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  Dewa starts MBR Solar Park phase seven prequalifications

  20 May 2025

  

   

  State utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has issued the request for prequalifications to companies interested in bidding for a contract to develop the next phase of the emirate's Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park.

  The planned seventh phase of MBR Solar Park will include a 1,600MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 1,000MW battery energy storage system (bess), providing up to six hours of storage.

  According to a source close to the project, Dewa expects to receive statements of qualifications by the end of June.

  MEED understands that 47 firms submitted their responses to Dewa’s expression of interest (EoI) request for the contract on 21 March.

  International and regional utility developers; engineering, procurement and construction contractors; and bess suppliers attended an investor roadshow for the project on 9 April, as MEED reported.

  French utility developer Engie; Riyadh-headquartered Acwa Power and Alfanar; and the local Amea Power, Etihad Water & Electricity Company and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) were among those that attended the investor roadshow last month.

  Dewa issued the EoI request for the contract in February.

  The project is expected to be commissioned in phases, starting in August 2027.

  In January, Dewa selected a transaction advisory team for the project, comprising UK-headquartered Deloitte and US-based CMS and Sargent & Lundy as financial, legal and technical advisers, with Deloitte acting as lead adviser. 

  In February last year, Dewa and Masdar reached financial close for the 1,800MW sixth phase of MBR Solar Park, which is expected to cost up to AED5.5bn ($1.5bn).

  Once completed in 2026, the sixth phase will increase the solar park’s total production capacity to 4,660MW.

  Dewa recently increased its flagship solar project's 2030 installed capacity target by 45%, from 5,000MW to 7,260MW.

  The state utility said MBR Solar Park will have a production capacity of more than 7,260MW by 2030, with a total investment of AED50bn ($13.6bn).

  According to Dewa, the total capacity of the solar energy projects commissioned at the solar park has reached 3,460MW from PV solar panels and concentrated solar power.

  Based on this figure, clean energy accounts for 20% of Dewa's total power capacity of about 17,179MW as of early 2025. Natural gas-fired capacity accounts for the rest.

  The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 aim to provide 100% of Dubai's energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.

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  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  Taqa-led group to acquire and build $14bn Morocco portfolio

  20 May 2025

  Taqa Morocco Group, the Casablanca-listed subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), along with partners Nareva, part of Moroccan private holding company Al-Mada Group, and the sovereign Mohammed VI Investment Fund, have signed preliminary agreements to acquire and develop power generation and water desalination plants and associated infrastructure in Morocco.

  According to the memorandums of understanding (MoU), Taqa Morocco and its public and private partners will jointly explore the development of low-carbon power and water generation and transmission assets with a potential investment of approximately AED52bn, or about MD130bn ($14.15bn).

   The scope of the MoUs includes:

  • New seawater desalination projects with a capacity of approximately 2.5 million cubic metres a day (cm/d), which will be powered by ancillary sustainable power sources, to be developed by Taqa Morocco and its partners;
  • Development of water transmission networks with a capacity of approximately 2.2 million cm/d;
  • Acquisition of an existing 400MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in Tahaddart in northern Morocco, and the potential development of 1,100MW of greenfield CCGT power projects;
  • The development of 3,000MW of new high-voltage, direct-current transmission infrastructure connecting the south to the centre of Morocco, and 1,200MW of new renewable energy projects.

  The Moroccan government and the Office National de l’Electricite et de l’Eau Potable (Onee) are the counterparties for the deals.

  Farid Al-Awlaqi, chairman of the supervisory board of Taqa Morocco and chief executive of generation at Taqa Group, described the announcement on 19 May as "a testament to the company’s track record and commitment to diversifying its portfolio and transitioning to lower carbon energy alternatives, to accelerate sustainable development" in Morocco.

  According to Taqa, its Moroccan subsidiary meets nearly 34% of the country’s power needs through the Jorf Lasfar power complex, which has a 2.1GW capacity.

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  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  LIVE WEBINAR: AI in construction

  19 May 2025

  Register now

  Topic: AI in Construction

  Date & time: 11:00 AM GST, 26 May 2025

  Agenda:

  1. Latest GCC projects market context

  2. Introduction to AI in construction

  3. AI in construction applications 

  4. Trends and latest developments 

  5. Regulations and future usage requirements

  6. Case studies of AI applications in GCC projects 

  7. Summary of key market stakeholders in AI construction technology

  8. Q&A session

  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

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  Edward James
• 
  Ohana launches $1.3bn Al-Jurf beachfront project

  19 May 2025

  Dubai-based real estate firm Ohana Development has launched the AED4.7bn ($1.3bn) Jacob & Co Beachfront Living by Ohana residential project in the Al-Jurf area of Abu Dhabi.

  The developer said in an official statement that the project involves 457 residential units, including apartments, villas, penthouses and mansions.

  Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed by 2028.

  The project is being developed in partnership with the US-based jewellery firm Jacob & Co.

  The project is another addition to Ohana Development’s portfolio in Abu Dhabi, which includes Ohana by the Sea in Al-Jurf and Elie Saab Waterfront by Ohana on Reem Island.

  The UAE’s heightened real estate activity is in line with GlobalData’s forecast that the construction industry will register annual growth of 3.9% in 2025-27, supported by investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, oil and gas, housing, industrial and tourism projects. 

  The residential construction sector is expected to record an annual average growth rate of 2.7% in 2025-28, supported by private investments in the residential housing sector, along with government initiatives to meet rising housing demand.

  

   

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  MEED’s May 2025 report on the UAE includes:

  > COMMENT: UAE is poised to weather the storm
  > GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY: UAE looks to economic longevity
  > BANKING: UAE banks dig in for new era
  > UPSTREAM: Adnoc in cruise control with oil and gas targets
  > DOWNSTREAM: Abu Dhabi chemicals sector sees relentless growth
  > POWER: AI accelerates UAE power generation projects sector
  > CONSTRUCTION: Dubai construction continues to lead region
  > TRANSPORT: UAE accelerates its $60bn transport push
  > DATABANK: UAE growth prospects head north

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  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Seven awards Al-Ahsa entertainment complex

  19 May 2025

  

   

  Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven) has awarded a contract to build its next entertainment complex in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

  The contract was awarded to the local firm Alfanar Projects.

  Seven issued the tender in late August last year and received bids for the project in November.

  The Al-Ahsa entertainment complex will have a built-up area of about 94,000 square metres.

  The project is expected to be completed by 2027.

  MEED reported in March that the bid evaluation had reached the final stages and the award was likely to be finalised within a few weeks.

  In December last year, Seven announced that it had awarded Alfanar Projects a SR1.3bn ($346m) construction contract to develop the Jizan entertainment complex.

  The development is located close to the North Corniche Park along the Jizan waterfront.

  The project will span an area of about 60,000 sq m, with 73,000 sq m of built-up area.

  US-based engineering firm Gensler has designed the project.

  Seven plans to invest SR50bn ($13.3bn) in developing 21 integrated entertainment destinations in 14 cities in the kingdom as Riyadh pursues its strategy to move away from hydrocarbons, create jobs and improve the quality of life for citizens and residents.

  The complexes are intended to help position the kingdom as a regional hub for entertainment, culture and tourism.

  In May 2024, the Public Investment Fund announced the merger of Seven into Qiddiya Investment Company.

  “The move is in line with the strategy to establish an entertainment, sports and culture powerhouse in the kingdom,” the state-owned Saudi Press Agency reported on 14 May 2024.

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  MEED’s April 2025 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

  > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh takes the diplomatic initiative
  > ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy forges onward
  > BANKING: Saudi banks work to keep pace with credit expansion
  > UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level
  > DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism
  > POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year
  > WATER: Saudi water contracts set another annual record
  > CONSTRUCTION: Reprioritisation underpins Saudi construction
  > TRANSPORT: Riyadh pushes ahead with infrastructure development
  > DATABANK: Saudi Arabia’s growth trend heads up

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  Yasir Iqbal