Riyadh confirms 130GW renewable energy target
25 June 2024
Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Al-Saud, has confirmed plans to tender new renewable energy projects with a capacity of 20GW annually starting this year, aiming to reach between 100GW and 130GW by 2030, "depending on electricity demand growth".
MEED first reported the planned near-tripling of the kingdom's 2030 renewable energy target, which stood at 58.7GW, in November 2023.
Prince Abdulaziz confirmed the new target on 24 June as the ministry announced the start of a geographic survey project for renewable energy sites in the kingdom.
The ministry signed contracts for the geographic survey with Saudi companies to install 1,200 stations for measuring solar and wind energy across all regions of the kingdom, according to a statement from the energy ministry.
The project will survey over 850,000 square kilometres, excluding populated areas, sand dunes and restricted airspace.
Prince Abdulaziz said the size of the area to be surveyed is approximately equal to the land area of the UK and France combined, or of Germany and Spain combined.
He added that "no other country in the world has previously conducted a geographic survey of this kind on such an area scale".
The survey's first phase will identify suitable sites for renewable energy projects. A subsequent phase will entail moving the survey stations to the specified sites to continuously provide all required data for implementing renewable energy projects with high accuracy.
The solar energy measurement stations, equipped with advanced measurement devices at ground level, will record direct normal irradiance, global horizontal irradiance, diffuse horizontal irradiance, dust and pollutant deposition rates, ground-reflected radiation or albedo, ambient temperature, rainfall levels, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure.
The wind energy measurement stations, which will be installed at different heights up to 120 metres, will record wind speed and direction, ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity.
Prince Abdulaziz said the project includes establishing a platform at the energy ministry "to monitor, record and transmit measurement data around the clock, so that it can be analysed and processed digitally, using artificial intelligence technologies to assess and rank sites based on their suitability for renewable energy projects".
It will support the goal of achieving the optimal energy mix targets for electricity production, with renewable energy sources comprising about 50% of the energy mix by 2030. It will also support the Liquid Fuel Displacement Programme by reducing dependence on liquid fuel in electricity generation.
Exclusive from Meed
-
Consortium wins $500m Saudi wastewater treatment project
9 September 2025
-
Masdar and Taraf launch sustainable residential project
9 September 2025
-
Lowest bidder emerges for Jebel Ali reservoir project
9 September 2025
-
Kuwait’s growth picture improves
9 September 2025
-
Bidders wait for Kuwait water project award
9 September 2025
All of this is only 1% of what MEED.com has to offer
Subscribe now and unlock all the 153,671 articles on MEED.com
- All the latest news, data, and market intelligence across MENA at your fingerprints
- First-hand updates and inside information on projects, clients and competitors that matter to you
- 20 years' archive of information, data, and news for you to access at your convenience
- Strategize to succeed and minimise risks with timely analysis of current and future market trends

Related Articles
-
Consortium wins $500m Saudi wastewater treatment project
9 September 2025
A consortium of Saudi utilities provider Marafiq, the regional business of France’s Veolia and Bahrain/Saudi Arabia-based Lamar Holding has won a $500m (SR1.875bn) contract to develop an industrial wastewater treatment plant (IWWTP) in Jubail Industrial City 2, located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Saudi Aramco Total Refining & Petrochemical Company (Satorp), a joint venture of Saudi Aramco and France’s TotalEnergies, has awarded the 30-year concession agreement to the consortium for developing the IWWTP. The planned facility will treat and recycle wastewater from Satorp’s under-construction Amiral chemical derivatives complex, also in Jubail.
Marafiq, formally Power & Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu, will own a 40% stake in the dedicated project company. Veolia Middle East SAS will hold a 35% stake, and Lamar Holding’s Lamar Arabia for Energy will hold the other 25%.
The planned IWWTP, which will primarily serve the $11bn sprawling Amiral chemicals zone, will implement advanced water treatment and recovery technologies to process complex industrial effluents, including spent caustic streams. Treated water will be reintegrated into the industrial processes, supporting closed-loop reuse and energy efficiency.
The project follows a concession-style model, akin to a public-private partnership (PPP), where the developer consortium invests in, builds and operates the wastewater plant over a 30-year period, with returns linked to service delivery.
Marafiq has been involved in several similar projects across Saudi Arabia, including as the sole owner of the Jubail industrial water treatment plant (IWTP8), which treats complex industrial effluents for petrochemical and heavy industrial companies.
In 2020, Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works was awarded the $202m main contract for the fourth expansion phase of IWTP8. Construction works on the project are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
READ THE SEPTEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF
Doha’s Olympic bid; Kuwait’s progress on crucial reforms reinforces sentiment; Downstream petrochemicals investments take centre stage
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> OLYMPICS: Qatar banks on infrastructure for Olympic bid> QATAR TOURISM: Olympics bid aims to extend tourism gains> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Syria charts post-war reconstruction course> INDUSTRY REPORT: Regional chemicals spending set to soar> DOWNSTREAM: Adnoc set to become a chemicals major> SAUDI STADIUMS: Stadiums become main event for Saudi construction> CONSTRUCTION: Middle East to be a growth leader for global construction> LEADERSHIP: Dubai’s sea-air logistics model powers resilient trade> KUWAIT MARKET FOCUS: Kuwait’s political hiatus brings opportunityTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14631920/main.jpg -
Masdar and Taraf launch sustainable residential project
9 September 2025
Taraf Properties, the real estate division of UAE-based investment group Yas Holding, and Abu Dhabi-based Masdar have announced plans for a 1.4-million-square-metre residential community in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.
The development will offer more than 1,000 two- to six-bedroom villas and townhouses, as well as parks and associated facilities.
No further details regarding the project’s timeline or budget were disclosed by the developers.
Taraf Properties was launched by Yas Holding last year to diversify its portfolio and support its growth plans. Taraf aims to be a luxury and boutique developer and asset manager, delivering residential and commercial spaces in prime UAE locations.
Yas Holding’s CEO, Low Ping, said Taraf was launched “at a time when the UAE is witnessing a surge in long-term investments, supported by strong confidence in the country’s economy, which has strengthened in recent years and is expected to witness continued growth”.
The launch of Taraf coincided with continued growth in the UAE property market, driven by government initiatives aimed at enhancing economic resilience and expansion.
Yas Holding’s business portfolio comprises approximately 50 subsidiaries across sectors including healthcare, agriculture, food, technology, education, real estate and aviation.
The firm operates in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.
READ THE SEPTEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF
Doha’s Olympic bid; Kuwait’s progress on crucial reforms reinforces sentiment; Downstream petrochemicals investments take centre stage
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> OLYMPICS: Qatar banks on infrastructure for Olympic bid> QATAR TOURISM: Olympics bid aims to extend tourism gains> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Syria charts post-war reconstruction course> INDUSTRY REPORT: Regional chemicals spending set to soar> DOWNSTREAM: Adnoc set to become a chemicals major> SAUDI STADIUMS: Stadiums become main event for Saudi construction> CONSTRUCTION: Middle East to be a growth leader for global construction> LEADERSHIP: Dubai’s sea-air logistics model powers resilient trade> KUWAIT MARKET FOCUS: Kuwait’s political hiatus brings opportunityTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14631921/main.jpg -
Lowest bidder emerges for Jebel Ali reservoir project
9 September 2025
India’s Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon has submitted the lowest bid for a tender to build a 45-million-imperial-gallon (MIG) reservoir at Jebel Ali.
The firm submitted a main bid of AED197.1m ($53.7m), along with an alternative offer of AED189.45m. The bidding deadline was 4 September.
Most contractors submitted alternative bids, proposing slightly different designs or methods that could reduce costs or expedite delivery.
The project was tendered by Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) under reference number 2132500052. The contract stipulates an 18-month completion schedule, which includes a reliability run.
The bidders and their total prices are:
- Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon (India): AED 197.10m
- AG Engineering & Power Contracting (UAE): AED 261.46m
- Green Oasis General Contracting Company (UAE): AED 286.63m
- Dhafir Technologies (UAE): AED 312.10m
- United Engineering Construction (Unec) (UAE): AED 319.00m
Alternative prices ranged from AED189.45m for Dineshchandra R Agrawal, AED282.63m for Green Oasis, AED293.60m for Dhafir Technologies, to AED312m for Unec.
AG Engineering & Power Contracting only submitted a main bid. Unlike the other bidders, Unec proposed a 24-month completion period.
Several companies, including Binladin Contracting Group, GBH International Contracting and Oman International Telecommunication, submitted placeholder regret prices of AED0.01.
The Jebel Ali 45MIG reservoir is a mid-sized project within Dubai's broader water infrastructure development, larger than Dewa’s 30MIG Hatta reservoir, but smaller than the 120MIG Enkhali reservoir commissioned in 2024.
Once awarded, the contract will add significant storage capacity to Dubai’s water infrastructure.
All bidders provided bank guarantees and confirmed their offers as firm.
READ THE SEPTEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF
Doha’s Olympic bid; Kuwait’s progress on crucial reforms reinforces sentiment; Downstream petrochemicals investments take centre stage
Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
> OLYMPICS: Qatar banks on infrastructure for Olympic bid> QATAR TOURISM: Olympics bid aims to extend tourism gains> CURRENT AFFAIRS: Syria charts post-war reconstruction course> INDUSTRY REPORT: Regional chemicals spending set to soar> DOWNSTREAM: Adnoc set to become a chemicals major> SAUDI STADIUMS: Stadiums become main event for Saudi construction> CONSTRUCTION: Middle East to be a growth leader for global construction> LEADERSHIP: Dubai’s sea-air logistics model powers resilient trade> KUWAIT MARKET FOCUS: Kuwait’s political hiatus brings opportunityTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14631260/main.jpg -
Kuwait’s growth picture improves
9 September 2025
MEED’s September 2025 report on Kuwait includes:
> COMMENT: Kuwait’s political hiatus brings opportunity
> GOVERNMENT: Kuwait looks to capitalise on consolidation of power
> ECONOMY: Kuwait aims for investment to revive economy
> BANKING: Change is coming for Kuwait’s banks
> OIL & GAS: Kuwaiti oil activity rising after parliament suspension
> POWER & WATER: Signs of project progress for Kuwait's power and water sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Momentum builds in Kuwait constructionTo see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14626600/main.gif -
Bidders wait for Kuwait water project award
9 September 2025
Bidders are still waiting for the letter of contract award to be issued by Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (MEW) for the planned water distribution complex project in Shuwaikh, according to industry sources.
Bids were submitted in March this year, with Kuwait’s Khalid Ali Al-Kharafi & Brothers Company emerging as the lowest bidder.
The full list of submitted bids was:
- Khalid Ali Al-Kharafi & Brothers Company ($241.65m)
- Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting Company ($258.9m)
- Arab Contractors ($276.49m)
- United Gulf Construction Company ($338.69m)
Later, in July, bidders were asked to extend their bid bond warranty.
It is not known why the contract for the project has not yet been officially awarded.
The tender is a major project for the MEW. It is expected to increase the country’s water storage capacity by 71 million imperial gallons, while also boosting the daily pumping capacity of low-salinity water by 23 million gallons.
The invitation to bid was originally issued in March 2023, and the bid submission deadline for the project was extended 18 times before bids were ultimately submitted earlier this year.
MEED’s September 2025 report on Kuwait includes:
> COMMENT: Kuwait’s political hiatus brings opportunity
> GOVERNMENT: Kuwait looks to capitalise on consolidation of power
> ECONOMY: Kuwait aims for investment to revive economy
> BANKING: Change is coming for Kuwait’s banks
> OIL & GAS: Kuwaiti oil activity rising after parliament suspension
> POWER & WATER: Signs of project progress for Kuwait's power and water sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Momentum builds in Kuwait construction
> DATABANK: Kuwait’s growth picture improvesTo see previous reports on other countries, please click herehttps://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14630519/main.png