Record-breaking year for Jordan’s water sector
11 June 2025
Jordan’s utilities sector made a record-breaking start to 2025 with the award of the $3bn Aqaba-Amman water conveyance and desalination project contract.
The long-planned project is a major step forward in addressing Jordan’s water scarcity and represents the kingdom’s largest planned water infrastructure project to date.
The Aqaba-Amman award means that by the end of May, there had been $3.5bn of contract awards in 2025, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects, which exceeds the cumulative total for the previous 10 years.
It is also only the second time on record that Jordan will award more than $1bn-worth of water construction projects in a calendar year. The last time was in 2007, when there were $1.1bn of contract awards.
The contract for the build, operate and transfer project was signed on 12 January by Jordan’s Ministry of Water & Irrigation and a consortium led by Paris-based firms Meridiam and Suez.
The project’s desalination plant will have an initial capacity of 300,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d), expandable to 835,000 cm/d, using reverse osmosis technology. It also includes 450 kilometres of pipelines to transport desalinated water from the Gulf of Aqaba to Amman.
The developer consortium also includes Egypt’s Orascom Construction and France’s Vinci Construction Grands Projets.
Wastewater tender
In addition to the Aqaba-Amman project, another significant water development this year is the tendering of package five for the West Irbid wastewater network project. Water Authority Jordan (WAJ) has invited bids for sewerage collection systems and gravity trunk lines for the towns of Soum and Kufr Youba.
The project will be financed by a loan and grant administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD). The West Irbid wastewater treatment plant project, for which WAJ secured $30m in financing last year, will treat 12,000 cm/d once completed.
Power contracts
In the power sector, there had been $33m of contract awards by the end of May, according to MEED Projects. The full-year total last exceeded $100m in 2022, when there were $111m of contract awards, and the last time there was a significantly large total was in 2018, when there were $910m of contract awards.
The totals may improve soon. This year, Jordan’s Energy & Mineral Resources Ministry (MEMR) sought interest from firms for a 200MW solar photovoltaic project. This project will be developed on a build, own and operate basis and will connect to the national grid via National Electric Power Company (Nepco).
Additionally, Nepco plans to procure a gas-fired power station with a design capacity of around 500MW, which is expected to be developed using an independent power project model. Advisers are currently being sought for this project.
In February, Nepco secured a €67.1m ($70.2m) financing package from the EBRD and the EU. This package, consisting of an EBRD loan of up to $56.5m and an EU investment grant of up to €12.4m ($13m), will fund the construction of a high-voltage electricity substation in northern Jordan.
This substation aims to improve the grid’s capacity to handle existing and new generation, facilitate cross-border interconnections and reduce transmission losses. The project includes the construction of four overhead transmission lines, supporting Jordan’s renewable energy targets for 2030.
Regional leader
Today, solar and wind power account for over 30% of Jordan’s total installed capacity of approximately 7.1GW as of 2023. This makes Jordan one of the leaders in renewable energy installed capacity in the Middle East and North Africa region relative to its overall generation capacity.
Completed projects include the 89MW Fujeij wind power plant, which became operational in 2019, and the 373MW Qatrana gas-fired combined-cycle power plant, which was commissioned in 2011. Both are backed by long-term power-purchase agreements with Nepco.
These projects highlight Jordan’s ability to attract financing, particularly from GCC states, for its renewable energy projects.
Reassurance required
Looking ahead, the status of upcoming water and power projects indicates both progress and challenges. While significant strides have been made with the Aqaba-Amman water project, some projects face delays.
According to data from MEED Projects, there are $3.3bn of power projects either under way or planned in Jordan, with generation plants accounting for 59% of this total.
Despite Jordan’s strong renewable energy resources and regulatory framework, inconsistencies in energy policy, such as the introduction of additional taxes and reluctance to allocate land for renewable energy projects, have created bottlenecks and reduced investor confidence. This has led to several slow-moving projects.
The fact that only one developer team submitted a bid for the Aqaba-Amman project shows the limited appetite for large-scale projects and Jordan’s utility sector in general. Smaller water treatment and desalination schemes, as well as power substation projects, have proven to be more successful at attracting bidders.
For Jordan to overcome these challenges, it must reassure investors and contractors. The award and successful execution of the $3bn Aqaba-Amman project will go a long way towards providing the market with the reassurance it needs.
MEED's July 2025 report on Jordan also includes:
> ECONOMY: Jordan economy nears inflection point
> GAS: Jordan pushes ahead with gas plans
Exclusive from Meed
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UAE and Turkiye ties deepen
4 July 2025
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Building on UAE-Turkiye trade
4 July 2025
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Omani industrial zone attracts $15m investments
4 July 2025
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Soudah Peaks outlines project construction plans
3 July 2025
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UAE and Turkiye ties deepen
4 July 2025
Commentary
Colin Foreman
EditorRead the July issue of MEED Business Review
The growing trade volumes between the UAE and Turkiye involve a mix of competition and collaboration across various sectors.
One area of competition is aviation. Turkish Airlines has emerged as a major global player over the past 20 years, with its network now covering more countries than any other airline.
Turkiye’s aviation sector entered a new era in 2019 when Istanbul Grand airport opened. The first phase has the capacity to handle 90 million passengers a year, and the plan is for the capacity to reach 200 million once later phases are completed.
The airport’s globally strategic location combined with its large and expandable capacity will give Turkiye’s aviation
sector an edge over its competitors in the Gulf over the next decade as construction starts on major airports, including Dubai and Riyadh.While competition is evident, Turkish Airlines insists there is enough room for it and the Gulf airlines to grow as the centre of gravity for global aviation shifts from west to east.
On a macro level, the UAE and Turkiye are complementary economies
Beyond aviation, the trade relationship encompasses a wide range of sectors, including defence, logistics and construction. Over the past two years, Turkish contractors have secured significant contracts in the UAE. Turkish construction companies are now exporting the experience they have gained on projects in Turkiye to the UAE, as major government- backed infrastructure projects that include airports and railways move into tendering.
At the same time, UAE investments in Turkiye’s energy and financial sectors are growing, with notable examples including Emirates NBD’s investment in DenizBank and International Holding Company’s investment in Kalyon Energy.
These investments show that on a macro level, the UAE and Turkiye are complementary economies, with each holding a different mix of resources, capital and expertise. The strategic location of both countries amplifies the business case for trade even further.
READ THE JULY 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF
UAE and Turkiye expand business links; Renewed hope lies on the horizon for trouble-beset Levant region; Gulf real estate momentum continues even as concerns emerge
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> AGENDA: UAE-Turkiye trade gains momentum> INTERVIEW 1: Building on UAE-Turkiye trade> INTERVIEW 2: Turkiye's Kalyon goes global> INTERVIEW 3: Strengthening UAE-Turkiye financial links> INTERVIEW 4: Turkish Airlines plans further growth> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Middle East tensions could reduce gas investments> GCC REAL ESTATE: Gulf real estate faces a more nuanced reality> PROJECTS MARKET: GCC projects market collapses> INTERVIEW 5: Hassan Allam eyes role in Saudi Arabia’s transformation> INTERVIEW 6: Aseer region seeks new investments for Saudi Arabia> LEADERSHIP: Nuclear power makes a global comeback> LEVANT MARKET FOCUS: Levant states wrestle regional pressures> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index continues climb> CONTRACT AWARDS: Mena contract award activity remains subdued> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects> OPINION: A farcical tragedy that no one can endTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14201376/main.gif -
Building on UAE-Turkiye trade
4 July 2025
This package on UAE-Turkiye relations also includes:
> UAE-Turkiye trade gains momentum
> Turkiye’s Kalyon goes global
> UAE-Turkiye financial links strengthen
> Turkish Airlines plans further growth
The UAE-Turkiye Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) that came into effect in September 2023 has already exceeded expectations.
Non-oil trade between the UAE and Turkiye grew by 11.5% in 2024, reaching a total of $40.5bn. This milestone surpasses a target of the Cepa three years earlier than planned. As a result, Turkiye is now the UAE’s fourth-largest non-oil trading partner, rising from seventh place in 2021.
Trade between the UAE and Turkiye is growing strongly, with both countries increasingly viewed as strategic hubs for accessing broader markets.
The growth story builds on already established business links between the two countries.
“UAE-based companies and funds are already very active in Turkiye,” says Burak Daglioglu, president of the investment and finance office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye.
“Firms like DP World and others in private equity and venture capital are playing a key role.”
Strengthening ties
Since the Cepa was signed in 2023, bilateral investment has accelerated, with Turkish companies also expanding into the UAE.
“That’s the mark of a healthy relationship,” he says. “When it’s balanced and bilateral, it’s more sustainable.”
He adds that companies in both countries see the other not just as a market, but as a hub. “UAE firms use Turkiye to access Europe and Central Asia; Turkish firms use the UAE to reach Asia and Africa. This creates a complementary strategy for both sides.”
