meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Masdar eyes major Saudi expansion

13 September 2023

 

Register for MEED's guest programme 

The Saudi branch of the UAE-based clean energy firm Masdar aims to bid for every single renewable energy project that is tendered in the kingdom, according to its managing director and country manager Abdulaziz al-Mubarak.

The company, along with French utility developer EDF and local consortium partner Nesma, has been shortlisted for contracts to develop two solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power producer (IPP) schemes under the fourth round of the kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP).

This month, alongside EDF, it signed a multi-utility contract for the Amaala tourism development in Saudi Arabia.

The team won the contract after two years of bidding and negotiations.

Unlike most IPP projects that Masdar and its partners have previously implemented, the scope of the Amaala contract covers four technologies: power generation through a solar power farm; a battery energy storage system to enable 24-hour solar power dispatch; renewable energy-powered water desalination through reverse osmosis; and a wastewater treatment plant.

Only one other development, the Red Sea project, has implemented the same model.

“The Amaala multi-utility project allows us to partner with the best technology providers,” Al-Mubarak tells MEED.

In addition to EDF’s expertise, another French firm, Suez, is expected to join the project.

“The requirement of Amaala is unique,” the executive explains, referring to the completely off-grid nature of the utility infrastructure that will support the development. “It is not a straightforward IPP and Masdar as a developer is a strong suit for this project.”

Developing the entire sustainable infrastructure under one contract is expected to lead to greater operational efficiencies throughout the project’s lifecycle.

“Bundling the technologies, which will be completely off-grid, is as close as you can get to an ideal sustainable solution,” adds Al-Mubarak.

The Amaala multi-utility project is expected to reach commercial operation in 2025, and the developer consortium aims to issue a limited notice to proceed as soon as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor is finalised.

“We will not wait to reach financial close before mobilising for the project’s construction phase,” the executive says, without elaborating on a potential EPC contractor and battery energy provider.

Bundling the technologies, which will be completely off-grid, is as close as you can get to an ideal sustainable solution
Abdulaziz al-Mubarak, Masdar

C&I opportunities

Masdar expects to quadruple its employee headcount in Saudi Arabia by mid-2024, roughly two years after its local office was inaugurated in Riyadh.

In addition to responding to an accelerated pace of renewable energy tenders, both through the principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company, and other clients such as Neom, Masdar intends to play a major role in Saudi Arabia’s nascent renewable energy commercial and industrial (C&I) sector.

Emerge, a joint venture with EDF, signed a cooperation agreement with Al-Watania Agriculture Company in May this year to develop a 30MW solar PV project in Al-Jouf.

It is one of several captive renewable energy projects that Masdar is actively pursuing in the kingdom.

“We are in negotiations with several large organisations to implement a total capacity of roughly 200MW,” explains Al-Mubarak.

MEED understands these C&I opportunities range from a few megawatts to up to 30MW. A recent regulation has enabled C&I projects in Saudi Arabia, creating multiple opportunities, especially for companies looking to decrease their energy consumption or offset their carbon emissions.

Al-Mubarak adds: “As a leading utility developer in Saudi Arabia, Masdar can offer techno-commercial competitive proposals. We are also very focused on local technology and knowledge transfer and have a robust training programme in place.”

Masdar, in partnership with EDF, has won one contract each in the second and third rounds of NREP. The 400MW Dumat al-Jandal wind project has been completed and work on the 300MW South Jeddah solar IPP is approaching completion. 

Robust market

According to Al-Mubarak, Saudi Arabia will continue to be an exciting market for Masdar in the coming years due to its robust ecosystem, talent, outstanding credit rating and transparent contracting regime.

As such, the possibility of Saudi Arabia continuing its track record of achieving world-record-low tariffs in solar and wind project tenders cannot be ruled out.

“World-record-low levelised electricity costs are a result of the input for each project. The kingdom offers robust contractual agreements, good pre-development work, and a robust local EPC ecosystem that these projects can tap,” explains Al-Mubarak.

With plans to install a total renewable energy capacity of up to 58,700MW by 2030, the kingdom could play a significant role in fulfilling Masdar’s vision to reach 100,000MW of renewable energy installed capacity by the end of the decade.

Al-Mubarak, however, stops short of specifying how much Saudi Arabia is expected to contribute to this overall target.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11143157/main1905.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

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

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Public Investment Fund backs Neom

    16 April 2026

    Commentary
    Colin Foreman
    Editor

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has backed Neom by including it as one of six strategic ecosystems in its newly approved 2026-30 strategy.

    The future of the $500bn gigaproject had been thrown into doubt following the postponement of the 2029 Asian Winter Games at the Trojena mountain resort, the cancellation of construction contracts – such as the $5bn deal with Italian contractor Webuild for dam works at Trojena – and the slowdown of development at The Line, where tunnelling contracts were cancelled and staff left the project.

    The backing comes as Neom’s operational focus appears to be evolving in response to shifting regional dynamics and global economic conditions. For example, on 15 April Neom posted on its official X account about a new Europe-Egypt-Neom-GCC corridor, describing it as a faster route for time-sensitive goods. It said the corridor combines trucking and ferry services to move goods quickly into the Gulf, adding that importers from several European markets are already using it to reach the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman and beyond.

    Powered by Pan Marine, DFDS and regional RoPax services, the initiative is positioned as a way to add flexibility and resilience to regional supply chains. This emphasis on logistics and immediate trade utility suggests a shift away from the more speculative architectural announcements that characterised Neom’s early years, towards activity more directly tied to current market realities.

    PIF’s broader 2026-30 strategy places heavy emphasis on “delivering competitive domestic ecosystems to connect sectors, unlock the full potential of strategic assets, maximise long-term returns and continue to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia”.

    The inclusion of Neom as a standalone ecosystem within the Vision Portfolio suggests that while the project remains part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals, it will be subject to the fund's focus on working with the private sector.

    That means the long-term success of Neom will increasingly depend on its ability to attract external investment and function as a viable economic hub rather than just a state-funded construction site.

    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/16417262/main.jpeg
    Colin Foreman
  • Kuwait gas project worth $3.3bn put on hold

    16 April 2026

     

    State-owned Kuwait Gulf Oil Company’s (KGOC’s) planned tender for the development of an onshore gas plant next to the Al-Zour refinery has been put on hold due to uncertainty created by the US and Israel’s war with Iran, according to industry sources.

    The project budget is estimated to be $3.3bn, and the last meeting with contractors to discuss the project took place in Kuwait on 10 February.

    Previously, it was expected to be tendered in late March, but the tendering process was delayed due to the regional conflict and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

    One source said: “This tender is now effectively on hold while KGOC waits for increased stability in the region before it invites companies to bid for the contract.”

    Under current plans, the plant will have the capacity to process up to 632 million cubic feet a day of gas and 88.9 million barrels a day of condensates from the Dorra offshore field, located in Gulf waters in the Saudi-Kuwait Neutral Zone.

    Ownership of the field is disputed by Iran, which refers to the field as Arash.

    Iran claims the field partially extends into Iranian territory and asserts that Tehran should be a stakeholder in its development.

    It is believed that the Dorra field’s close proximity to Iran will make development difficult due to the current security environment.

    The offshore elements of the project are expected to be especially difficult to protect from attacks from Iran.

    In July last year, MEED reported that KGOC had initiated the project by launching an early engagement process with contractors for the main engineering, procurement and construction tender.

    France-based Technip Energies completed the contract for the front-end engineering and design.

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

    Economic shock threatens long-term outlook; Riyadh adjusts to fiscal and geopolitical risk; GCC contractor ranking reflects gigaprojects slowdown.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the April 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > GCC CONTRACTOR RANKING: Construction guard undergoes a shift
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16413221/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Iraq pushes to revive oil pipeline through Saudi Arabia

    16 April 2026

    Iraq is pushing to revive an oil pipeline that passes through Saudi Arabia, allowing it to diversify export routes.

    Saheb Bazoun, a spokesman for Iraq’s Oil Ministry, said the pipeline would help to insulate Iraq from any future blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since 28 February.

    The original pipeline through Saudi Arabia has not been used for more than 30 years and would need work to be done in order to bring it online.

    It is 1,568km long, extending from the city of Zubair in Iraq to the Saudi port of Yanbu on the Red Sea.

    The pipeline was built in two phases during the 1980s. The first phase stretches between Zubair and Khurais, while the second extends to Yanbu. The pipeline’s operating capacity reached over 1.6 million barrels a day (b/d).

    Following the Gulf War, the pipeline was shut down in August 1990. It has remained out of operation for decades, despite Iraq’s several attempts to restart it.

    The original pipeline project cost over $2.6bn, including storage tanks and loading terminals.

    In the wake of the US and Israel attacking Iran on 28 February, global markets have lost 11 million barrels a day (b/d) of oil supply due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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

    Economic shock threatens long-term outlook; Riyadh adjusts to fiscal and geopolitical risk; GCC contractor ranking reflects gigaprojects slowdown.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the April 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > GCC CONTRACTOR RANKING: Construction guard undergoes a shift
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16413290/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Algeria opens bidding for water treatment plant

    15 April 2026

     

    State-owned Cosider Pipelines, part of Algeria’s public infrastructure group Cosider, has issued a tender for the construction of a demineralisation plant in In Salah in Algeria.

    The contract covers the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a plant with a treatment capacity of 62,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d).

    The tender is open to local and international companies specialising in the design and construction of demineralisation and reverse osmosis desalination plants.

    The bid submission deadline is 26 April.

    The project will be located at In Salah, a key industrial area in southern Algeria, where treated water supply is important for both municipal and industrial use.

    Cosider said that individual bidders must demonstrate that they have completed at least one reverse osmosis demineralisation or desalination plant with a capacity of 20,000 cubic metres a day or more.

    They must also show an average annual turnover of at least AD1bn ($7.7m) for their five best years over the past decade.

    For consortium bids, all partners must share full responsibility for the contract, while the lead company must meet the technical and financial requirements.

    Recent projects

    In 2023, MEED reported that Riyadh-based water utility developer Wetico had won two contracts to develop water desalination plants in Algeria.

    Societe Algerienne de Realisation de Projects Industriels (Sarpi) awarded the contract for the El-Tarf desalination plant, while Entreprise Nationale de Canalisations (Enac) is the client for the Bejaja facility.

    Both plants were commissioned in 2025, each with a production capacity of 300,000 cm/d.

    Separately, Wetico was the main contractor on a third plant commissioned last year. The Cap Dijinet 2 seawater desalination plant in Boumerdes province covers 18 hectares and also has a capacity of 300,000 cm/d.

    Like many countries, Algeria is facing pressure on resources due to longer and more frequent droughts. Seawater desalination is seen as a key driver of the government’s strategy to guarantee drinking water supply.

    According to previous reports, the government is planning to build up to six additional plants by 2030.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16404325/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • WEBINAR: UAE Projects Market 2026

    15 April 2026

    Webinar: UAE Projects Market 2026
    Tuesday, 28 April 2026 | 11:00 GST  |  Register now

    Agenda:

    • Overview of the UAE projects market landscape
    • 2025 projects market performance
    • Value of work awarded 2026 YTD
    • Impact of the Iran conflict on the projects market and real estate, assessing supply chain disruptions, material cost inflation and war risk premiums
    • Key drivers, challenges and opportunities
    • Size of future pipeline by sector and status
    • Ranking of the top contractors and clients
    • Summary of key current and future projects
    • Short and long-term market outlook
    • Audience Q&A

    Hosted by: Colin Foreman, editor of MEED 

    Colin Foreman is editor and a specialist construction journalist for news and analysis on MEED.com and the MEED Business Review magazine. He has been reporting on the region since 2003, specialising in the construction sector and its impact on the broader economy. He has reported exclusively on a wide range of projects across the region including Dubai Metro, the Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Airport, Doha Metro, Hamad International airport and Yas Island. Before joining MEED, Colin reported on the construction sector in Hong Kong.

    Click here to register

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16401868/main.gif
    Colin Foreman