Taqa Water Solutions prepares $2.7bn of projects

19 September 2024

 

Register for MEED's 14-day trial access 

Abu Dhabi-based Taqa Water Solutions has allocated AED10bn ($2.72bn) for some 80 water infrastructure-related projects in Abu Dhabi, both greenfield and brownfield. The first batch of these projects is due to be tendered starting next year.

"Over the next five years, we are expanding our capital portfolio with a total of 80 new projects requiring up to AED10bn. The first batch of these projects is coming to market starting next year," Nader Assad Bin Taher, chief operating officer of Taqa Water Solutions, told MEED.

Formerly Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions, the company has rebranded following its acquisition by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa).

According to Bin Taher, roughly 45% of the planned capital expense will be allocated to new projects, 40% to the rehabilitation of existing assets, another 10% to interconnections or pipelines, and the rest to regulatory compliance by installing flow metering or Scada systems, among others.

Bin Taher also said Taqa Water Solutions is reviewing a previous plan to procure an advanced treated sewage effluent (TSE) plant with an initial design capacity of 750,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d).

He said that the process is under way to finalise the way forward for the project, which might eventually have a bigger capacity than initially planned.

MEED understands that the final procurement model for the project is also being discussed.

MEED reported in February 2023 that five companies and consortiums had submitted bids for the engineering, procurement and construction contract.

Among those that submitted proposals for the contract on 23 January were Spain's Acciona, UAE-based Tecton Engineering, and a team comprising Spanish contractor Abengoa and local contracting company Emarat Aloula.

It is understood that the project has been put on hold following the expiry of bid bonds.

The initial plan entailed a TSE plant expected to have a design capacity of 700,000 cm/d, with the potential to expand this capacity to 950,000 cm/d in a subsequent phase, as MEED reported.

The TSE facility will produce water for higher-end applications compared to TSE produced in a standard sewage treatment plant.

Taqa Water Solutions is the sole entity responsible for wastewater collection and treatment and the production of recycled water in Abu Dhabi.

Taqa announced the rebranding of the company as Taqa Water Solutions in mid-September.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12557133/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo
Related Articles
  • Chinese firm wins $265m Saudi hospital contract

    24 June 2026

    Zhejiang Construction International, the local subsidiary of Chinese contractor Zhejiang Construction Investment Group, has won a $265m contract to build the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd University Speciality Hospital in Al-Khobar.

    Construction is expected to take three years from the start date.

    Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd University awarded the contract.

    Located in Al-Raja district, Al-Khobar, in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the hospital project will cover about 60,000 square metres.

    The contract covers the construction of a 10-storey hospital building, two five-storey auxiliary buildings connected by corridors and a basement.

    Work will include civil works, mechanical and electrical installation, curtain walling, landscaping, detailed design and the procurement of medical equipment.

    The award is the latest in a series of contracts secured by Chinese contractors from Saudi entities in recent months.

    Last week, MEED reported that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities & Housing awarded contracts worth more than SR1.9bn ($506m) to Chinese contractors for two residential developments in the kingdom.

    China Architectural Construction Corporation won the first contract, valued at SR875m ($233m), to build 2,010 housing units at the Al-Ruba residential project in Riyadh.

    China State Construction Engineering Corporation secured the other contract, valued at more than SR1bn ($266m), for the Al-Rasha Al-Faisaliah residential project in Dammam, comprising 2,426 housing units.

    GlobalData expects Saudi Arabia’s construction industry to record average annual growth of 5.2% in 2025-28, supported by investments in transport, electricity, housing and tourism infrastructure, as well as the $850bn-plus gigaprojects programme.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17412846/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Kuwait extends deadline for $718m drainage tender

    24 June 2026

     

    Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has extended the deadline for a major drainage tender estimated to be worth about KD222m ($718m).

    The new bid submission deadline is 19 July.

    The tender scope covers the construction of rainwater drainage networks across the residential areas of Sabah Al-Ahmad, South Sabah Al-Ahmad, Al-Khairan and Al-Wafra.

    The MPW floated the tender on 22 March. The most recent deadline was 21 June.

    According to regional projects tracker MEED Projects, the works include the construction of a major concrete sewer, three collection basins and extensive stormwater drainage basins.

    Rainwater collection tanks will be connected through an independent network, with outlets to the sea via the Nuwaiseeb exit to manage overflow.

    The infrastructure will also filter pollutants such as oils, minerals and sediments to protect water quality and support environmental sustainability.

    The project aims to reduce surface runoff, prevent street and urban flooding, and improve groundwater recharge.

    Kuwait’s MPW currently has several contracts out for tender for infrastructure works across various parts of the country.

    Also, in March, the client released two additional tenders covering the construction of a treated water system in Kuwait’s southern region and another in Kuwait’s northern region.

    Bids for both projects are due by 28 June.

    Meanwhile, the MPW is planning to begin construction of the $3.3bn North Kabd sewage treatment plant, which has a planned capacity of up to 1 million cubic metres a day.

    China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) won the contract to build the plant earlier this year.


    > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17411675/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Contractor wins Emaar Dubai Harbour project deal

    24 June 2026

     

    Local construction firm Al-Sahel Contracting Company has won a contract to build The Bristol Luxury Hotels & Resorts project in Dubai.

    The contract was awarded by local real estate developer Emaar Properties.

    The Bristol Luxury Hotels & Resorts is located at Emaar Beachfront in Dubai Harbour.

    The project comprises a 54-storey mixed-use building with about 150 hotel keys and 227 one- to four-bedroom apartments.

    Enabling works have been completed by local firm Dutch Foundation.

    Dubai-based Mirage Leisure & Development is the project’s consultant.

    Construction is expected to be completed by 2028.

    The contract award follows Emaar’s appointment of Dubai-based Aroma International Building Contracting to build the Address Grand Downtown tower.

    The award also comes shortly after Emaar reported strong operating momentum in 2025, led by record property sales of AED80.4bn ($21.9bn), up 16% year on year.

    The company’s revenue backlog from property sales rose to AED155bn ($42bn), supporting visibility on future revenue recognition.

    Total revenue for 2025 reached AED49.6bn ($13.5bn), a 40% year-on-year increase. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation grew 33% to AED25.6bn ($7bn), while net profit before tax rose 36% to AED25.7bn ($7bn).

    Emaar’s platform continued to support performance across property development, malls, hospitality, leisure and international operations.


    > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17411104/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Kuwait tenders oil manifold project

    24 June 2026

    State-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has tendered a contract to construct remote header manifolds and associated works in the southern and eastern regions of Kuwait.

    A meeting with prospective contractors has been scheduled for 21 July 2026, and bids are due to be submitted ahead of a deadline on 20 September 2026.

    Manifolds are devices used in the oil sector to divide the flow of liquids from a single source to several outlets, or to collect liquids, or vice versa.

    Previously, a project with a similar scope in the same region was awarded to the Kuwaiti contractor Al-Ghanim International General Trading & Contracting.

    In 2016, it signed a contract worth $435m to construct remote header manifolds and associated works in the south and east Kuwait areas.

    The scope of that contract included design, procurement, construction and commissioning of 25 remote manifold stations and associated pipelines in south and east Kuwait using multi-phase pumps to deliver liquids to gathering centres.

    Kuwait’s oil fields are connected to more than 25 gathering centres, which serve as collection points for crude oil produced by several wells connected by flowlines, providing initial treatment by separating associated gas and removing salt.


    READ THE JUNE 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    GCC looks beyond the Strait; Iraq’s reform window narrows as fiscal assumptions shatter; MEED Top 100 companies.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17409564/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Firm wins $94m Diriyah MEP works deal

    23 June 2026

    Riyadh-based Red Sea International Company has announced that its subsidiary, Fundamental Installation for Electric Work Company (FirstFix), has won a SR352m ($94m) contract to carry out mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works for a project in Diriyah.

    The contract was awarded by Salini Saudi Arabia, the local subsidiary of Italian contractor Webuild.

    In a filing on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the company said the scope of work includes the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of all MEP works, as well as related engineering works.

    The contract duration is 454 days.

    In July last year, Webuild announced that it had won a $600m contract from Diriyah Company for a package for the Diriyah Square project.

    The contract relates to construction works on package three of the Diriyah Square project. It includes finishing and MEP works on more than 70 buildings and public spaces within Diriyah Square.

    These assets cover a total area of about 365,000 square metres.

    Webuild is already working on the underground multi-storey car park at Diriyah Square.

    The three-level underground car park will serve the mixed-use Diriyah Square district, which will include leisure and entertainment facilities, hotels, retail, Grade A offices, the King Salman Grand Mosque and residential units designed in the traditional Najdi architectural style.

    The car park has a floor area of 1 million square metres, with underground roads and tunnels beneath Diriyah Square, and a capacity for 10,500 cars.

    The parking facility will directly connect commuters with all of Diriyah’s destinations, including Wadi Hanifah, the Western Ring Road and a national motorway. It will be a key component of the City of Riyadh Arterial Road system.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17397460/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal