Three prepare to bid for UAE wastewater PPP contract
15 April 2025
Three teams are preparing to bid for a contract to develop and operate a wastewater treatment plant project in the UAE's northern emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah.
The Rakwa Wastewater Infrastructure Project entails the development of a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 60,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d), which could be expanded to 150,000 cm/d.
Ras Al-Khaimah's Public Services Department (PSD) and Investment & Development Office (IDO) previously expected to receive bids for the contract by 15 April, but this deadline has since been extended to 6 May, sources told MEED.
MEED understands that three consortiums are planning to bid for the contract. They include:
- Besix (Belgium) / Orascom (Egypt)
- Metito / Sogex (Oman)
- Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa, local) / Saur (France) / Etihad Water & Electricity (local)
The scope of the build, own, operate and transfer scheme will include extensive sewerage and distribution works in addition to the main treatment plant.
The project clients prequalified 13 companies and consortiums that can bid for the contract, MEED reported in September.
In addition to the consortium members cited above, the other firms that were prequalified for the contract were:
- Acciona (Spain)
- China Harbour Engineering Company (China) / BOWT
- Cobra (Tedagua, Spain)
- GS Inima (Spain/South Korea) / Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies (Saudi Arabia)
- FCC Aqualia (Spain)
- MA Kharafi (Kuwait) / Passavant Energy & Environment (UAE, Germany)
- Miahona Company (Saudi Arabia)
- Veolia Middle East (France/local)
Two companies that previously provided utility services in the UAE, Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions, which has since rebranded as Taqa Water Solutions, and Sharjah-based Etihad Water & Electricity, have been prequalified to bid for the contract to develop the project.
This is the first STP public-private partnership (PPP) that is being developed by the Ras Al-Khaimah authorities.
For its part, Etihad Water & Electricity plans to procure another utility PPP project for the northern emirate.
The project involves expanding the capacity of an existing seawater reverse osmosis plant in Ghalilah, which became operational in 2015.
If successfully procured, it will be the first independent water project in Ras Al-Khaimah.
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The request for qualifications (RFQs) was issued by the municipality’s Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department (SRPD).
The bid submission deadline is 26 February.
The first scheme under the package is TF-16-C1, which involves upgrading and rehabilitating the stormwater system east of the Dubai Canal.
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts
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Abu Dhabi-based developer Modon Holding has tendered several contracts as part of the first phase of development at Ras El-Hekma, a planned new city on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
MEED understands that the tenders were issued in January.
These include:
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Modon has accelerated development works at Ras El-Hekma this year. In January, MEED reported that Modon Holding had awarded a E£15bn ($316m) contract for the construction of a project at Ras El-Hekma.
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As part of the first phase, Modon plans to develop more than 50 million square metres (sq m), including hotels and a marina.
Ras El-Hekma is on a spur of land on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coastline, about 240 kilometres west of Alexandria.
Last year, Abu Dhabi-based holding company ADQ appointed Modon Holding as the master developer for the Ras El-Hekma project.
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The signing ceremony was held at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority headquarters in Aqaba on 5 February.
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The announcement followed AD Ports Group’s signing of a shareholders’ agreement in January 2024 between its digital arm, Maqta Gateway, and Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation regarding their existing joint-venture company, Maqta Ayla.
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal
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