In the energy sector, the focus is on renewables, with UAE firms eyeing major solar and wind projects in Turkiye. “We have huge potential in renewables, and there are ongoing talks with UAE investors,” says Daglioglu.
In technology, Turkiye is emerging as a regional player in artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (fintech), and healthcare technology.
“Our infrastructure is increasingly AI-ready,” he says. “We have data centres, renewable power sources and connectivity.
“We also have a robust startup ecosystem, with early-stage funding rising from under $100m a decade ago to over $1bn today.”
Defence is another key area of cooperation. “There are some ongoing projects in the defence sector between Turkiye and the UAE,” Daglioglu says. “It’s better not to name names at this stage, but it’s a promising area.”
Venture capital (VC) is also playing an important role in promoting regional innovation. “Ten years ago, the startup scene was nascent. Now, it’s a cornerstone of our investment strategy. Dubai, as a regional VC hub, has been instrumental.”
To support this growth, Turkiye has developed local VC legislation and attracted international funds, including those from Saudi Arabia, UAE family offices and corporate investors. A joint UAE-Turkiye technology fund worth $300m is also nearing finalisation.
“It’s not just about exits anymore. Turkish startups are scaling regionally and globally, with Dubai often serving as their capital and client gateway.”
Turkiye is also a major industrial hub and, with a population of 85 million, has extensive human resources. “We have the talent, the infrastructure and the resilience,” he says.
“From automotive and mobility to chemicals and energy storage, we are expanding our industrial base.”
We have huge potential in renewables, and there are ongoing talks with UAE investors
Looking ahead
Turkiye’s trade with the UAE and the rest of the GCC could be enhanced even further with the Development Road project, which is a 1,200-kilometre highway and railway linking Iraq’s southern Faw Port to Europe through Turkiye.
“The Development Road will not happen overnight – it’s a long-term, complex undertaking,” Daglioglu says. “But its impact will be global. Reducing shipping lead times between Asia and Europe by up to a week is hugely significant in today’s fast-moving markets.”
Designed to connect the Gulf to Europe through Turkiye, the Development Road includes a high-speed rail network for both cargo and passengers, as well as a parallel motorway.
For Daglioglu, the Development Road corridor offers Turkiye, the UAE and the GCC states another platform for economic diversification.
“This is more than a transport project, it’s a regional realignment,” he says.
“It will unlock a flow of goods, people, capital and data. Fibre infrastructure can run alongside the rail and motorway, creating a dual-purpose corridor that will support our AI and digital economy ambitions.”
Historically, Turkiye has been well integrated with northern markets in Europe. Due to years of conflict in Iraq and Syria, however, its southern connectivity has lagged.
The Development Road, along with recent discussions to reopen direct links with Syria, offers opportunities for southern expansion.
“We have invested heavily in northern logistics. Now, it’s time to strengthen our southern corridor,” Daglioglu says. “The Development Road could finally make direct access to the GCC markets a reality.”
The corridor could also open up new avenues for digital infrastructure, such as subsea cables and terrestrial fibre,
further linking the region’s digital economies.“This could be the basis for a digital Silk Road, supporting everything from AI to fintech.”
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King Salman airport sets July deadline for fourth runway bids
4 July 2025
King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) has allowed firms until 8 July to bid for the design-and-build of the fourth runway at King Salman International airport (KSIA) in Riyadh.
The tender was floated on 17 April. The previous bid submission deadline was 17 June.
It is understood that the third and fourth runways will add to the two existing runways at Riyadh’s King Khalid International airport, which will eventually become part of KSIA.
KSIADC, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, prequalified firms in September last year for the main engineering, procurement and construction packages; early and enabling works; specialist systems and integration; specialist systems, materials and equipment; engineering and design; professional services; health, safety, security, environment and wellbeing services; modular installation and prefabrication; local content; and environmental, social and governance and other services.
The entire scheme is divided into eight assets. These are:
- Iconic Terminal
- Terminal 6
- Private aviation terminal
- Central runway and temporary apron
- Hangars
- Landside transport
- Cargo buildings
- Real estate
In August last year, KSIADC confirmed it had signed up several architectural and design firms for the various elements of the project.
UK-based Foster+Partners will design the airport’s masterplan, including the terminals, six runways and a multi-asset real estate area.
US-based engineering firm Jacobs will provide specialist consultancy services for the masterplan and the design of the new runways.
UK-based engineering firm Mace was appointed as the project’s delivery partner, and local firm Nera was awarded the airspace design consultancy contract.
Project scale
The project covers an area of about 57 square kilometres (sq km), allowing for six parallel runways, and will include the existing terminals at King Khalid International airport. It will also include 12 sq km of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets and other logistics real estate.
If the project is completed on time in 2030, it will become the world’s largest operating airport in terms of passenger capacity, according to UK analytics firm GlobalData.
The airport aims to accommodate up to 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. The goal for cargo is to process 3.5 million tonnes a year by 2050.
Saudi Arabia plans to invest $100bn in its aviation sector. Riyadh’s Saudi Aviation Strategy, announced by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca), aims to triple Saudi Arabia’s annual passenger traffic to 330 million travellers by 2030.
It also aims to increase air cargo traffic to 4.5 million tonnes and raise the country’s total air connections to more than 250 destinations.
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Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> AGENDA: UAE-Turkiye trade gains momentum> INTERVIEW 1: Building on UAE-Turkiye trade> INTERVIEW 2: Turkiye's Kalyon goes global> INTERVIEW 3: Strengthening UAE-Turkiye financial links> INTERVIEW 4: Turkish Airlines plans further growth> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Middle East tensions could reduce gas investments> GCC REAL ESTATE: Gulf real estate faces a more nuanced reality> PROJECTS MARKET: GCC projects market collapses> INTERVIEW 5: Hassan Allam eyes role in Saudi Arabia’s transformation> INTERVIEW 6: Aseer region seeks new investments for Saudi Arabia> LEADERSHIP: Nuclear power makes a global comeback> LEVANT MARKET FOCUS: Levant states wrestle regional pressures> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index continues climb> CONTRACT AWARDS: Mena contract award activity remains subdued> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects> OPINION: A farcical tragedy that no one can endTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14200608/main.jpg -
Omani industrial zone attracts $15m investments
4 July 2025
Al-Mudhaibi Industrial City in Oman, operated by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), has signed two investment agreements valued at RO5.75m (about $15m).
The agreements pave the way for the establishment of six new factories spread across more than 21,000 square metres in Al-Mudhaibi Industrial City.
The first agreement, signed between Madayn and Global Prime Matter, involves setting up four factories to produce electrical materials, electronics, home furniture and cold storage supplies. The total investment for this project is $13m, with operations to be based on a 14,538 sq m plot.
The second agreement, signed with Middle East Livestock Company, includes an automated poultry abattoir and a disinfectant production factory. The project, spread over 7,000 sq m, will see investment of over $1.94m.
Said Bin Khalfan Al-Shabibi, acting director-general of Al-Mudhaibi Industrial City, said the industrial zone attracted five industrial projects in the last quarter of 2024, worth a combined $15m.
Those agreements followed a campaign to attract investments in October, raising total investment in Al-Mudhaibi Industrial City to $30.14m across 75,000 sq m.
Al-Shabibi added that the tender for the first development phase of Al-Mudhaibi Industrial City is expected to be awarded later this year. This phase will include infrastructure works such as internal roads, perimeter fencing, gate facilities, construction of offices and facility buildings, and utility networks for electricity, water, sewage and Internet. It will also include plans for Madayn’s entrepreneurial and agricultural complexes.
Al-Mudhaibi Industrial City spans 9 million sq m in Oman’s North Al-Sharqiyah governorate, with phase one covering around 1.5 million sq m. It is located near the main highway linking the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad) with ports and border points in the sultanate.
The development of the industrial zone is part of a national strategy to drive economic growth in North Al-Sharqiyah, and is a component of Oman Vision 2040.
ALSO READ: Oman issues tender for mining cluster development
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Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> AGENDA: UAE-Turkiye trade gains momentum> INTERVIEW 1: Building on UAE-Turkiye trade> INTERVIEW 2: Turkiye's Kalyon goes global> INTERVIEW 3: Strengthening UAE-Turkiye financial links> INTERVIEW 4: Turkish Airlines plans further growth> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Middle East tensions could reduce gas investments> GCC REAL ESTATE: Gulf real estate faces a more nuanced reality> PROJECTS MARKET: GCC projects market collapses> INTERVIEW 5: Hassan Allam eyes role in Saudi Arabia’s transformation> INTERVIEW 6: Aseer region seeks new investments for Saudi Arabia> LEADERSHIP: Nuclear power makes a global comeback> LEVANT MARKET FOCUS: Levant states wrestle regional pressures> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index continues climb> CONTRACT AWARDS: Mena contract award activity remains subdued> ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects> OPINION: A farcical tragedy that no one can endTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14195188/main3912.jpg -
Soudah Peaks outlines project construction plans
3 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Soudah Development Company (SDC) has outlined plans to tender the upcoming construction work at its Soudah Peaks project in the Aseer region.
While presenting a webinar hosted by MEED on 3 July, Daniel McBrearty, chief development officer at Soudah Peaks, said: “We have several packages ready to be floated to the market by the end of this year.
“The most immediate of these is the development of site-wide infrastructure required for the project.
“The high-voltage electrical infrastructure catering to Soudah Peaks will be tendered by Saudi Electricity Company.”
This package includes one bulk supply point with a capacity of 380kV /132kV, two primary substations and 142 distribution substations.
The development will also require 15 water storage tanks and pump stations. The tanks will have a storage capacity of 93,150 cubic metres to cater to an expected demand of about 10,984 cubic metres a day (cm/d).
A total of 14 sewage treatment plants are also planned, with a total capacity of 10,690 cm/d. The development will require 52 sewage lifting stations.
The infrastructure package will also cover 24 mobile telecommunications or GSM (global system for mobile communications) towers and the relocation of eight existing GSM towers, as well as a package for the drainage culvert.
SDC began the project procurement process in May when it floated a tender to bid for a contract to develop an employee housing package that will be developed using a design, build, finance, operate and maintain model.
The tendering timelines are:
- WP1 Zone 1 Tahlal Town Centre: May 2026
- WP2 Zone 1 Tahlal Ridge: August 2026
- WP3 Zone 1,2,3,6 Tahlal residential, Sahab, Sabrah and Redrock: June 2026
- WP4 Zone 5 Rijal: April 2026
- WP5 Site-wide infrastructure: December 2025
- General Contractor: Floated in May 2025
- Contractor Workforce Housing: Floated in March 2025
Six development zones
“The overall masterplan covers an area of more than 635 square kilometres and consists of six development zones: Tahlal, Sahab, Sabrah, Jareen, Rijal and Red Rock,” McBrearty said.
Tahlal will offer a mix of residential, hospitality, heritage and retail facilities, along with an 18-hole golf course and the Watan Am-Soudah heritage village.
Sahab will be an international destination for adventure sports and recreation. It will provide views across the valley and within the rolling plateau landscape.
Sabrah will provide a luxury residential destination supported by high-end hospitality. The development is designed to be integrated within the contours of the southern plateau of Soudah Peaks, with a focus on natural open spaces.
Rijal will be a hospitality destination with integrated views through to the Rijal Cultural Village. The development will be built around the existing village, which gives it its character.
The Red Rock zone will offer luxury hospitality, with mansions and glamping camps set within the national park.
Jareen will allow guests to connect with nature through its agricultural landscape. Visitors can expect authentic experiences such as exploring the mountainside on walking paths and visiting local organic farms.
Jareen will be developed as part of the third phase, when the infrastructure and connectivity are fully established within the development.
Three phases
“The masterplan will be developed in three phases, and the first phase will include the development of five out of the development’s six zones,” McBrearty said.
The overall development will offer 2,810 hotel rooms, 1,337 residential units and 30 other attractions.
The first phase will include 940 hotel keys, 391 residential units and 1,025 staff accommodation units.
The second phase will increase the total to 1,735 hotel rooms, 641 residential units and 2,150 staff accommodation units.
The final phase will have over 2,810 hotel rooms, 1,337 residential units and 3,022 staff accommodation units.
We have several packages ready to be floated to the market by the end of this year. The most immediate of these is the development of site-wide infrastructure
Daniel McBrearty, Soudah PeaksCompanies engaged
In March, SDC appointed US-based engineering firm Aecom as the lead design consultant for the Soudah Peaks development.
Aecom’s scope of work covers the design work for the first phase of the development.
Last year, SDC appointed another US-based engineering firm, Parsons Corporation, as the project management consultant for the development.
Parsons’ scope of work includes project management and site supervision services for the six development zones.
Project background
Soudah Peaks is a mountain tourism destination set 3,015 metres above sea level on the country’s highest peak in the Aseer region.
The project masterplan was formally launched in September 2023 by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud.
Speaking at the launch, he said: “Soudah Peaks will be a significant addition to the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia and place the kingdom on the global tourism map while highlighting and celebrating the country’s rich culture and heritage.”
Launched in 2021, SDC is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, the Public Investment Fund.
An investment of SR11bn ($3bn) has been planned to develop tourism infrastructure and attractions in the Aseer region in the southwest of the kingdom.
SDC intends to partner with the local community and private sector to develop hospitality, residential, commercial and entertainment offerings that will attract more than 2 million visitors a year, creating 8,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs by 2030.
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