6 - 10 April 2025
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
Muscat, Oman
GS Inima, a world leader in the water sector, positioned as one of the Groups with the largest volume of plants in terms of concessions and with the longest history in reverse osmosis desalination, and its partners Aljomaih Energy and Water Company, a leading Saudi investor, developer, and operator of utility and infrastructure projects and SOGEX Oman, a company which contributed remarkably in the development of Sultanate of Oman, have reached financial close to design, build, operate and maintain Ghubrah III Desalination Plant in Oman.
In an official statement, Nama Water Services announced the completion of compensation payouts following last Friday’s emergency caused by water overflow from the renewed water collection lake at Nizwa station.
A joint committee comprising relevant parties was established to assess and evaluate the material damages. Committee members conducted direct assessments with affected vendors, ensuring fair and prompt compensation.
A Durable and Sustainable Solution Supporting Water Security and Community Needs.
OQ, Oman’s global integrated energy group, has unveiled Luban LL-8446.21, an advanced rotomoulding-grade polymer designed to tackle critical water scarcity challenges. Launched at Arabplast 2025, this solution is tailored to meet the water and food storage needs of communities worldwide, particularly in regions facing severe resource shortages.
These projects, set to roll out between 2025 and 2027, are projected to increase the number of drinking water subscribers by 24 percent.
The Public Services Regulatory Authority is spearheading transformative projects across Oman to modernize the water and sanitation sector, aligning with Oman Vision 2040’s goal of sustainable infrastructure expansion.
Desalination has continued to play a significant role in Oman’s potable water supply, coming far from the first desalination plant commissioned in 1976, its infrastructure has expanded exponentially to meet growing demands. Today, the Sultanate of Oman produces approximately 400 million cubic metres of desalinated water (as of 2022) — a significant increase from 279.6 million cubic meters in 2016 — to meet about 86 per cent of the country’s water needs. Oman is effectively the second largest player in the GCC in desalinated water usage.
Oman National Engineering & Investment Company (ONEIC) announced the award of a contract valued at $32.7 million. The project, granted by Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company SAOC, involves the construction of a comprehensive wastewater network system in selected areas of Masirah Island.
Water resource management in Oman reflects the Sultanate’s commitment to sustainability and resilience in the face of growing demand. By September 2024, total water production stood at 383,391.7 thousand m3, a slight decline from 390,727.3 thousand m3 in 2023. However, Muscat Governorate recorded a remarkable increase in water production, reaching 20,076.4 thousand m3, up from 17,793.7 thousand m3 in the previous year.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources is undertaking a series of key dam maintenance projects in Al Buraimi Governorate, with a total investment of over RO 686,000. These projects aim to enhance water resources, improve groundwater storage, and ensure sustainable water supplies for agriculture in the region.
Mohammed bin Hareb Al Makhmari, Director of the project, announced that work began in December 2024 and is slated for completion by the second quarter of 2028. Designed to ensure safe and sustainable drinking water, the project also addresses future needs, aiming to meet water demand until 2050 through enhanced distribution and strategic storage systems.
Nama Power and Water Procurement Company today inaugurated Phase 5 of Barka Water Desalination Plant. The project cost approximately RO 52 million.
The plant began commercial operation on 22 June 2024 in the Wilayat of Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate. It is part of a set of government projects aimed at achieving water security amid growing demand for fresh water.
Veolia Oman has reached a new milestone in providing one billion cubic metres of clean, potable water produced by various projects in the sultanate. This achievement represents a major contribution to Oman’s water resilience and highlights the country’s progress in utilising advanced desalination technologies to secure water for its citizens. ‘The celebration of this milestone today (December 10) underscores the ongoing commitment to supporting Oman’s Vision 2040 goals of sustainability and securing access to vital resources, particularly in a region where water is scarce,’ says Erwan Rouxel, CEO, Veolia Oman.
The overall project aims to install more than 400,000 meters as part of the company’s strategy to enhance the services it provides to residents in the region.
The digital meters are designed to help reduce water loss by accurately measuring the volume of water distributed through the main meter in a specific area and comparing it to the total amount recorded by individual home meters. Any discrepancies indicate potential leaks, allowing for quick identification and repair of water loss points.
A pioneering solar water treatment project is set to launch in Oman, marking a significant advancement in sustainable water treatment technology, informs Zawya. Austrian startup Heliovis has announced that its Solar Water Treatment Plant (SWTP), located at a remote oilfield in the Dhofar Governorate, will begin operations around mid-August 2024. This innovative facility, installed at the Small Oilfield Cluster of ARA Petroleum at Qarat Al Milh, is designed to convert highly saline, oil-contaminated produced water into freshwater using the sun’s energy.
Ahmed bin Salim al Abri, Chief Executive Officer of PWP, explained: “This project will enhance grid stability in Oman by integrating advanced thermal power plants, ensuring reliable and sustainable energy through a balanced energy mix. It marks a significant step in the company’s ongoing commitment to providing a sustainable energy future for Oman.” The initiative, he further noted, marks a significant step in Nama PWP ongoing commitment to ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy future for Oman through a balanced mix of energy sources, including both renewable and thermal power plants.
Hassan Allam Holding has announced that its subsidiary, Hassan Allam Construction, has been awarded the construction contract for the Al Ghubrah Pumping Station in Muscat, Oman.
The project, commissioned by NAMA Water Services Company, aims to enhance water supply infrastructure to meet the growing needs of Muscat’s communities and industries.
With a combined investment value of RO 322.7 million, these projects span multiple sectors, from renewable energy to agriculture, desalination, and infrastructure development. In a statement, Hisham bin Ahmed Al Shaidi, Head of Economic Diversification Investments at OIA, highlighted that these projects align with Oman’s ambitious “Vision 2040” and its economic diversification objectives. He noted that the projects, developed in partnership between OIA’s affiliated companies and the private sector, are designed to boost critical economic sectors while supporting local communities and infrastructure.
The study highlights a significant supply of groundwater suitable for agricultural use in Al Najd region, while emphasizing the importance of preserving this resource through the distribution of extraction rates and proposed development projects across various locations to avoid over-concentration in specific areas, such as Al Shisr, which has seen substantial agricultural expansion over the past decade. Strategic planning for future agricultural activities is therefore essential to preserve water resources.
Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, CEO of Operations and Maintenance at Nama Water, emphasized the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability, highlighting the importance of clean energy in the fight against climate change.
Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources has issued a tender for consultancy services for the design and supervision of drainage channels at the Al-Khawd Recharge Dam, reports Zawya.
Issued on 9 September 2024, the tender invites bids from consultancy firms, with submissions due by 20 October 2024.
“The Rex Group has been operating in Oman for a decade now,” said John d’Abo, executive chairman of Rex. “The joint study will allow us to evaluate further if there are synergies to be reaped and for Rex to contribute towards action against climate change in the future.”
Ian Munro, CEO of Helios Aragon, said the company will utilise exploration learnings and Rex's local expertise to fully understand Oman's hydrogen system.
The Majd Program’s inauguration featured the signing of 12 agreements worth over $172.5 million between operating and local companies. These agreements mandate spending with small and medium enterprises, purchasing local products, and adhering to Omanization plans. They cover drilling services, water treatment plant development, and supplying products from Omani factories. The aim is to strengthen national capabilities, localize industries, and enhance local competitiveness through sustainable development.
Nama Water Services company today began implementing the second phase of the digital transition project for water meters in North Al Batinah Governorate.
The project’s second phase includes the installation of more than 115,000 meters in the governorate’s wilayats. This was unveiled at a meeting organized by Nama Water Services under the auspices of Mohammed Sulaiman Al Kindi, Governor of North Al Batinah.
Galfar Engineering and Contracting, a leading infrastructure company in Oman, has been awarded a major contract by Nama Water Services (NAMA) to construct water distribution networks in the wilayats of Ibri, Yanqul, and Dhank in the Al Dhahirah Governorate. Valued at RO 117 million, this project represents a significant advancement for both the company and the governorate.
Sustainable utilisation of the treated water from the NWTP is a key focus area for PDO, where leading oil and natural gas company, PDO operates substantial volumes of produced water daily at the Nimr PDO. Reusing this treated water to create value for Oman is a cornerstone of PDO’s water management strategy.
GS Inima, a global leader in the water sector, said it has successfully completed the acceptance tests of the final phase of the Barka V desalination plant in Oman and is now delivering water to Nama Power & Water Procurement Company, the single procurer of power and water capacity and output in the Sultanate of Oman.
Expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2027, the plant will occupy 70,400 m2 of land and include a 45,000 cubic meter potable water reservoir
LG Water Solutions is set to boost Oman’s water infrastructure, having secured a contract to supply over 23,000 of its SW 440 GR G2 seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes to the Ghubrah III Desalination Plant, according to a recent press release. This facility, slated to become the largest in the country upon its commissioning in the first quarter of 2027, marks a critical step in addressing the Sultanate’s water security needs.
Nama Water Services is significantly expanding wastewater infrastructure across Oman, including enhancements to sewer networks and treatment plant capacities, reports Zawya. These initiatives aim to improve the efficiency of water and sewage systems across the governorates served by the company.
Nama Power and Water Procurement Company, announces the prequalified applicants for the development of Ibri III Solar IPP. The company has announced in January 2024 the request for qualification tender with the project capacity of 500 MW and estimated investment of Omani Riyal 155 million.
Under the patronage of His Excellency Abdulsalam bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Murshidi, Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority , Nama Power and Water Procurement Company signed new power and water purchase agreements with four power and desalination plants in the Sultanate of Oman. Nama Power and Water Procurement Company issued the 2024 Electricity and Water Procurement Tender last year and opened competition among a number of existing plants, the contracts of which have expired or are about to expire. This tender is an opportunity for existing plants to obtain new contracts for the purchase of electricity or water by Nama Power and Water Procurement Company after the expiration of their current agreements.
With a cost of 125 million Omani rials and a production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters per day, Nama Power and Water Procurement signed an agreement for the Ghubrah 3 desalination plant. Under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al-Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth, and Water Resources, Nama Power and Water Company signed an agreement with a consortium of three local and international companies for the third phase project of the Ghubrah desalination plant, which is the largest desalination plant and one of the prominent strategic projects in the water sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The plant is expected to commence operation in the first quarter of 2027 and will represent a significant step towards enhancing water security in the Sultanate of Oman. The plant’s capacity accounts for approximately 20% of the contracted capacities in the main water network.
Oman to launch its first solar thermal water plant: Omani upstream energy firm ARA Petroleum is set to launch one of the world’s first solar thermal powered desalination plants at its Qarat Al Milh site in Dhofar, Oman Observer reports. The project, developed in collaboration with Austrian solar tech startup Heliovis, whose low-cost solar thermal technology it will utilize, is expected to produce up to 140 cubic meters of drinking water daily from “produced water” — a byproduct of hydrocarbon production typically full of hydrocarbons and high levels of dissolved mineral salts.
The first Oman Water Week took place in Muscat, Oman, on 22-24 January. The conference focused on how Oman can transform its water sector to become more resilient, sustainable, flexible, and efficient. The Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) and the Netherlands Embassy in Muscat jointly organized the Dutch water sector representation, facilitating speaking engagements. No less than three cooperation agreements were signed between various Dutch organizations and stakeholders in the water sector in Oman. These cooperation agreements are the result of the long-term commitment from both the Omani and Dutch water sectors to work together and help shape the future of water.