meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Acwa Power tightens grip on GCC water

26 January 2024

 

This report also includes: Mena water delivers exceptional growth

Time-bound sustainability objectives and improving economic conditions kept the GCC region’s water sector projects buoyant in 2023.

This coincided with the key milestones achieved by independent water producer (IWP) contracts awarded between 2020 and 2021, which reached either the commissioning or commercial operation stages in 2023 following two years of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UAE awarded three IWP contracts in 2023 and Saudi Arabia awarded one. This was a remarkable recovery considering that there was only one contract award in 2021 and none in 2022, barring the directly negotiated contract for the development of Shuaibah 3 in Saudi Arabia.

In contrast, there were no new awards for independent water and power producer (IWPP) projects – a model that worked successfully from the 1990s until the mid-2010s, when policies started to shift away from thermal desalination technologies and towards IWPs that rely on reverse osmosis technology for water treatment.


Source: MEED

IWP awards

The IWP contracts awarded in 2023 include Mirfa 2 and Shuweihat 4 in Abu Dhabi, Rabigh 4 in Saudi Arabia and Hassyan 1 in Dubai. The four IWP schemes have a total combined capacity of about 2.3 million cubic metres a day (cm/d).

The award of these contracts resulted in higher net and gross capacities for Saudi utility developer Acwa Power, France’s Engie and Spain-headquartered GS Inima, relative to the last MEED water developer ranking published in January 2023.

Acwa Power’s overall net capacity leapt by 20 per cent in 2023 to reach approximately 3.5 million cm/d. This resulted from its 40 per cent equity in Dubai’s Hassyan 1 IWP project, which has a capacity of over 818,000 cm/d; and its 45 per cent shareholding in the 600,000 cm/d Rabigh 4 IWP.

Engie likewise posted an impressive two-digit rise in terms of its net capacity, growing from 1.67 million cm/d to 1.87 million cm/d, thanks to its 40 per cent equity in the Mirfa 2 IWP project in Abu Dhabi.

The size of the two projects that Acwa Power won in 2023, however, meant it managed to further widen its lead over Engie and the other private water developers operating assets across the GCC states.

At 3.5 million cm/d, Acwa Power’s overall net capacity is equivalent to the total combined net capacity of the next five developers in the ranking: Malaysia’s Malakoff, Japan’s Marubeni and Sumitomo, and GS Inima, in addition to Engie.

The Saudi utility developer has also for the first time overtaken Engie in terms of gross water desalination capacity. As
of the end of 2023, its gross capacity crossed 7.7 million cm/d compared to Engie’s 7.0 cm/d.

In terms of ranking, GS Inima registered the most significant improvement among the top 10 private water developer companies, advancing three spots to rank fifth, having grown its net equity capacity nearly 50 per cent to reach close to 383,000 cm/d. This change takes into consideration that Kuwait’s Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), which was included in the previous index, has been excluded this year due to its role as an investor rather than a developer of water desalination projects.

GS Inima will maintain a 60 per cent shareholding in Abu Dhabi’s Shuweihat 4 IWP scheme, which is expected to reach commercial operation by mid-2026.

Despite not having won any new contracts, Saudi Brothers Commercial Company and Abdulaziz al-Ajlan, both Riyadh-based, managed to land in the top 10 ranking of water developers this year, mainly due to the exclusion of both GIC and Water & Electricity Holding Company (Badeel), which is fully owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. 

Outlook

The next 12 months will likely be an active period for the water industry, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

This is mainly due to the target set by the kingdom’s Environment, Water & Agriculture Ministry to meet 92 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s water demand using desalinated water by 2030, to reduce reliance on ground and surface water.

Both Saudi Water Conversion Corporation, the world’s largest desalinator, which supplies 69 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s water, and Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) will have to get “plants up and running as soon as possible to make this target”, says Robert Bryniak, CEO of Dubai-based Golden Sands Management Consulting.

Elsewhere – particularly in the UAE and, to a lesser extent, Oman – expiring contracted capacity and growing demand are expected to continue to drive the procurement of additional seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) capacity.

The past few years have seen several international and local developers and investors enter the GCC’s water desalination market.

“The water industry could benefit by having more engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors and developers, but I do not see this holding back procurers in launching new projects,” says Bryniak. “Having said that, there is definitely room for the water industry to accommodate more developers and EPC contractors.”

Tariff trend

Tariffs, or the long-term levelised costs that offtakers pay for water that private developers produce, are expected to trend upwards in 2024. This is due to higher interest rates and inflationary pressures on materials and supplies.

“These considerations, coupled with a limited number of experienced EPC contractors with excess contracting capacity, suggest that it will be tough seeing lower tariffs this year,” Bryniak says.

“We expect this trend due to the expected higher costs,” says another water desalination expert based in the UAE.

“The tariff for the Hassyan 1 IWP was low, but I see that as an anomaly,” says Bryniak, referring to the $cents 36.5 a cubic metre ($c/cm) tariff that Acwa Power proposed last year to develop the Hassyan 1 IWP in Dubai.

The previous tariff bid for the project was about 30 per cent lower than that proposed by Acwa Power last year, and it is likely that the bidder “had tremendous pressure to maintain a relatively low tariff to secure the project”, says Bryniak.  

Future projects

SWPC issued the tender for the contract to develop the Jubail 4 and 6 IWP schemes on 1 January, and the tendering process is also under way for the Ras Mohaisen IWP. Both contracts are expected to be awarded before the end of this year.

In addition, SWPC has indicated that four more IWPs are expected to reach commercial operation by 2027, which implies that it could start seeking interest from developers for these projects in the next 12-24 months. 

Under the latest plan, the Ras al-Khair 2 and 4, Al-Rais 2 and Tabuk 1 IWP projects will have a combined total capacity of 1.7 million cm/d.

In the UAE, Acwa Power is understood to be the sole bidder for the 400,000 cm/d Hamriyah IWP in Sharjah. The contract could be awarded in the first half of 2024.

In Abu Dhabi, the tendering process is under way for two SWRO plants that will be developed under one contract. The Abu Dhabi Islands SWRO projects will each have a capacity of 227,000 cm/d.

Kuwait’s two IWPPs – Al-Zour North 2 & 3 and Al-Khiran 1 – and the Facility E IWPP in Qatar include water desalination units with capacities of 695,000 cm/d and 454,000 cm/d, respectively.

MEED understands that an option is open for the bidders to use membrane technology for the desalination units of these planned facilities.

Unstoppable

Acwa Power thus appears unstoppable given its plans to further consolidate its presence in the region’s water industry, and pursue new technologies and partnerships, as its CEO Marco Arcelli told MEED in July last year.

The company plans to work with Japanese membrane technology provider Toray Industries to explore energy-saving technologies for SWRO. It is also working with other suppliers located in the US, Japan and China, as well as with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science & Technology to explore energy-efficient solutions for treating seawater.

The scale of the IWP projects Acwa Power has won between 2019 and 2023 enables it to outprice key competitors, or bid for projects deemed too risky by other developers.

The firm’s offer to develop Rabigh 4 for $c0.458/cm, for instance, was lower than what some of its competitors anticipated Acwa Power was capable of offering, although it lost Mirfa 2 to Engie a few months earlier.

As it is, Acwa Power won five of the 12 IWP contracts that were tendered and awarded in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman during the past four years, equivalent to more than 56 per cent of the gross capacity awarded over that period.

Other developers should take note as they establish strategies to win more contracts in the future and potentially slow down Acwa Power's three-year sector dominance.

 Mena water delivers exceptional growth 

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11438915/main.gif
Jennifer Aguinaldo

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

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Wasl Group launches Cedarwood Estates South villas

    21 May 2026

    Dubai-based real estate developer Wasl Group has announced the launch of Cedarwood Estates South, the newest addition to its expanding freehold portfolio in Dubai.

    The project is located within The Next Chapter, Wasl’s development in the Jumeirah Golf Estates area.

    Cedarwood Estates South features 74 villas in four-, five- and six-bedroom layouts.

    The launch follows Wasl Group’s award of a contract to Beijing-headquartered China State Construction Engineering Corporation to develop the overall infrastructure for The Next Chapter.

    The masterplan spans 4.68 million square metres across six districts: Central Park, The Village, Town Centre & Grand Lake, Golf Course North, Golf Course South and Equestrian Village.

    The development will offer 780 villas, 62 mansions, 97 branded residences, 752 estate homes and 10,654 apartments.

    It will also include a five-star Mandarin Oriental resort, a tennis stadium, an 18-hole golf course and academy, an equestrian centre, a school, retail centres and other associated facilities.

    Wasl Group is one of Dubai’s largest real estate development and asset management entities, established in 2008 by the Dubai Real Estate Corporation.

    The company was set up to consolidate and manage a significant portfolio of government-owned real estate assets.

    Headquartered in Dubai, Wasl operates across residential, commercial, hospitality and mixed-use segments, and is known for masterplanned communities and urban regeneration projects.

