OQ tenders Block 60 solar PV contract
6 March 2025
Oman’s OQ Alternative Energy has invited firms to bid for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a new solar power plant in Block 60.
The Block 60 concession hosts the important Bisat field, comprising about 165 oil wells and three crude oil processing plants.
OQ expects to receive the technical and commercial bids for the solar photovoltaic (PV) project by 27 May.
The scope of work for the EPC tender encompasses the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of a 35MW grid-connected solar PV plant in Block 60 with interconnection to the Bisat substation.
The selected EPC contractor is responsible for designing and engineering the plant, including but not limited to layouts, solar modules, mounting structures, cleaning system, inverters, transformers, cabling, substation connection and balance-of-plant infrastructure.
This development comes close to a year after OQ Alternative Energy invited companies to bid for a contract to undertake environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) studies for its planned Liwa solar project.
In addition to constructing a 100MW solar farm in Liwa, the $80m project includes the supply of substations and other related facilities, MEED reported.
The project is part of the state-backed energy firm’s support for the sultanate’s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Oman also aims for renewable energy to account for 30% of its overall electricity production mix by 2030 and 39% by 2040.
READ THE MARCH MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – clck here to view PDF
Chinese contractors win record market share; Cairo grapples with political and fiscal challenges; Stronger upstream project spending beckons in 2025
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the March 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
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> AGENDA 1: Chinese firms dominate region’s projects market
> AGENDA 2: China construction at pivotal juncture
> UPSTREAM 1: Offshore oil and gas sees steady capex
> UPSTREAM 2: Saudi Arabia to retain upstream dominance
> DIRIYAH: Diriyah CEO sets the record straight
> SAUDI POWER: Saudi power projects hit record high
> AUTOMOTIVE: Saudi Arabia gears up to lead Gulf’s automotive sector
> EGYPT: Egypt battles structural issues
> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf hits six-month growth streak
> CONTRACT AWARDS: High-value deals signed in power and industrial sectors
> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects
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Riyadh seeks contractors for Expo Icon structure22 July 2026
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EtihadWE tenders $150m Ajman substation project21 July 2026
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Project two requires contractors to supply, install, test and commission glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) water transmission pipelines and associated works for the plant's phase two network.
Local firm Tristar Engineering & Construction submitted the lowest offer of AED792.59m ($215.8m), according to tender results published by the state utility.
Green Oasis General Contracting (UAE) submitted a bid of AED800.02m ($217.8m) and Wade Adams Contracting (UAE) made the other compliant offer of AED989.65m ($269.5m).
In January, Dewa announced that construction of the 180-million-imperial-gallon-a-day phase one of the Hassyan SWRO independent water project was 90% complete.
Earlier in July, eight contractors submitted bids for project one of the Hassyan pipeline network expansion.
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Project three was tendered on 26 January and has a bid submission deadline of 29 July.
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Riyadh seeks contractors for Expo Icon structure22 July 2026

Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), which is tasked with delivering the Expo 2030 Riyadh venue, has asked contractors to express interest in the construction of the Icon, one of the key landmarks at the site.
The structure will be located at the entrance of the Expo 2030 Riyadh site, within the Collaboration Precinct.
ERC issued the expressions of interest notice on 20 July. The deadline for submissions of interest is 23 July.
The structure will be connected to the metro station and will serve as a gateway to the event.
It will be 66 metres tall and will comprise an observation platform, food and beverage outlets and other features.
The total built-up area will be approximately 16,279 square metres and it will be able to accommodate more than 1,450 visitors an hour during the event.
The contract duration is 29 months from the start of construction.
ERC tendered the contract for the construction of the Saudi Arabia pavilion at the site in May.
The pavilion is a major asset located within the venue's KSA District, on the eastern side of the Expo 2030 Riyadh masterplan, within the Loop of Nations district.
Construction progress
The tendering of the pavilion structure followed swift progress on the site’s infrastructure development works.
In April, ERC awarded two contracts for the next phase of infrastructure works at the site to local firm Al-Yamama Company.
The scope covered the construction of road networks and infrastructure for water, sewage, electricity, telecommunications and electric vehicle charging.
These awards followed ERC’s January award of an estimated SR1bn ($267m) contract for initial infrastructure works at the site to local firm Nesma & Partners. That scope covered about 50 kilometres of integrated infrastructure networks, including internal roads and essential utilities such as water, sewage, electrical and communications systems, and electric vehicle charging stations.
The overall infrastructure works – covering the construction of main utilities and civil works at Expo 2030 Riyadh – are split into three packages:
- Lot 1 covers the main utilities corridor;
- Lot 2 includes the northern cluster of the nature corridor;
- Lot 3 comprises the southern cluster of the nature corridor.
The masterplan encompasses an area of 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites ever designated for a World Expo event. Situated to the north of the Saudi capital, the site will be located near the future King Salman International airport and will provide direct access to landmarks within Riyadh.
The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, launched ERC – a wholly owned subsidiary – in June 2025 to build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.
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EtihadWE tenders $150m Ajman substation project21 July 2026
The UAE’s Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE) has tendered a contract to build three new substations in Ajman.
Estimated to cost $150m, the project involves the construction of three new 132/11kV substations in the Bahya, Rumaila and Liwara districts. It also includes associated 132kV underground cabling works to connect the substations to the existing transmission network.
The bid submission deadline is 10 August.
According to tender documents, the project will add distribution capacity to support load growth and improve the security of electricity supply in the emirate.
The scope of work includes site preparation, construction of three substation buildings and foundations, installation of 132kV GIS/AIS switchgear, 132/11kV power transformers and 11kV switchgear, as well as protection, control, Scada and telecommunications systems.
Etihad WE is responsible for electricity and water services in Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, Fujairah and parts of Sharjah. The utility has been investing in new substations and transmission infrastructure as electricity demand continues to increase across the Northern Emirates.
This includes a 132/33/11kV substation project on Al-Marjan Island in Ras Al-Khaimah. Construction work is ongoing on the project, with Maetal Dubai serving as the main contractor.
EtihadWE is also finalising a new masterplan that will cover network capacity requirements and expansion priorities for the next 10 to 15 years.
In June, Abdulla Al-Khemeiri, chief operations officer, told MEED: “We are currently reviewing it, and we need to obtain shareholder approval first. Once it is approved, it will be released, hopefully by the end of the year.”
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Seven seeks contractors for Dammam water park and hotel21 July 2026

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, is preparing to shortlist general contractors for the main construction package of its Dammam Water Park & Hotel project in the Al-Hamra district.
The waterfront development sits on a 324,300-square-metre (sq m) plot.
A notice was issued to contractors in July, and the client is expected to finalise the shortlist by the end of this month.
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The water park is designed around five themed zones and will feature what is billed as the world’s first double-tornado/triple-wave waterslide.
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Detailed design and issued-for-construction packages are complete.
Marine works, piling, dewatering and site utilities are being progressed separately by the existing early works contractor.
The hotel component covers roughly 31,700 sq m of gross floor area and will offer 321 guest rooms, four F&B outlets, spa and wellness facilities, a family pool, and meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition space.
The new contractor’s scope includes superstructure concrete works, façade and roof works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, interior fit-out and landscaping.
Seven will consider only contractors with demonstrated experience delivering water parks with complex aquatics, theming and rockwork – either directly or through clearly defined subcontractor partnerships – along with a track record in high-end turnkey hotel fit-outs.
Construction of Seven’s Dammam entertainment complex is currently under way. In October 2023, Saudi Binladin Group won contracts worth around SR5bn ($1.3bn) from Seven to build two entertainment destinations in the Dammam and Al-Khobar areas of the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.
The Al-Khobar entertainment complex is being built on reclaimed waterfront land. The complex spans around 300,000 sq m and is also known as ‘The Waves’.
The Dammam entertainment complex spans 360,000 sq m and is being built on reclaimed land on the Dammam waterfront.
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Al-Ula appoints equestrian village early works contractor21 July 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) has awarded a contract for early construction works at the Al-Muatadil Equestrian Village.
The contract was awarded to Al-Khobar-based Al-Shalawi International Company.
Canadian engineering firm AtkinsRealis is the project management consultant. UK-headquartered Baker Wilkins & Smith and local firm Al-Hoty Company are the cost consultants.
Dubai-based SSH is the supervision consultant, and UK-based Hopkins Architects is the lead design consultant.
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