News about Middle East & Africa
SHARAKAT Award 2026: recognising the partnerships powering Saudi Arabia’s water sector
Saudi Arabia’s SHARAKAT Award is a national platform that recognises successful partners and celebrates outstanding achievements across both public and private projects within the Kingdom’s water sector.
SHARAKAT announces receipt of five competitive bids for the development of the Riyadh East ISTP project
Five consortiums have bid to develop the Riyadh East plant. It will initially treat 200,000 cubic metres of wastewater a day, with capacity to double as the project expands.
Cape Town opens tender for Faure water reuse PPP
The City has opened a two-stage procurement for a partner to finance, build and run a plant that will treat wastewater to drinking water standards. It is the City's first project delivered through a public-private partnership.
UK pledges £88 million for water, sanitation and healthcare in Gaza
The package was announced at the UN General Assembly. It will pay for emergency water trucking, waste collection and medical care for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
NDB lends US$200 million for South Africa’s Limpopo bulk water scheme
The sovereign loan will pay the government's share of a bulk water supply scheme drawing on Flag Boshielo Dam, which will serve industrial users and communities in Mogalakwena Local Municipality.
Tunisia secures €111 million AfDB loan to upgrade drinking water network
A €111.5m loan to Tunisia’s national water utility will fund pipe repairs, leak detection and smart meters in a network serving nearly 2.9 million people.
EBRD takes equity stake to expand desalination in Egypt
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved an equity investment of up to 32.1 million dollars in RWD Investments BV, the Hassan Allam Utilities vehicle that runs 79 desalination facilities along Egypt's coast.
Egypt lines up $3.08 billion in water and power PPP projects
Egypt's Ministry of Finance is preparing to bring 16 public-private partnership projects worth $3.08 billion to market, covering desalination, industrial wastewater treatment and electricity infrastructure.
Cox secures $235 million ruling in Ghana desalination row
Befesa Desalination Developments Ghana, a subsidiary of Cox Infrastructure Group, has been awarded US$235mn plus interest after arbitration tribunals ruled against Ghana Water Company and the Republic of Ghana over the termination of the Accra desalination plant contract.
OPEC Fund approves US$190 million for water projects in Morocco and Azerbaijan
Morocco will receive US$150 million for a new dam, while US$40 million will support Azerbaijan’s first large-scale seawater desalination plant.
US Development Bank backs desalination plant to boost Jordan’s water security
The US International Development Finance Corporation has approved a loan and political risk insurance to support a new seawater desalination plant and conveyance system in Jordan.
Metito to operate and maintain Dubai South Sewage Plant
Metito Utilities has been awarded the operation and maintenance contract for the Dubai South Sewage Treatment Plant, a facility that uses ceramic membrane bioreactor technology to serve the area around Al Maktoum International Airport.
UAE donates three desalination plants to boost Seychelles’ water security
Seychelles has taken delivery of new water-production capacity aimed at easing pressure on the island nation's supply network during dry spells and periods of high demand.
Dr Shehab Ahmed Al Muharrami named CEO of TAQA Water Solutions
Dr Shehab Ahmed Al Muharrami has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of TAQA Water Solutions, succeeding Dr Nader Assad Bin Taher, who had led the company on an interim basis since March 2026.
Acwa and WTCO sign Fichtner deal to support Syria’s water sector
Acwa, working in consortium with the Water Transmission Company, has signed a technical services agreement with Fichtner and Syria's Ministry of Energy to study the country's water resources and develop seawater desalination and transmission solutions.
Rayis-Rabigh IWTP led by Tedagua reaches preliminary testing stage and moves closer to operations
The infrastructure has entered the preliminary testing phase, marking another major milestone on the path to commissioning one of Saudi Arabia’s key water transmission links.
FAB pledges $27 billion to water security in MENA first
Abu Dhabi Bank has signed the UN Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles, becoming the first bank in the Middle East and North Africa to do so, and has set an AED 100 billion ($27 billion) target for water and blue economy financing through 2035.
Perma-Pipe and Welspun to build JOD 120-million pipe plant in Jordan
A planned partnership will manufacture the steel pipes needed for Jordan's National Water Carrier Project, backed by government support and international expertise.
Egypt sets up $100 million fund for Nile Basin water and dam projects
Cairo pledges initial funding toward dams, wells, and flood protection across Nile Basin states, aiming to turn regional water cooperation into concrete development outcomes.
Saudi Arabia’s NWC taps Saudi-Chinese partnership for $348 million wastewater treatment contract
The 15-year contract covers the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of nine treatment plants across four northern regions, with combined capacity exceeding 337,000 cubic metres daily.