meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Neom to award Gayal wind farm in Q2

12 February 2024

 

Register for MEED's guest programme 

Enowa, a fully owned subsidiary of Neom, will likely award the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract tender in the second quarter of this year to build the Gayal wind farm on a turnkey basis in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk province.

Bid submission was initially expected on 29 January. However, the date has been extended to 3 March.

The project site is approximately 35 kilometres northwest of the former town of Gayal.

The project will have an estimated plot area of 164 square kilometres and is expected to have a capacity of 1,200MW.

The project duration is 31 months from the start date of construction.

The scope of work for the EPC contractors includes the design, supply and installation of wind turbine generators and foundations, three 380kV substations and control systems, meteorological towers, site roads, hard stands, crane pads and associated infrastructure.

According to MEED’s sister site Power Technology, the top four onshore wind power plants in development in Saudi Arabia are:

  • Neom green hydrogen wind project: 1,370MW
  • Yanbu wind IPP: 700MW
  • Al Ghat wind IPP: 600MW
  • Waad Al Shamal wind IPP: 500MW

MEED previously reported that Enowa is expected to seek developers’ interest in bidding for the first-phase packages of its renewable energy programme by early 2024.

The first-phase projects are expected to have a capacity of up to 3,000MW.

According to a source close to the project, discussions are ongoing regarding the total number of packages for the first-phase projects, which will include both wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) schemes.

MEED has reported that up to 55,000MW of renewable energy projects are being planned by Neom, which expects to be powered 100% by renewable energy by 2030.

Neom is understood to have appointed SMBC Advisory Services as financial adviser for the first phase of its renewable energy procurement programme.

It will work with Boston Consulting Group, the project’s strategy adviser.

In addition to hosting greenfield residential and tourism hubs, the $500bn Neom gigaproject in northwest Saudi Arabia will also host industrial facilities such as the $8.5bn green hydrogen-based ammonia production complex and water desalination plants.

100 per cent renewable

Before 2030, Neom will source power from the country’s electricity grid to complement energy generated from the first renewable plants catering to the development.

“We aim to start with roughly 50% renewables on day one,” Thorsten Schwarz, grid technology and projects executive director at Neom, told the Middle East & Africa Energy Week organised by Germany’s Siemens Energy in June 2022.

“We are looking at energy deliveries between 2024 and 2025. In the first few years, we will be working with all potential energy sources including … importing from the surrounding environment for energy including from Saudi Electricity Company,” the executive added.

In March last year, Germany’s ILF Consulting Engineers announced that it had been appointed as the consultant for the pre-development studies for three solar PV parks in Saudi Arabia with a potential combined total capacity of 30GW.

MEED later confirmed that the schemes are “related to a major project in northwestern Saudi Arabia”.

The same month, MEED reported that Spanish consulting and engineering firm Typsa would undertake the preliminary studies for three utility-scale solar plants being developed to supply power to Neom.

The solar projects will be located in Hasma, Sharifa and Airport West, according to the company’s newsletter.

The proposed power plant will cover an area of 10,000 hectares and has a total combined capacity of approximately 5,000MW.

Typsa indicated that the client is Enowa, Neom’s energy, water and hydrogen subsidiary.

Earlier this month, Enowa appointed France-headquartered Assystem to conduct pre-development studies for seven planned solar PV parks in the Tabuk and Duba regions in Saudi Arabia.

The sites earmarked to host the solar PV parks stretch across 420 square kilometres, with 65% of land use yielding 20GW in energy generating capacity.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11507658/main.jpg
Yasir Iqbal

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

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Arada completes Sokoon buildings construction

    26 March 2026

    Sharjah-based private real estate developer Arada has announced the completion of five additional buildings in the Naseej District of its Aljada development.

    Kuwaiti firm Mohammad Abdulmohsen Al-Kharafi & Sons secured the construction contract for the Sokoon buildings in 2023, replacing Airolink Building Contracting as the project’s main contractor.

    The first four Sokoon buildings were completed in December 2023.

    In April last year, Arada also announced the completion of all eight Tiraz buildings in the Naseej District. The Tiraz buildings comprise 920 homes, including studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

    With the completion of the five Sokoon buildings, Aljada’s total number of completed residential units has risen to more than 8,200.

    Spanning 2.2 square kilometres, Aljada features residential districts, retail spaces, educational institutions, healthcare services and other facilities.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16141382/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Iraq gas field project disrupted by regional conflict

    26 March 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Progress on Iraq’s project to develop the strategically important Akkas gas field has been disrupted by security issues related to the US and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, according to industry sources.

    Work activity at the project site has been significantly reduced due to security concerns, and the project is now expected to take longer to complete.

    Iraq held a ceremony in January this year to mark the restart of drilling operations at the site as part of the field development project.

    In July last year, Iraq’s Oil Ministry announced signing a contract with the US-based oil field services provider SLB to develop production at Iraq’s Akkas gas field.

    Under the terms of the deal, SLB will drill wells at the Akkas field, aiming to initially raise production to 100 million cubic feet a day (cf/d).

    Many of SLB’s non-Iraqi employees have now been evacuated from the country.

    Over the long term, Iraq is targeting gas production of 400 million cf/d from the field.

    The contract with SLB replaces a previous deal with Ukraine-based Ukrzemresurs, which has been terminated.

    It also covers the construction of surface infrastructure and pipelines to connect Akkas to central processing units.

    The gas produced at Akkas will be used to fuel the Anbar combined-cycle power plant, which is under construction by the Electricity Ministry.

    Akkas gas field development

    The Akkas gas field, located in Anbar province in western Iraq, has 5.6 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves. The field was discovered in 1992 and began production in 1993.

    Since then, Iraq’s plans to develop the Akkas gas field to its full potential have experienced several setbacks.

    In April last year, the Iraqi Oil Ministry signed an agreement with Ukrzemresurs to develop the field.

    At the time, the Oil Ministry said that the partners were aiming to produce 100 million cf/d in the first two years, as per the agreement, with output targeted to increase to 400 million cf/d within four years.

    Prior to Ukrzemresurs, South Korean company Kogas was responsible for developing the field.

    Rights to the field were originally awarded to a consortium of Kogas and Kazakhstan’s state-owned oil company KazMunaiGas (KMG) in the third licensing round, which was launched in October 2011.

    KMG pulled out, leaving Kogas as the sole investor and operator on new contract terms.

    When the deal with Ukrzemresurs was originally announced last year, it was negatively received by some Iraqi politicians, with the Oil and Gas Committee in Iraq’s parliament rejecting the contract signing.

    At the time, Ali Al-Mashkour, a member of the Oil and Gas Committee, told Iraq’s Shafaq News Agency: “This contract involves a great waste of Iraq’s wealth, and there will be a waste of Iraq’s oil, and this confirms that Iraq is once again failing to choose reputable companies to work with in the most important economic field in the country.”

    He added: “We will work to uncover and expose the suspicions in this contract during the next stage, especially since this contract was made by some representatives for specific interests, which we will reveal soon with evidence.”

    Plans to sign the contract to develop the Akkas gas field with a Ukrainian company were first announced by the Oil Ministry in September 2023, but Ukrzemresurs was not named at the time.

    Iraq’s government is trying to transform the country into a gas-exporting nation. Currently, Iraq is reliant on Iran for gas imports.

    Both Saudi Arabia and the US, which are looking to contain Iranian influence in the region, have been supporting Iraq in developing its non-associated gas fields as this will reduce Iraq’s economic reliance on Iran.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16138892/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Dubai seeks contractors for Nadd Hessa stormwater project

    26 March 2026

    Dubai Municipality has invited contractors to prequalify for a contract to build a sewerage and stormwater system in the Nadd Hessa area.

    The project is being procured through the Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department.

    The submission deadline is 2 April.

    Nadd Hessa is an emerging development area, located between Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City along the E311 corridor.

    It has been earmarked for future residential expansion, with enabling infrastructure now being tendered to support planned housing and community developments in the area.

    The scheme, known as DS 328/1–C1, covers the construction of sewerage and stormwater infrastructure, including approximately 12.4 kilometres of sewerage lines with diameters of up to 400 millimetres.

    The scope also includes about 14km of stormwater lines with diameters of up to 1,000 millimetres.

    In addition, the project involves around 500 metres of microtunnelling works for both sewerage and stormwater networks.

    The municipality is currently prequalifying contractors for several upcoming water projects, including the expansion of the Jebel Ali sewage treatment plant (STP) phases one and two.

    The upgraded facility will be capable of treating an additional sewage flow of 100,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d).

    Bid submissions for this project are also due by 2 April.

    In addition, the authority is planning a broader review of Dubai’s water and wastewater infrastructure to support future population growth, including identifying locations for future infrastructure. 

    Two separate consultancy tenders were issued in March.

    One involves a study to develop a sustainable urban drainage systems strategy across the emirate. The other covers a review of the emirate’s sewage treatment and recycled water distribution strategy. 

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16138660/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • WEBINAR: Saudi Gigaprojects 2026 & Beyond

    25 March 2026

    Webinar: MEED in association with HKA Webinar on Saudi Gigaprojects 2026 & Beyond
    Tuesday 31 March | 1:00 GST  |  Register now

    Agenda:

    As Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects move from vision to delivery, the kingdom’s projects market continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. Billions of dollars’ worth of contracts are being awarded across infrastructure, real estate, tourism and critical industries, creating huge opportunities — but also new layers of complexity.

    This MEED Live broadcast, in association with HKA, brings together market intelligence and practical expertise to help project stakeholders understand and navigate the risks in this dynamic landscape.

    The session will open with Ed James, MEED’s head of content and research, who will deliver a comprehensive 30-minute outlook on Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects and beyond. Drawing on MEED’s proprietary data and insights, Ed will highlight the scale of opportunity, sectoral trends and the finance shifts shaping the region’s project pipeline.

    Following the outlook, Ed will host an in-depth fireside chat with Haroon Niazi, partner at HKA, focusing on the critical theme of contractual risk management. In a market defined by rapid delivery schedules, shifting finance conditions and complex stakeholder ecosystems, Haroon will share strategies for mitigating disputes, safeguarding margins, and building resilient contracts that can withstand uncertainty.

    The broadcast will conclude with a live Q&A session, giving the audience the opportunity to engage directly with Ed and Haroon, and to take away actionable insights that will support their involvement in Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects.

    Click here to register

    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. 

    Haroon Niazi, partner, construction claims and expert services lead, International·HKA

    Haroon is a dual-qualified Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FRICS) and barrister with over 18 years of experience in the construction industry. He leads HKA’s Construction Claims and Expert Services Line across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, overseeing a team of more than 200 consultants with responsibility for strategy and delivering the growth plan. His practice focuses on the resolution of complex and high-value construction disputes.   He has been appointed as a quantum expert and has delivered expert testimony in international arbitration and litigation, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Haroon is known for his ability to analyse, quantify, and communicate the financial aspects of construction claims with clarity and independence.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16116602/main.gif
    MEED Editorial
  • Diriyah tenders media district north offices

    25 March 2026

     

    Saudi gigaproject developer Diriyah Company has tendered a contract inviting firms to bid for the construction of offices in the media district in the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).

    The tender was released in March, with a bid submission deadline of 27 April.

    The scope covers the construction of five office plots comprising nine buildings, spanning over 50,000 square metres (sq m).

    The tender follows the Diriyah Company’s award of an estimated SR2.5bn ($666m) contract to build the Pendry superblock package in the DG2 area.

    The Pendry superblock encompasses the construction of a hotel, known as the Pendry Hotel, along with residential and commercial assets.

    The project will cover an area of 75,365 sq m and is located in the northwestern district of the DG2 area.

    In February, Diriyah Company awarded a SR717m ($192m) contract for the construction of the One Hotel, located in the Diriyah Two area of the masterplan.

    The project has a gross floor area of over 31,000 sq m.

    The Diriyah masterplan envisages the city as a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination. Located northwest of Riyadh’s city centre, it will cover 14 square kilometres and combine 300 years of history, culture and heritage with hospitality facilities.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16114767/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal