batinah operates the 750MW Sohar 2 IPP.

  The two companies began assessing a potential merger in May. Al-Suwadi said the companies have similar assets, business operations and founders.

  The companies recently secured new 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Nama Power & Water Procurement Company for Barka 3 and Sohar 2.

  The new PPAs will take effect on 1 April 2028 and run until 31 March 2043. They will allow the two plants to continue supplying electricity under long-term contracts after their existing PPAs expire.

  Al-Suwadi said in May that potential cost savings from a merger had been taken into account when the new PPAs were negotiated.

  The company has also started assessing potential refinancing options for its existing financing arrangements, as well as funding requirements for capital expenditure during the new PPA period.

  The refinancing assessment remains at an early stage. Any refinancing would be subject to approvals from the relevant regulatory authorities, existing lenders and Al-Suwadi’s board of directors.

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  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Red Sea utilities project reaches commercial operation

  Administrator

  7 September 2026

  The utilities system serving Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea tourism destination has reached commercial operation, marking the start of a 25-year concession for one of the world’s largest integrated off-grid utilities projects.

  The Project Commercial Operation Date was signed by Marafiq Red Sea for Energy Company, the Acwa-led project company, and The Red Sea Utilities Company, a subsidiary of Red Sea Global.

  The milestone brings into commercial service an integrated system covering power, potable water, wastewater treatment, district cooling and waste management. The system operates without a connection to Saudi Arabia’s national grid and is powered by renewable energy.

  The project, known as the Marafiq Red Sea Project or Red Sea Utilities Multi-Utilities Project, combines 340MWac of solar photovoltaic capacity with a 1,227MWh battery energy storage system. Acwa describes the battery facility as the world’s largest off-grid battery installation.

  The system currently supplies Red Sea Global’s operational hotels, Red Sea International airport, logistics hub, electric fleet, staff village and community facilities.

  The solar and battery system has been sized to meet the destination’s initial energy demand and can generate up to 760,000MWh of clean electricity a year. At full capacity, it is expected to avoid about 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

  The utilities scope also includes three seawater reverse osmosis plants, a sewage treatment plant (STP), a waste management centre and 32,500 refrigeration tonnes of district cooling capacity.

  The STP has a treatment capacity of 16,000 cubic metres a day. Treated wastewater will be used for irrigation and to support wetland habitats at the destination.

  The integrated system has been designed to expand as further phases of The Red Sea destination come online.

  As MEED previously reported, financial close was reached in February 2022, with about $1.33bn of senior debt facilities and total investment of about $1.84bn.

  The consortium comprises Acwa, China’s SPIC Huanghe Hydropower and Saudi Tabreed. Marafiq holds the 25-year utilities concession.

  Sepco 3, the Shandong Tiejun consortium, was the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. Acwa Operations is responsible for operating and maintaining the utilities system under a long-term agreement aligned with the concession period.

  The project is the first gigaproject in Saudi Arabia to bring its complete utility systems into commercial operation powered solely by renewable energy, Acwa said.

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  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Iraq boosts oil exports after talks with Iran

  Administrator

  7 September 2026

  Iraq has boosted its oil export capacity to more than 3 million barrels a day (b/d) after holding talks with Iran, according to Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudair.

  In a video statement released on 5 September, he said the country has been able to ship more than 3 million b/d since the start of this month.

  He also said: “The government plans to raise export capacity to 5 million b/d after completing the strategic pipelines extending towards Fishakhpur and Banias, as well as the export outlets in the Strait of Hormuz.”

  Iraq’s oil exports rose to around 2.34 million b/d in August, according ⁠to ⁠officials.

  The increase came after Iran granted special permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in August, following repeated requests from Baghdad.

  On 22 August, Iraqi President Nizar Amidi said Iran had facilitated the passage of “some ships carrying Iraqi oil in the strait” in recent days, and Baghdad had discussed exporting Iraqi oil through Hormuz with Iranian officials.

  The details of Iraq’s agreement have not been released by officials, but Amidi said that his government “will not accept Iraqi territory being used to launch attacks against any other country”.

  The Iraqi president said attacks launched from inside Iraq against countries in the region “have no justification”.

  Prior to the deal being announced, Iraqi exports had been dramatically reduced amid fallout from the regional war that started when the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February 2026.

  The regional war has led to significant disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key export route for Iraqi oil.

  Iraq’s crude exports fell from more than 3.3 million b/d before the war to a low of about 330,000 b/d in April, while exports from its southern terminals were temporarily halted altogether in March.

  Tensions still remain high in the region, and some shipping is still being disrupted by the ongoing conflict.

  On 2 September, Saudi Arabia condemned an Iranian attack on an oil tanker owned by its national shipping company that resulted in the deaths of two citizens of the Philippines.

  In a statement, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said Iran targeted the Sidr tanker, owned by national carrier Bahri, while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz two days earlier.

  It said: “The kingdom stressed the necessity of halting escalations and respecting international maritime safety and the security of global energy supplies.”

  Kuwait and Qatar’s foreign ministries said the attack violated international law and freedom of maritime navigation.

  Qatar called the attack a “flagrant violation of the rules of international law and freedom of maritime navigation”. Doha further rejected the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a “bargaining chip”.

  Iran has repeatedly attacked and threatened tankers attempting to sail through the strategic waterway without authorisation, impeding energy exports from neighbouring oil-rich Gulf countries.

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  Wil Crisp
• 
  Customs clearance delays Iraqi oil field development

  Administrator

  7 September 2026

  

   

  Problems getting critical equipment through customs are delaying a key part of Iraq’s $27bn Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), according to industry sources.

  Phase one of the GGIP is expected to be worth about $10bn. France’s TotalEnergies holds a 45% stake in the project, while Iraq’s Basra Oil Company (BOC) and QatarEnergy hold 30% and 25% respectively.

  The specific part of the project that is being delayed by customs issues is known as Ratawi phase 1.

  It is focused on developing Iraq’s Ratawi oil and gas field as part of the wider GGIP.

  Previously, this project was expected to come online before the end of June this year.

  Speaking on 23 July 2026, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said that Ratawi phase 1 was being delayed due to issues related to the conflict with Iran, but he still expected it to start up before the end of September 2026.

  Although recent complications are expected to delay the project further, it is on track to come online in mid-to-late October at the earliest, according to industry sources.

  One source said: “Right now, the main issue causing delays to the project isn’t the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz; it’s Iraqi customs clearance.

  “TotalEnergies is having trouble getting critical equipment released.”

  TotalEnergies did not respond to a request to comment on the progress of Ratawi phase 1.

  In November last year, the French company said that phase 1 aimed to increase production to 120,000 barrels a day (b/d).

  At the time, it also said that it was expected to come on stream “by early 2026”.

  It also said that the launch of phase 2 of the project, which would be considered “full field development”, would enable the company to increase production to 210,000 b/d starting in 2028.

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  Wil Crisp
• 
  Firms prepare bids for NWC sewage treatment package 14

  Administrator

  4 September 2026

  

   

  At least three contractors are preparing to make offers for package 14 of Saudi Arabia’s long-term operations and maintenance (LTOM) sewage treatment programme, according to sources.

  Known as Eastern A Cluster (LTOM14), the package was tendered by the state-owned National Water Company (NWC) in April, with a bid submission deadline of 30 September.

  The contract covers the upgrade of six existing sewage treatment plants (STPs), with a capacity expansion of 30,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d) at the Al-Jarodia STP.

  This will increase total treatment capacity from about 263,000 cm/d to approximately 293,000 cm/d, with an estimated cost of $180m.

  According to sources, the firms preparing to submit bids include:

  • Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies (Saudi Arabia)
  • Civil Works Company (Saudi Arabia)
  • Miahona (Saudi Arabia)

  The latest phase follows the formal signing of a $347m contract between NWC and a Saudi-Chinese consortium for Northern Cluster Sewage Treatment Plants Package 10 (LTOM10) on 2 September.

  The same consortium led by United Water (China) is not planning to bid for LTOM14 and is expected to formally sign a contract for LTOM11 in the coming months, a source said.

  In April, MEED exclusively reported that the group had won the contract for package 11, which will have a combined capacity of about 440,000 cm/d.

  It is also understood that Beijing Enterprises, a bidder for North Western B Cluster (LTOM12), is not preparing to bid for package 14.

  In the meantime, the contract for LTOM12 is moving towards award, with bids currently under evaluation.

