Under the patronage and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Emir of Al-Bahah Region, His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture & Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Water Partnership Company, signed the project agreements for the Ras Mohaisen Independent Water Plant Project. The signing ceremony took place at the Emirate of Al-Bahah Region. The project will be developed in Al-Qunfudhah Governorate, Makkah Region, with a daily production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of desalinated water.
Eng. Al-Fadley stated that the agreement aligns with the Kingdom’s water sector goals, focusing on expanding water production projects across all regions and increasing private sector participation. This initiative reflects a strategic partnership between the public and private sectors to enhance water infrastructure. He highlighted that the project is part of a broader initiative involving multiple private-sector-led projects.
His Excellency further explained that the Ras Mohaisen Desalination Water Plant will strengthen the water supply chains, benefiting residents and visitors of Makkah and Al-Bahah regions. Additionally, the project aims to enhance the sector’s development, improve service quality, increase spending efficiency, leverage private sector expertise in construction and operation, and boost private sector contribution to economic growth under Vision 2030.
Eng. Khalid Al-Quraishi, CEO of the Saudi Water Partnership Company, stated that the project’s initial operational phase is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2028. It will utilise reverse osmosis technology, which will help reduce electricity consumption, maintain high production levels, lower operational costs, and promote local content by increasing the localisation of operations and workforce.
The project was tendered to investors under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model, attracting interest from 44 companies, including 21 Saudi firms. After a competitive selection process, 13 applicants were shortlisted, and the preferred bid consortium was chosen from two final competing groups. The winning consortium comprises ACWA Power, Hajj Abdullah Ali Reza & Partners, and Al-Kifah Holding Company.
This initiative is part of the broader privatisation and public-private partnership strategy in the Kingdom’s environment, water, and agriculture sectors. It follows the successful implementation of several independent water projects, Independent Water Transmission Pipelines, and wastewater treatment initiatives.
