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Dubai tenders $16bn of sewerage tunnel contracts

5 November 2025

 

Dubai Municipality has opened bidding for its J and W packages under the Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnels (DSST) public-private partnership (PPP) project.

The DSST scheme is one of Dubai’s largest planned infrastructure PPPs, with an estimated total cost of about AED80bn ($22bn).

It will be developed under three packages: J, W and Links.

The bid submission deadline for packages J and W is 3 December, a source confirmed to MEED. 

The tender was issued by the municipality's sewerage and recycled water projects department.

The three packages cover construction works that were previously categorised under the Warsan Strategic Tunnel Scheme (Package W) and the Jebel Ali Strategic Sewerage Scheme (J1 North, J2 South, J3 Jebel Ali Links).

These packages have now been restructured and renamed.

The project masterplan covers the construction of two sets of deep tunnels terminating at terminal pump stations at Warsan and Jebel Ali Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). It also includes over 200 kilometres of sewer links.

MEED can exclusively reveal that three consortiums are preparing bids for the J and W packages. These include:

  • Plenary Group (Australia) / Itochu (Japan) / Infrastructure Holding (UAE) 
  • Vision Invest (Saudi Arabia) / Suez Water Company (France)
  • Etihad Water & Electricity (UAE) / Tamasuk Holding (Saudi Arabia) / Alkhorayef Water & Power (Saudi Arabia)

The DSST project aims to convert Dubai’s sewerage system from a pumped network to a gravity-based system, enabling the emirate to replace existing sewage pumping stations and meet long-term capacity needs.

The three packages are being procured under 30-year design, build, finance, operate and maintain concession models.

MEED understands that, as part of the bidding process, consortiums are finalising details with partners who would operate the project.

The third Links package, meanwhile, will be tendered next year. 

The municipality previously launched a refresher request for qualifications in September for developers that had originally been shortlisted under the first prequalification process. 

The DSST programme also marks the first time the municipality will use ICV (In-Country Value), a local content programme that promotes economic benefits.

READ THE NOVEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

Mena players up the ante in global LNG production race; Investment takes UAE non-oil economy from strength to strength; Project finance activity draws international lenders back to market

Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the November 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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Mark Dowdall

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