meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

EPC teams start forming for $22bn Dubai tunnels

24 September 2024

Register for MEED's 14-day trial access 

Some prequalified engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies for the contracts to develop and operate various packages of the $22bn Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnels (DSST) project have started forming teams in anticipation of the next stage of the tendering process.    

In August, Dubai Municipality prequalified 21 companies and consortiums that can bid for three packages known as J1, J2 and W, and 19 for a fourth package known as J3, of the six-package project.

Some companies are in the process of finalising their partners, while at least one has said it does not intend to tap a partner.

While the country of origin is expected to play a role in the formation of teams, it is expected that the complementarity of the companies' expertise and resources will be crucial in the selection process.  

The client and its advisers have opted to prequalify EPC contractors ahead of investors in a departure from the classic public-private partnership (PPP) procurement process.

"The idea is to issue the technical information pack to the prequalified EPC contractors before the prequalification process for investors starts, allowing EPC contractors time to undertake the design process," a source familiar with the project recently told MEED.

He added: "These designs should be ready once Dubai Municipality completes the prequalification process for investors, saving roughly three months compared to the usual route, where the prequalification processes for developers and EPC contractors are done simultaneously."

The staggered prequalification process is expected to help ensure the request for proposals process takes about six months rather than the typical nine months.

Six packages

Under the current plan, the $22bn DSST project is broken down into six packages, which will be tendered as PPP packages with concession periods lasting between 25 and 35 years.

The first package, J1, comprises Jebel Ali tunnels (North) and terminal pump stations (TPS). The tunnels will extend approximately 42 kilometres, and the links will extend 10 kilometres (km). 

The second package, J2, covers the southern section of the Jebel Ali tunnels, which will extend 16km and have a link stretching 46km.

W for Warsan, the third package, comprises 16km of tunnels, TPS and 46km of links.

J3, the fourth package, comprises 129km of links.

J1, J2 and W will be procured under a design-build-finance-operate-maintain model with a concession period of 25-35 years.

J3 will be procured under a design-build-finance model with a concession period of 25-35 years. Once completed, Dubai Municipality will operate them, unlike the first three packages, which are planned to be operated and maintained by the winning PPP contractors.

J1, J2, W and J3 will comprise the deep sewerage tunnels, links and TPS (DLT) components of the overall project.

The project’s remaining two packages entail the expansion and upgrade of the Jebel Ali and Warsan sewage treatment plants (STPs), and will be procured in a process separate from the four DSST-DLT components.

Prequalified EPC contractors  

The prequalified EPC companies for packages J1, J2 and W are:

  • Acciona Construccion (Spain) – Dubai branch
  • Besix Construct (Belgium)
  • China Harbour Engineering (China)
  • China Railway Group (China)
  • China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China)
  • Daewoo Engineering & Construction (South Korea) 
  • Dogus Insaat VE Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Turkiye) – Abu Dhabi
  • FCC Construcccion (Spain)
  • Archirodon Construction (Overseas) Company (Greece) / BESSAC (France)
  • China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation – Dubai Branch / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company (STEC) / China Railway 14th Bureau Group Corporation 
  • Gulermak Agir Sanayi Insaat (Turkiye) / DETech Contracting (local)
  • National Marine Dredging Company (local) / Afcons Infrastructure (India) / ITD Cementation India 
  • The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company, Egypt) / Darwish Engineering Emirates (local) / AqualiaMACE Contracting Operation & General Maintenance (local)
  • Larsen & Toubro (India)
  • Porr (Austria)
  • Power Construction Corporation of China (China) – Dubai branch
  • Samsung C&T Corporation (South Korea) – Dubai Branch
  • SK Ecoplant (South Korea) 
  • Strabag Dubai (Austria)
  • The Petroleum Projects & Technical Consultation Company (Petrojet) – Egypt
  • Webuild  (Italy)

EPC companies that have been prequalified for package J3 are:

  • Acciona Construccion (Spain) – Dubai branch
  • Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting (Kuwait) 
  • China Railway Group (China)
  • China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China)
  • Daewoo Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
  • DETech Contracting
  • Archirodon Construction (Overseas) Company (Greece) / BESSAC (France)
  • China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (China) – Dubai branch / Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company (STEC) / China Railway 14th Bureau Group Corporation 
  • Gulermak Agir Sanayi Insaat (Turkiye) / DETech Contracting (local) 
  • International Foundation Group (IFG, local) / General Construction Company (local)
  • Nael Construction & Contracting (UAE) / Concord for Engineering & Contracting (Egypt) – Dubai branch
  • National Marine Dredging Company (local) / Afcons Infrastructure (India) / ITD Cementation India 
  • Mapa Insaat Ve Ticaret (Turkiye)
  • Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons (Kuwait)
  • Porr (Austria)
  • Power Construction Corporation of China – Dubai branch
  • Strabag (Austria)
  • Tecton Engineering & Construction (local)
  • The Petroleum Projects & Technical Consultation Company – Petrojet (Egypt)
Market-sounding

Dubai Municipality is expected to hold a market-sounding event for investors, MEED reported in early September .

The event is set to take place during the first week of October, a few weeks before interested investors submit their statements of qualifications (SOQ) for the projects' various packages.

MEED previously reported that the client had extended the SOQ submission deadline from 5 September to 21 October.

 Gravity system project

The DSST project aims to convert Dubai’s existing sewerage system from a pumped system to a gravity system by decommissioning the existing pump stations and providing “a sustainable, innovative, reliable service for future generations”.

Dubai currently has two major sewerage catchments. The first in Deira is Warsan, where the Warsan STP treats the flow.

The second catchment is in Bur Dubai, where the wastewater is treated at the Jebel Ali STP.

According to a source close to the project, the DSST will replace 120 pump stations, saving approximately 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. 

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12590337/main0016.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Firms submit bids for second Hassyan SWRO pipeline contract

    22 July 2026

    Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has received bids from three contractors for a second pipeline contract relating to the Hassyan seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) network expansion.

    Project two requires contractors to supply, install, test and commission glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) water transmission pipelines and associated works for the plant's phase two network.

    Local firm Tristar Engineering & Construction submitted the lowest offer of AED792.59m ($215.8m), according to tender results published by the state utility.

    Green Oasis General Contracting (UAE) submitted a bid of AED800.02m ($217.8m) and Wade Adams Contracting (UAE) made the other compliant offer of AED989.65m ($269.5m).

    In January, Dewa announced that construction of the 180-million-imperial-gallon-a-day phase one of the Hassyan SWRO independent water project was 90% complete.

    Earlier in July, eight contractors submitted bids for project one of the Hassyan pipeline network expansion.

    Dewa also has a third contract out for tender for GRE water transmission pipeline work related to the Hassyan SWRO phase two network.

    Project three was tendered on 26 January and has a bid submission deadline of 29 July.

    READ THE JULY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17723861/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Riyadh seeks contractors for Expo Icon structure

    22 July 2026

     

    Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), which is tasked with delivering the Expo 2030 Riyadh venue, has asked contractors to express interest in the construction of the Icon, one of the key landmarks at the site.

    The structure will be located at the entrance of the Expo 2030 Riyadh site, within the Collaboration Precinct.

    ERC issued the expressions of interest notice on 20 July. The deadline for submissions of interest is 23 July.

    The structure will be connected to the metro station and will serve as a gateway to the event.

    It will be 66 metres tall and will comprise an observation platform, food and beverage outlets and other features.

    The total built-up area will be approximately 16,279 square metres and it will be able to accommodate more than 1,450 visitors an hour during the event.

    The contract duration is 29 months from the start of construction.

    ERC tendered the contract for the construction of the Saudi Arabia pavilion at the site in May.

    The pavilion is a major asset located within the venue's KSA District, on the eastern side of the Expo 2030 Riyadh masterplan, within the Loop of Nations district.

    Construction progress

    The tendering of the pavilion structure followed swift progress on the site’s infrastructure development works.

    In April, ERC awarded two contracts for the next phase of infrastructure works at the site to local firm Al-Yamama Company.

    The scope covered the construction of road networks and infrastructure for water, sewage, electricity, telecommunications and electric vehicle charging.

    These awards followed ERC’s January award of an estimated SR1bn ($267m) contract for initial infrastructure works at the site to local firm Nesma & Partners. That scope covered about 50 kilometres of integrated infrastructure networks, including internal roads and essential utilities such as water, sewage, electrical and communications systems, and electric vehicle charging stations.

    The overall infrastructure works – covering the construction of main utilities and civil works at Expo 2030 Riyadh – are split into three packages:

    • Lot 1 covers the main utilities corridor;
    • Lot 2 includes the northern cluster of the nature corridor;
    • Lot 3 comprises the southern cluster of the nature corridor. 

    The masterplan encompasses an area of 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites ever designated for a World Expo event. Situated to the north of the Saudi capital, the site will be located near the future King Salman International airport and will provide direct access to landmarks within Riyadh.

    The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, launched ERC – a wholly owned subsidiary – in June 2025 to build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.

    READ THE JULY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17723204/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • EtihadWE tenders $150m Ajman substation project

    21 July 2026

    The UAE’s Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE) has tendered a contract to build three new substations in Ajman.

    Estimated to cost $150m, the project involves the construction of three new 132/11kV substations in the Bahya, Rumaila and Liwara districts. It also includes associated 132kV underground cabling works to connect the substations to the existing transmission network.

    The bid submission deadline is 10 August.

    According to tender documents, the project will add distribution capacity to support load growth and improve the security of electricity supply in the emirate.

    The scope of work includes site preparation, construction of three substation buildings and foundations, installation of 132kV GIS/AIS switchgear, 132/11kV power transformers and 11kV switchgear, as well as protection, control, Scada and telecommunications systems.

    Etihad WE is responsible for electricity and water services in Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, Fujairah and parts of Sharjah. The utility has been investing in new substations and transmission infrastructure as electricity demand continues to increase across the Northern Emirates.

    This includes a 132/33/11kV substation project on Al-Marjan Island in Ras Al-Khaimah. Construction work is ongoing on the project, with Maetal Dubai serving as the main contractor.

    EtihadWE is also finalising a new masterplan that will cover network capacity requirements and expansion priorities for the next 10 to 15 years.

    In June, Abdulla Al-Khemeiri, chief operations officer, told MEED: “We are currently reviewing it, and we need to obtain shareholder approval first. Once it is approved, it will be released, hopefully by the end of the year.” 

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17710661/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Seven seeks contractors for Dammam water park and hotel

    21 July 2026

     

    Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, is preparing to shortlist general contractors for the main construction package of its Dammam Water Park & Hotel project in the Al-Hamra district.

    The waterfront development sits on a 324,300-square-metre (sq m) plot.

    A notice was issued to contractors in July, and the client is expected to finalise the shortlist by the end of this month.

    Seven is seeking firms capable of delivering a lump-sum, turnkey solution for both the water park and a 321-key lifestyle hotel. Construction is expected to take 24 months from contract award.

    The water park is designed around five themed zones and will feature what is billed as the world’s first double-tornado/triple-wave waterslide.

    The park will include 21 major rides and attractions, 21 food and beverage outlets, 66 cabanas, parking for 1,100 vehicles and a daily peak capacity of 4,500 guests.

    Slide procurement has already been completed directly by Seven. The selected contractor will be responsible for locally sourcing slide towers, integrating them with rockwork and secondary steel, and installing the units.

    Detailed design and issued-for-construction packages are complete.

    Marine works, piling, dewatering and site utilities are being progressed separately by the existing early works contractor.

    The hotel component covers roughly 31,700 sq m of gross floor area and will offer 321 guest rooms, four F&B outlets, spa and wellness facilities, a family pool, and meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition space.

    The new contractor’s scope includes superstructure concrete works, façade and roof works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, interior fit-out and landscaping.

    Seven will consider only contractors with demonstrated experience delivering water parks with complex aquatics, theming and rockwork – either directly or through clearly defined subcontractor partnerships – along with a track record in high-end turnkey hotel fit-outs.

    Construction of Seven’s Dammam entertainment complex is currently under way. In October 2023, Saudi Binladin Group won contracts worth around SR5bn ($1.3bn) from Seven to build two entertainment destinations in the Dammam and Al-Khobar areas of the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.

    The Al-Khobar entertainment complex is being built on reclaimed waterfront land. The complex spans around 300,000 sq m and is also known as ‘The Waves’.

    The Dammam entertainment complex spans 360,000 sq m and is being built on reclaimed land on the Dammam waterfront.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17710096/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Al-Ula appoints equestrian village early works contractor

    21 July 2026

     

    Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) has awarded a contract for early construction works at the Al-Muatadil Equestrian Village.

    The contract was awarded to Al-Khobar-based Al-Shalawi International Company.

    Canadian engineering firm AtkinsRealis is the project management consultant. UK-headquartered Baker Wilkins & Smith and local firm Al-Hoty Company are the cost consultants.

    Dubai-based SSH is the supervision consultant, and UK-based Hopkins Architects is the lead design consultant.

    RCU announced the project plans in March 2023, including the development of an equestrian hub with two arenas that can accommodate 5,000 and 1,400 spectators, respectively.

    The venue will also include grass polo, sand polo and endurance facilities, with capacities of 600, 400 and 600 seats, respectively.

    These facilities will be complemented by visitor amenities, two stable compounds with capacity for 740 horses, and accommodation and retail outlets for event participants and workers.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17710170/main.jpeg
    Yasir Iqbal