  The contract covers the construction and upgrade of seven STPs with a combined capacity of about 162,000 cm/d. As previously reported, NWC opened financial bids for the project in April.

  US/India-based Synergy Consulting is Financial Advisor to NWC for the full LTOM programme.

  Future phases

  In total, the LTOM programme comprises 19 packages split into two phases. In May 2024, NWC announced it had awarded $2.5bn-worth of contracts in the first phase. Phase two of the programme includes 10 packages covering 117 treatment plants.

  In April, MEED exclusively reported that NWC had held several discussions regarding changes in scope details and potential expansions to upcoming projects. This involved “grouping some upcoming projects”.

  The request for proposals for LTOM13 was subsequently put on hold and it is now understood that this tender has likely been merged with other packages in the programme.

  According to a source, Eastern B Cluster (LTOM15) has also been cancelled and has likely been merged. LTOM15 had comprised two STPs with a total capacity of 152,000 cm/d.

  The next contract to be tendered will be Central Cluster (LTOM16), potentially in November, a source added.

  Under the original scope, LTOM16 covers the construction of 14 STPs with a total capacity of 153,000 cm/d.

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  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Egyptian contractor wins Abu Dhabi Ramhan Island deal

  Administrator

  4 September 2026

  Egypt-headquartered contractor Rowad Modern Engineering has been awarded the main works contract for the Marina Apartments project on Ramhan Island, Abu Dhabi.

  The contract was awarded by the local firm Eagle Hills, which is led by Mohamed Alabbar, the founder and chairman of Emaar Properties.

  Rowad’s scope includes structural and architectural works, finishing, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

  The company will also deliver infrastructure works, including utility connections to external networks, testing and commissioning.

  The development comprises two residential towers offering 187 residential units.

  The works will be carried out under the consultancy supervision of local engineering firm Mirage Leisure & Development.

  The latest contract award follows Eagle Hills awarding the local firm Arabian Construction Company (ACC) an estimated AED2.5bn ($680m) construction contract to build about 500 villas at the Ramhan Island development, as reported by MEED previously.

  Located off the coast of Abu Dhabi, the Ramhan Island development spans an area of over 4 million square metres.

  The overall development includes the construction of 1,800 villas, 900 residences, a hotel and retail facilities.

  Mohamed Alabbar launched the Ramhan Island development in May 2024.

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  Yasir Iqbal
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  Dubai sets deadline for Jebel Ali waste-to-energy PPP

  Administrator

  4 September 2026

  

   

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  Dubai Municipality has set a 27 September deadline for developers to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for its planned Jebel Ali waste-to-energy (WTE) public-private partnership (PPP), according to a source.

  The greenfield facility is planned to treat up to 6,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day.

  The municipality is seeking international and local developers to develop, finance and operate the facility. It is planning to prequalify developers later this year before issuing a request for proposals (RFP) in the first quarter of next year, a source said.

  The Jebel Ali facility is intended to support Dubai’s waste-management strategy and its target of reducing reliance on landfill.

  Dubai Municipality is being advised by a team led by Abu Dhabi’s Tribe Infrastructure Group, with UK-headquartered Ashurst and Germany’s Fichtner also involved.

  It was confirmed to MEED that the project is separate from the planned second phase of the Warsan WTE facility, for which Dubai Municipality issued a consultancy tender in February.

  That facility will be located in Warsan 2, next to the Al-Aweer sewage treatment plant. The expansion is expected to increase waste-conversion capacity at the existing Warsan site with an estimated budget of $500m. The consultancy contract has a duration of six years.

  The original Warsan WTE plant, Dubai’s first major WTE public-private partnership (PPP) project, reached full commercial operations in 2024.

  Located in the Warsan area, the AED4bn ($1.1bn) facility treats 1.9 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, generating up to 220MW of thermal energy that is fed into the local grid.

  In February 2023, state utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) and Dubai Waste Management Company signed the power-purchase agreement (PPA) for the project.

  Dubai Waste Management Company, the special-purpose vehicle implementing the scheme, reached financial close in June 2021 for the project.

  The Warsan project was developed under a 35-year PPP concession by a consortium comprising Dubai Holding, Dubai Aluminium, Tech Group and Itochu Corporation. 

  The main contractor was a joint venture of Belgium’s Besix Group and Hitachi Zosen Inova of Switzerland.

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  Mark Dowdall