Bidders wait for Kuwait water project award
9 September 2025
Bidders are still waiting for the letter of contract award to be issued by Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (MEW) for the planned water distribution complex project in Shuwaikh, according to industry sources.
Bids were submitted in March this year, with Kuwait’s Khalid Ali Al-Kharafi & Brothers Company emerging as the lowest bidder.
The full list of submitted bids was:
- Khalid Ali Al-Kharafi & Brothers Company ($241.65m)
- Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting Company ($258.9m)
- Arab Contractors ($276.49m)
- United Gulf Construction Company ($338.69m)
Later, in July, bidders were asked to extend their bid bond warranty.
It is not known why the contract for the project has not yet been officially awarded.
The tender is a major project for the MEW. It is expected to increase the country’s water storage capacity by 71 million imperial gallons, while also boosting the daily pumping capacity of low-salinity water by 23 million gallons.
The invitation to bid was originally issued in March 2023, and the bid submission deadline for the project was extended 18 times before bids were ultimately submitted earlier this year.
MEED’s September 2025 report on Kuwait includes:
> COMMENT: Kuwait’s political hiatus brings opportunity
> GOVERNMENT: Kuwait looks to capitalise on consolidation of power
> ECONOMY: Kuwait aims for investment to revive economy
> BANKING: Change is coming for Kuwait’s banks
> OIL & GAS: Kuwaiti oil activity rising after parliament suspension
> POWER & WATER: Signs of project progress for Kuwait's power and water sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Momentum builds in Kuwait construction
> DATABANK: Kuwait’s growth picture improves
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The firm submitted a main bid of AED197.1m ($53.7m), along with an alternative offer of AED189.45m. The bidding deadline was 4 September.
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