Saudi Arabia tenders the Rig project
7 May 2024
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Saudi Arabia's Oil Park Development Company (OPDC), which is backed by sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has issued several tenders for the development of the Rig project in the Gulf.
The overall development consists of eight components comprising three offshore rigs, a combined offshore marina, two onshore terminals, a subsea cable network and a transition yard.
"The deadline is the end of May," sources close to the project told MEED.
The sources added that "the refurbishment of offshore rigs package is only open to the contractors with relevant offshore experience".
MEED understands that companies including UAE-based Lamprell, India's Larsen & Toubro, Beijing-headquartered China Harbour and US-based McDermott are among those that have been invited to bid for the offshore rigs.
The two onshore terminals are planned in Dammam and Jubail. The scope for each location includes the construction of a terminal building with an onshore marina, parking facilities and a helipad.
The Rig will be an oil rig-like structure installed in the Gulf, with a total built-up area of more than 300,000 square metres. It will be located 40 kilometres from the coastline, near Al Juraid Island and the Berri oil field.
The project will provide a range of hospitality offerings and aquatic sporting experiences. These include three hotels with 800 rooms and 11 restaurants, a 50-berth marina, a theme park and other associated amenities, including swimming pools, water slides, rollercoasters, a Ferris wheel, submersibles, karting facilities, bungee jumping, jet skiing, zip lining and scuba diving.
The Rig aligns with the PIF’s 2021-25 strategy to drive innovation in Saudi Arabia’s tourism and entertainment sectors. The strategy aims to provide development opportunities for economic diversification as part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives.
MEED's April 2024 special report on Saudi Arabia includes:
> GVT & ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia seeks diversification amid regional tensions
> BANKING: Saudi lenders gear up for corporate growth
> UPSTREAM: Aramco spending drawdown to jolt oil projects
> DOWNSTREAM: Master Gas System spending stimulates Saudi downstream sector
> POWER: Riyadh to sustain power spending
> WATER: Growth inevitable for the Saudi water sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Saudi gigaprojects propel construction sector
> TRANSPORT: Saudi Arabia’s transport sector offers prospects
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Dewa retenders pumping stations package
18 March 2025
State utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has retendered a contract to build pumping stations and related facilities in the emirate.
The contract covers the construction of a pumping station (PS6) catering to the 30 million imperial gallons (MIGD) a day Ghafat Idah reservoir complex and another pumping station on Endurance Road (PS21), phase one, stream A.
The contract covers all electro-mechanical and supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) works.
Dewa expects to receive bids for the retendered contract by 15 May.
The tender requires interested firms to submit a bid bond of AED5m ($1.37m).
Dewa first tendered the contract in April last year and received six bids three months later.
Local contracting company Sawaed Alqafelah General Contracting (Syed Contracting) submitted the lowest bid of AED78.76m ($21.44m).
Japan's Torishima Pump Manufacturing Company – the only non-local bidder – offered the second-lowest bid of AED86.05m, with an optional offer of AED85.12m.
The other bidders and their offers were:
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Tabreed confirms $408m Palm Jebel Ali deal
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Abu Dhabi-headquartered National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) has signed a concession agreement with Dubai Holding Investments, part of Dubai Holding, to provide district cooling services for Palm Jebel Ali in Dubai.
MEED reported in January that talks were under way for a contract to develop new district cooling plants on Palm Jebel Ali, with an initial capacity of 25,000 refrigeration tonnes (RTs).
Tabreed said the system will address the need for approximately 250,000 RTs of cooling capacity and require an estimated investment of AED1.5bn ($408m) over multiple phases, making it one of the largest district cooling plant projects ever awarded in the UAE.
In a statement, Tabreed said the agreement establishes a joint venture, with Tabreed holding a 51% stake and Dubai Holding Investments retaining the remaining 49%.
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Tabreed CEO Khalid Al-Marzooqi and Dubai Holding Investments CEO Omar Karim signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from Tabreed, Dubai Holding, Mubadala and Engie.
The construction of the district cooling network is expected to commence in Q2 2025, with the first cooling services expected to be delivered by 2027.
The deal is subject to customary approvals.
Tabreed acquired an 80% stake in Emaar Property’s Downtown Dubai district cooling business at a cost of AED2.48bn ($675m) in 2020.
Tabreed raised AED700m ($190.6m) via an inaugural, five-year green sukuk as the first issuance under its new $1.5bn trust certificate issuance scheme, the firm said in early March.
The firm reported a revenue of AED2.4bn and a net profit before tax of AED624m in 2024, representing a 4% increase over 2023, excluding one-offs.
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Mixed-use developments in the region commonly deploy district cooling. The process involves using a central chiller plant to cool water, which is circulated to multiple buildings to provide cooling.
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Photo credit: Tabreed
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Alkhorayef wins four water contracts
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The local firm Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies Company has won the contract to operate and maintain four water treatment plants in Saudi Arabia.
The water treatment plants are located in Wadi Aldawaser, Alsalil, Alsafa in Najran and Alwajid.
According to a company filing, the contract is worth SR58.78m ($15.7m).
Saudi Water Authority, formerly Saline Water Conversion Company (SWCC), awarded the contract to Alkhorayef on 16 March.
In July last year, Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) awarded contracts to install new water and wastewater connections across six regions in Saudi Arabia.
The 36-month contracts, described as blanket purchase agreements, were worth SR190.8m ($50.8m).
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> UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level
> DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism
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Firms prepare Al-Zarraf solar PV bids
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State utility Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) prequalified 16 companies that can bid for the Al-Zarraf solar IPP, also known as PV5, which will have a capacity of 1,500MW.
Industry sources say up to five consortiums are being formed to bid for the contract as of mid-March.
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Ewec received expressions of interest for the contract from 20 companies and consortiums in October last year and issued the tender in January.
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A team of France’s EDF Renewables and its partner, Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo), emerged with the highest offer of AED fils 5.86311/kWh.
Ewec is expected to award the Al-Khazna solar IPP contract to Engie around the second quarter of this year, as MEED reported.
Successful PV bidders
In 2016, a team of Japan’s Marubeni and Jinko Power won the contract to develop and operate Abu Dhabi’s first utility-scale solar PV project in Sweihan, the 934MW Noor Abu Dhabi IPP.
Four years later, in 2020, a team comprising EDF Renewables and Jinko Power won the contract to develop the 1,500MW Al-Dhafra solar PV, which was inaugurated last year.
In April 2024, Ewec awarded the contract to develop PV3, the 1,500MW Al-Ajban solar IPP, to a team led by EDF Renewables and including Kowepo.
Ewec forecasts that at least 18,000MW of solar PV will be in operation by 2035, supporting the realisation of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035.
The programme envisages renewable and clean energy sources meeting 60% of the emirate’s total power demand at the end of the forecast period.
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> POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year
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Contractors submit final offers for Diriyah Arena district
17 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has received the last and final offers from firms for the contract to build the Arena Block assets in the Boulevard Southwest section in the DG2 area of the Diriyah gigaproject.
MEED understands that final proposals were submitted last week and the award is expected shortly for the multibillion-riyal package, which consists of mixed-use facilities, including offices.
Tendering activity is also progressing on several other major schemes at Diriyah, including the Royal Diriyah Opera House project. It is understood that the bid evaluation has reached the final stages and the contract will likely be finalised in March.
In January, the client also asked firms to prequalify for a contract to build a new museum in the DG2 area of the Diriyah project.
MEED previously reported that Diriyah Company had asked firms to prequalify for another contract covering the infrastructure development works in the DG2 area of Diriyah.
Developed by Diriyah Company, the Diriyah masterplan envisages the city as a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination. Located northwest of Riyadh’s city centre, it covers 14 square kilometres and combines 300 years of history, culture and heritage with hospitality facilities.
The company awarded several significant contracts last year, including two major contracts worth over SR16bn ($4bn). These include an estimated $2bn contract awarded to a joint venture of El-Seif Engineering & Contracting and China State to build the North Cultural District.
In late July, Diriyah also awarded a $2.1bn package to a joint venture of local contractor Albawani and Qatar’s Urbacon to construct assets in the Wadi Safar district of the gigaproject.
In December, MEED reported that Diriyah Company had awarded an estimated SR5.8bn ($1.5bn) contract to local firm Nesma & Partners for its Jabal Al-Qurain Avenue cultural district, located in the northern district of the Diriyah Gate project.
Once complete, Diriyah will have the capacity to house 100,000 residents and visitors.
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