    Over the years, Wasl has delivered several mid- to large-scale developments and partnered with international hospitality brands through its Wasl Hospitality arm, helping to expand Dubai’s hotel inventory and support the city’s wider tourism and economic growth agenda.

    According to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, Wasl Group has a portfolio of over 128 projects, valued at about $18bn.

    Wasl’s major developments include Wasl1, Wasl Gate, Wasl Village and Wasl 51.

    Its asset portfolio includes notable landmarks such as the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, One & Only The Palm, One & Only Royal Mirage, Nikki Beach, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Emirates Golf Club.

    > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16936615/main.jpeg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Foundations progressing for Iraq gas gathering project

    21 May 2026

     

    The construction of foundations is ongoing for the $1.61bn project to develop a gas processing complex at Iraq’s Ratawi oil and gas field, according to industry sources.

    In May last year, China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC) was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work for the project.

    The Ratawi gas processing complex is one of four projects constituting Iraq’s Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), which is being developed by French energy major TotalEnergies and its partners. TotalEnergies is the main operator of the GGIP scheme. Basra Oil Company (30%) and QatarEnergy (25%) are the other stakeholders.

    The consortium formalised the investment agreement for the project with the Iraqi government in September 2021.

    The GGIP is estimated to have a total value of $27bn, and the first phase of the project is worth about $10bn.

    When commissioned, the planned facility is expected to process 300 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas. Its capacity is expected to double when a second expansion phase comes online.

    The Ratawi gas processing facility project aims to improve Iraq’s electricity supply by capturing associated gas that would have otherwise been flared at several oil fields, including:

    • Luhais
    • Majnoon
    • Ratawi
    • West Qurna 2
    • Tuba

    Large volumes of gas are flared from these oil fields, causing significant environmental damage. Collecting and processing flared gas will generate increased hydrocarbon revenues and reduce ecological damage.

    The gas tapped and processed from the oil fields will then be used to supply power plants, helping to reduce Iraq’s power import bill.

    As well as supplying to Iraq’s national gas network to generate electricity, the Ratawi gas processing complex will increase the production of gas products, including liquefied petroleum gas and condensates.

    US-based consultant KBR has performed the front-end engineering and design work on the project.

    GGIP masterplan

    The GGIP programme is focused on developing four major projects in Iraq:

    • The Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP)
    • The Ratawi gas processing complex
    • A 1GW solar power project for Iraq’s electricity ministry
    • A field development project at Ratawi, known as the Associated Gas Upstream Project (AGUP)

    The CSSP is designed to support oil production in Iraq’s southern oil and gas fields – mainly Zubair, Rumaila, Majnoon, West Qurna and Ratawi – by delivering treated seawater for injection, a method used to boost crude recovery rates and improve long-term reservoir performance.

    In August last year, TotalEnergies awarded China Energy Engineering International Group the EPC contract for the 1GW solar project at the Ratawi field. A month later, QatarEnergy signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to acquire a 50% interest in the project.

    Civil works and piping work have started for the project to develop a second central processing facility (CPF) at Iraq’s Ratawi oil and gas field as part of the AGUP portion of the GGIP.

    In September, Turkiye’s Enka signed a contract to develop the second CPF at Iraq’s Ratawi field as part of the second phase of the field’s development.

    Enka has yet to give a value for the contract, but it is believed to be worth more than $1bn.

    In November, US-based KBR was selected by Enka to provide detailed design services for the project.

    Enka’s contract covers the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning of the CPF for the project.

    The aim of the project is to process oil and associated gas from the Ratawi oil field to increase production capacity to 210,000 barrels a day of oil and 154 million standard cf/d of gas.

    The 1GW Ratawi solar scheme will be developed in phases, with each phase coming online between 2025 and 2027. It will have the capacity to provide electricity to about 350,000 homes in Iraq’s Basra region.

    The project, consisting of 2 million bifacial solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers, will include the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the photovoltaic power station site and 132kV booster station.

    Separately, in June, TotalEnergies awarded China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering an EPC contract worth $294m to build a pipeline as part of a package known as the Ratawi Gas Midstream Pipeline.

    Also, TotalEnergies awarded UK-based consultant Wood Group a pair of engineering framework agreements in April 2025, worth a combined $11m, under the GGIP scheme.

    The agreements have a three-year term under which Wood will support TotalEnergies in advancing the AGUP.

    One of the aims of the AGUP is to debottleneck and upgrade existing facilities to increase production capacity to 120,000 barrels a day of oil on completion of the first phase, according to a statement by Wood.

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

    Global energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16934508/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • WEBINAR: Iraq Projects Market 2026

    20 May 2026

    Webinar: Iraq Projects Market 2026 
    Thursday 4 June | 11:00 AM GST  |  Register now

    Agenda:

    • Overview of the Iraq projects market landscape
    • 2025-26 projects market performance
    • Value of work awarded 2026 YTD
    • Assessment of key current and future projects
    • Key drivers, challenges and opportunities
    • Summary of the key clients, contractors and consultants
    • Size of future pipeline by sector and status
    • Ranking of the top contractors and clients
    • Short and long-term market outlook
    • Audience Q&A

    Hosted by: Edward James, head of content and analysis at MEED

    A well-known and respected thought leader in Mena affairs, Edward James has been with MEED for more than 19 years, working as a researcher, consultant and content director. Today, he heads up all content and research produced by the MEED group. His specific areas of expertise are construction, hydrocarbons, power and water, and the petrochemicals market. He is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the Mena projects market. He is a regular guest commentator on Middle East issues for news channels such as the BBC, CNN and ABC News and is a regular speaker at events in the region. 

    Click here to register

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16925011/main.gif
    Edward James
  • Surbana Jurong to lead Jeddah airport expansion

    20 May 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Singapore-based engineering firm Surbana Jurong is expected to lead the future expansion and development plans of Jeddah Airports Company (Jedco).

    Surbana Jurong's group CEO, Sean Chiao, met with Jedco's CEO, Mazen Bin Mohammed Johar, earlier this week to explore expanded cooperation.

    The meeting focused on leveraging Surbana Jurong’s international expertise in delivering and managing major projects to help King Abdulaziz International airport (KAIA) scale towards more than 90 million passengers annually by 2030.

    Both sides also discussed talent development for Saudi engineers through Surbana Jurong Academy programmes, mentorship and participation in international airport projects, alongside establishing a joint governance framework and progressing towards a memorandum of understanding.

    Surbana Jurong is delivering project management consultancy services for over 100 capital projects at KAIA, valued at SR3bn ($800m).

    These upgrades will boost KAIA’s annual capacity from 29 million to 114 million passengers by 2030, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and National Aviation Strategy, and enhancing the experience for domestic travellers and millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

    According to data from regional project tracker MEED Projects, Surbana Jurong is involved in several major projects in the kingdom, including Red Sea Global's Amaala masterplan, the Trojena dams scheme, Oxagon, King Salman International airport and Saudi Arabia Railway's North-South Phosphate Railway 3.

    The firm has also been part of projects in the wider region, including the West Link project, Etihad high-speed rail and Abu Dhabi airport's Midfield Terminal.

    The firm has also secured masterplan project contracts from Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities & Transport and Abu Dhabi Ports.

    MEED’s April 2026 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > COMMENT: Risk accelerates Saudi spending shift
    > GVT &: ECONOMY: Riyadh navigates a changed landscape
    > BANKING: Testing times for Saudi banks
    > UPSTREAM: Offshore oil and gas projects to dominate Aramco capex in 2026
    > DOWNSTREAM: Saudi downstream projects market enters lean period
    > POWER: Wind power gathers pace in Saudi Arabia
    > WATER: Sharakat plan signals next phase of Saudi water expansion
    > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction enters a period of strategic readjustment
    > TRANSPORT: Rail expansion powers Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure push

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16922013/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Dubai seeks contractors for Metro Gold Line

    20 May 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has invited contractors to express interest in a contract to build the new Gold Line, as part of its expansion of the Dubai Metro network.

    The notice was issued in mid-May with a submission deadline of 13 June.

    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 the total length of the Dubai Metro network 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 be connected to Dubai Metro’s existing Red and Green lines and will 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.

    MEED’s May 2026 report on the UAE includes:

    > COMMENT: Conflict tests UAE diversification
    > GVT &: ECONOMY: UAE economy absorbs multi-sector shock
    > BANKING: UAE banks ready to weather the storm
    > ATTACKS: UAE counts energy infrastructure costs
    > UPSTREAM: Adnoc builds long-term oil and gas production potential
    > DOWNSTREAM: Adnoc Gas to rally UAE downstream project spending
    > POWER: Large-scale IPPs drive UAE power market
    > WATER: UAE water investment broadens beyond desalination
    > CONSTRUCTION: War casts shadow over UAE construction boom
    > TRANSPORT: UAE rail momentum grows as trade routes face strain

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16919605/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal