meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

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

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14051297/main.gif
Colin Foreman

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

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Deadlines extended for Kuwait oil projects worth $2.5bn

    30 July 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Kuwait’s state-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has extended bid deadlines for six vital oil projects, which are estimated to be worth a total of $2.5bn.

    The first contract, estimated to be worth KD292m ($951m), is focused on developing a separation facility in the NK SA/BA Area, close to Gathering Centre 23 (GC-23) and GC-24.

    The scope of the contract also includes a new injection facility at GC-31 and effluent water injection networks in north Kuwait. The project’s latest bid deadline has been set for 5 August.

    The second contract is to develop the planned Mutriba remote boosting facility in northwest Kuwait. It was originally tendered earlier this year with a bid submission deadline of 29 June. The deadline has now been extended to 17 August.

    The project has an estimated budget of about KD130m ($420m) and its scope includes:

    • Development of the Mutriba oil field
    • Installation of the degassing station
    • Installation of manifolds
    • Installation of condensate facilities
    • Installation of wellhead separation units
    • Installation of the pumping system
    • Installation of wellhead facilities
    • Installation of oil and gas treatment plants
    • Installation of a natural gas liquids plant
    • Installation of a water and gas injection plant
    • Construction of associated utilities and facilities

    The onshore Mutriba oil field is located in northwest Kuwait.

    In October 2024, KOC announced that it was preparing to tender a project management contract for a scheme to develop the field.

    At the time, it said four international companies had been invited to participate in the tender process. These were:

    • Schlumberger (US)
    • Halliburton (US)
    • Baker Hughes (US)
    • Weatherford International (US)

    KOC also said that the list of qualified companies could be extended before the invitation to bid was issued.

    The third project, estimated to be worth $100m, is for an effluent water injection network in north Kuwait. The bid deadline has been extended to 5 August.

    Effluent water injection or water flooding is a secondary hydrocarbons recovery technique where produced water is injected into a well’s formation under high pressure and temperature conditions to recover more of the oil initially in place.

    The fourth project is estimated to be worth around $100m and is focused on the construction of a new injection network in north Kuwait that will service the Sabriyah/Bahra (SA/BA) area. Its bid deadline has also been extended to 5 August.

    The fifth project that has had its deadline extended is focused on developing Jurassic Light Oil (JLO) export facilities and upgrading the existing export network.

    The main contract bid submission date for the project, which is understood to have a budget of KD175m ($569m), has been changed to 3 August.

    The project was originally tendered in November last year with a bid deadline of 1 December 2024. Other recent deadlines have included 15 July, 24 June, 27 May, 27 April and 6 April.

    In an announcement in April last year, KOC prequalified up to 15 contractors to bid for these projects:

    • CTCI (Taiwan)
    • Daewoo Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
    • Fluor (US)
    • Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
    • Hyundai Engineering Company (South Korea)
    • Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea)
    • JGC Corporation (Japan)
    • Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon (India)
    • NMDC Energy (UAE)
    • Petrofac (UK)
    • Saipem (Italy)
    • Samsung E&A (South Korea)
    • Sinopec Engineering Corporation (China)
    • Sinopec Luoyang Engineering Company (China)
    • Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain)

    In September 2024, KOC announced a second list of 13 prequalified contractors, with Hyundai Heavy Industries and NMDC Energy removed from the list.

    At the time, KOC said that companies not included on the list could file a complaint against their non-inclusion before the official invitation to bid on the project.

    It is unclear whether more prequalified companies have been added or removed from the list since September.

    The sixth project that has seen its bid deadline extended is focused on developing separation facilities at GC-25 and a water injection facility at GC-30.

    The contract is estimated to be worth KD104m ($338m). In the latest extension, the bid deadline has been set for 10 August.

    Kuwait is in the middle of an upstream projects push, in line with its goal of producing 4 million barrels a day of oil by 2035.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14364081/main4907.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Arada awards $16m retail complex construction deal

    30 July 2025

    Sharjah-based real estate developer Arada has awarded a AED60m ($16m) contract to build the Masaar Central project in the Suyouh district of Sharjah.

    The contract was given to the local firm Intermass Engineering & Contracting.

    Masaar Central will serve as the retail hub at the centre of the Masaar project.

    Construction is expected to begin soon, with completion slated for 2026.

    Masaar Central will offer retail, dining, wellness and education facilities over an area of 53,000 square feet.

    In June last year, Arada awarded a AED830m ($226m) contract to Intermass Engineering & Contracting to build 597 units in the Saro cluster of the Masaar project.

    Intermass has previously completed the Sendian cluster, the first residential phase of Masaar, and is currently working on Robinia, Masaar’s third phase.

    Valued at AED8bn, the Masaar scheme includes 4,000 villas and townhouses across eight gated districts, featuring a nature-inspired masterplan with more than 50,000 trees.

    Arada’s new project launches reflect increased activity in the UAE real estate market, where projects worth over $323bn are in execution or planning stages.

    This aligns with a forecast from UK data analytics firm GlobalData, predicting that the UAE construction sector will grow by 4.2% in real terms in 2025, driven by infrastructure, energy, utilities and residential construction projects.

    READ THE AUGUST 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Gulf heads into a new era of aviation; Maghreb’s resilience rises despite global pressures; GCC banks expand issuance amid demand

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MAGHREB MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb pushes for stability
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14364351/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contract award nears for King Salman airport runway

    30 July 2025

    Related stories:

    > Middle East invests in giant airports
    > Broader region upgrades its airports
    > Global air travel shifts east

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) has received best and final offers (bafos) for a design-and-build contract to develop the third runway at King Salman International airport (KSIA) in Riyadh.

    "Bafos were submitted earlier this month [in July] and the contract is expected to be finalised soon," a source close to the project told MEED.

    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.

    In February, MEED exclusively reported that firms had submitted prequalification documents on 18 January for a contract to develop the third runway and taxiways at KSIA.

    KSIADC, which is backed by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund, received interest from firms in December last year for the package.

    KSIADC previously prequalified firms for the main engineering, procurement and construction packages and early and enabling works, as well as other elements of the construction work. These included specialist systems and integration; 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 (ESG) and other services.

    The entire scheme is divided into eight assets:

    • Iconic Terminal
    • Terminal 6
    • Private aviation terminal 
    • Central runway and temporary apron
    • Hangars
    • Landside transport
    • Cargo buildings
    • Real estate

    In August last year, KSIADC appointed several architectural and design firms for the various elements of the project.

    KSIADC confirmed that it had signed up UK-based Foster + Partners to 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.

    The client also confirmed the appointment of UK-based engineering firm Mace for the delivery partner role on the project.

    The airspace design consultancy contract was awarded to local firm Nera.

    Mega airport project

    The project covers an area of about 57 square kilometres (sq km), allowing for six parallel runways. It will include the existing terminals at King Khalid International airport, as well as 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, 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. 

    READ THE AUGUST 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Gulf heads into a new era of aviation; Maghreb’s resilience rises despite global pressures; GCC banks expand issuance amid demand

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MAGHREB MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb pushes for stability
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14363916/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • NMDC Energy begins fabrication at Saudi Arabia yard

    29 July 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Abu Dhabi-owned contractor NMDC Energy has started fabrication activities at its new yard in Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia.

    Built at a cost of AED200m ($54.5m), the yard covers 400,000 square metres within the Ras Al-Khair Special Economic Zone in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. It has a production capacity of 40,000 tonnes a year.

    NMDC Energy held a steel-cutting ceremony on 28 July to mark the start of operations at the Ras Al-Khair yard.

    The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange-listed company inaugurated the facility in mid-January.

    NMDC Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Aramco to build the facility in 2018, when it was known as National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC).

    Nine offshore jackets are currently in production for NMDC Energy’s client, Saudi Aramco.

    More than 1,800 employees will be mobilised from Abu Dhabi to the Saudi Arabia yard, NMDC Energy said.

    “The Ras Al-Khair yard is central to NMDC Energy’s Saudi strategy and localisation roadmap. Over the past five years, the company has reinvested billions of riyals into the Saudi economy and is on track to increase its In-Kingdom Total Value Add score to 39% by 2025 and 51% by 2028,” NMDC Energy added.

    ALSO READ: Aramco offshore contract awards set to rebound

    READ THE AUGUST 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Gulf heads into a new era of aviation; Maghreb’s resilience rises despite global pressures; GCC banks expand issuance amid demand

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MAGHREB MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb pushes for stability
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14359665/main.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Miral moves Harry Potter theme park bid deadline

    29 July 2025

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Abu Dhabi’s Miral has extended the bid submission deadline for a tender to build a Harry Potter-themed expansion at the Warner Bros World Yas Island entertainment destination in Abu Dhabi.

    Earlier this month, MEED exclusively reported that the tender for the estimated AED2bn-AED3bn ($545m-$816m) main construction works had been issued to contractors, with bids initially due on 28 July.

    Miral has extended the bid submission deadline until 4 August, according to sources.

    The scope of the Warner Bros World phase two expansion includes adding 40,000 square metres (sq m) to the existing theme park. This will include a Harry Potter-themed zone with three new rides, retail outlets, and food and beverage facilities.

    Enabling works for the project have begun and are being undertaken by local firm NSCC International. Another local firm, Emirates Electrical & Instrumentation Company, is carrying out the early works.

    Canadian engineering firm EllisDon is the project consultant, and French firm Egis is the lead designer.

    According to media reports, the Abu Dhabi project will be the world’s sixth Harry Potter-themed park. The others are in Florida and California in the US, Beijing in China, Osaka in Japan and Leavesden in the UK.

    The Abu Dhabi project was first announced in November 2022.

    Yas Waterworld

    Miral has developed a series of theme parks and other entertainment-related attractions on Yas Island, working with several local and international contractors.

    On 1 July, Miral opened a new 16,900 sq m expansion of its Yas Waterworld park to the public.

    The expansion added 3.3 kilometres of slide sections to the park. The addition of 18 new rides and attractions, bringing the total number of rides to more than 60, is expected to increase visitor capacity by 20%.

    Construction was carried out by local contractor Alec.

    Disney park

    In May, The Walt Disney Company and Miral signed an agreement to build a Disney theme park resort on Yas Island.

    Disney, which is based in the US, said the Abu Dhabi site will be its seventh theme park resort. The others are in California and Florida in the US, Paris in France, Hong Kong and Shanghai in China, and Tokyo in Japan.

    In a statement, Disney noted that the UAE is located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world’s population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. It is also home to one of the world's busiest airline hubs, with 120 million passengers travelling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.

    The Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi will include entertainment areas, themed accommodations, dining venues and retail experiences.

    In 2023, Miral opened SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, also on Yas Island. Alec was the contractor for the estimated $565m project.

    In 2018, Miral opened the Warner Bros theme park on Yas Island. Belgium’s Besix was the contractor for the estimated $531m project.

    Other Miral projects have included the Etihad Arena and the indoor climbing and skydive centre Clymb. Bam International of the Netherlands was the contractor for the arena and Germany’s Zublin was the contractor for Clymb.

    Yas Island was launched as a project in 2006 by local developer Aldar Properties. The original centrepiece attractions were the Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts Formula 1 motor racing’s annual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and the Ferrari World theme park.

    READ THE AUGUST 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Gulf heads into a new era of aviation; Maghreb’s resilience rises despite global pressures; GCC banks expand issuance amid demand

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MAGHREB MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb pushes for stability
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14358463/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal