Saudi Arabia’s Water Partnerships Company (SWPC) has announced plans to roll out 30 billion Saudi riyals ($8 billion) in water sector projects over the coming year, with an additional 10 projects valued at SAR 15 billion ($4 billion) in the pipeline through 2027.
The projects, which aim to attract private sector investment through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, reinforce SWPC’s central role in achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and sustainable infrastructure.
Speaking at a recent workshop to encourage greater local contractor involvement, SWPC CEO Khaled Al Qureshi highlighted the company’s focus on private sector collaboration, stressing that the partnerships are expected to generate returns between 7% and 10%.
SWPC’s substantial pipeline of projects comes as Saudi Arabia intensifies its investment in water management to support both current and future demands across the kingdom, especially in growing regions like Makkah and Al-Baha.
SWPC’s forthcoming Ras Mohaisen Independent Water Plant represents a milestone as the kingdom’s first large-scale, phased-development desalination project.
The facility, with a planned 300,000 cubic meters per day capacity upon full completion, will be developed and operated privately for 25 years following the start of commercial operations.
Phase one, a 100,000 cubic meter per day desalination plant, is slated to be operational by the first quarter of 2028, while phase two, expanding capacity by an additional 200,000 cubic meters per day, is expected to be completed by 2030.
A core component of the Ras Mohaisen project is the development of a substantial water storage system capable of holding 600,000 cubic meters—equivalent to two days of the facility’s operational output—designed to improve water security and reliability in the region.
SWPC also plans to construct an electrical substation, linked to the main power grid by a 17-kilometer transmission line, to power the project and connect to crucial water transmission routes, including those from Hali Dam to Al-Shuaibah and from Ras Mohaisen to Al-Baha and Makkah.
In a bid to enhance Saudi Arabia’s water transmission capabilities, SWPC is advancing the Jubail-Buraydah Independent Water Transmission Pipeline (IWTP) project, a major infrastructure initiative set to span 587 kilometers with a daily transmission capacity of 650,000 cubic meters.
The project, which will be developed on a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) basis, has garnered bids from notable private sector consortiums, including Aljomaih Energy & Water Company, Nesma Company, Vision International Investment Company, and TAQA. Once completed, the pipeline is expected to commence commercial operations in the first quarter of 2029 and will operate under a 35-year Water Transmission Agreement (WTA) with SWPC.
The IWTP project underscores SWPC’s strategy of partnering with private sector developers to leverage the expertise and capital required for large-scale infrastructure development.
By integrating private investment into Saudi Arabia’s water infrastructure, SWPC is working to secure long-term water sustainability while aligning with the country’s environmental and economic objectives under Vision 2030.
Since its rebranding from the Water and Electricity Company in 2019, SWPC has actively advanced PPP-driven initiatives, issuing over 20 major projects across desalination, wastewater treatment, and water transmission.
Building on this expertise, SWPC is now expanding into PPP advisory services, positioning itself as a regional leader in PPP water infrastructure. The advisory service arm will support other regions including MENA, Africa, and Asia, where demand for sustainable water solutions is significant.
As an experienced player in Saudi Arabia’s PPP water sector, SWPC has developed a reputation for risk management, stakeholder engagement, and innovation in privately financed water projects.
The new advisory services will leverage SWPC’s deep expertise in the water sector, emphasising capacity building and local talent development to drive sustainable growth in Saudi Arabia’s water infrastructure sector.
