- Won “Utilities Project of the Year” at Middle East Energy Awards 2019.
- Nominated by Egis for “The Sustainable Construction Project of the Year” at The Big 5 Impact Awards
AlShuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project (IWP).
Saudi Arabia.
Located on the Red Sea in Shuqaiq, Jazan Province, Al Shuqaiq 3 IWP is a major SWRO desalination plant producing 450,000 m³/day, supplying drinking water to up to 1.8 million people in Asir and Jazan, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
Client
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC).
Timeline
Jun 2019 – Jan 2022
Environmental benefit
The high efficiency desalination plant delivers 450,000 m³/day of safe drinking water, strengthening water security and improving quality of life for around 1.8 million residents in southern Saudi Arabia
Community impact
The project created around 700 direct jobs during construction, boosting local employment and skills in Jazan Province.
Awards.
Delivering water security in a remote, water‑stressed region.
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) needed a large‑scale desalination plant at Shuqaiq to secure long‑term potable water for rapidly growing communities in the Asir and Jazan regions, where natural freshwater resources are extremely limited.
The client faced several major challenges at the outset: delivering a 450,000 m³/day seawater reverse osmosis plant in a relatively remote coastal location, coordinating a complex public‑private partnership (PPP) with multiple international and local stakeholders, and ensuring that the project met ambitious cost, schedule and performance targets.
These concerns mirror those of many public clients: managing PPP and Build-Own Operate (BOO) contracts, controlling technical and interface risks, guaranteeing strong HSE performance, and achieving on‑time commissioning despite external pressures such as Covid‑19. In this context, SWPC sought an experienced owner’s engineer to act as its technical and contractual representative.
Egis was selected for its track record in major water and desalination projects, its multidisciplinary design review and site supervision capabilities, and its proven experience supporting governments on complex PPP infrastructure schemes
Owner’s engineer leadership for a high‑impact desalination plant.
Egis approached AlShuqaiq 3 IWP as an integrated owner’s engineer, combining design review, site supervision and contract management to de‑risk delivery for SWPC and safeguard performance across every project phase. The team focused on aligning the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor’s design with SWPC’s technical, environmental and operational requirements, then closely supervising construction quality, HSE and schedule to ensure timely commissioning despite Covid‑19‑related constraints.
Through regular coordination meetings, transparent reporting and joint issue‑resolution, Egis worked hand‑in‑hand with the client, developer consortium and contractor to address interface risks, optimise processes and protect marine and onshore environments while maximising community benefits. Digital tools for monitoring progress and performance, coupled with robust procedures, helped maintain control over cost, time and quality even in a challenging context.
Key partnerships:
- SWPC as public offtaker and project owner
- Shuqaiq Three Company for Water (developer consortium)
- EPC contractor and specialist technology providers
Creating a flagship desalination hub for southern Saudi Arabia.
Over a 30‑month assignment, Egis supported SWPC in transforming AlShuqaiq 3 from a PPP concept into one of the region’s largest operational seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants. Key milestones included financial close and contract mobilisation, detailed design review, start of construction in 2019, mechanical completion and first water dispatch in October 2021, and commercial operation on 9 January 2022.
The project was delivered in carefully sequenced phases: marine intake and outfall works, pre‑treatment, (Reverse Osmosis) RO process installation, post‑treatment and storage, then performance testing and optimisation. Throughout, Egis’ site supervision teams safeguarded quality, schedule and HSE, helping the project reach 9,281,729 safe manhours with zero lost‑time injuries. Advanced RO technology, an on‑site photovoltaic facility and optimised energy‑recovery systems reduced specific power consumption to about 3.5 kWh/m³, combining water security with lower environmental impact.
AlShuqaiq 3 is now recognised as a flagship plant, winning “Utilities Project of the Year” in 2019.
Delivering lasting water security for southern Saudi Arabia.
Through its role as owner’s engineer, Egis helped SWPC bring AlShuqaiq 3 IWP into successful commercial operation, turning a complex PPP into a reliable source of safe drinking water for the south of the Kingdom. Today, the plant underpins water security for communities and businesses, while showcasing how large‑scale infrastructure can embed ESG principles in practice.
By combining efficient reverse osmosis technology with optimised energy used in operation systems design, the project reduces specific power consumption and associated emissions compared to conventional thermal desalination, helping to protect the environment while meeting rising demand. For SWPC and local authorities, the plant enables sustainable urban growth, tourism and economic development in a previously water‑stressed region, and provides a replicable model for future Independent Water Projects that aim to balance resilience, affordability and sustainability across Saudi Arabia
Project Manager Mohammad Alsulymani shares insights on delivering AlShuqaiq 3 IWP, from site execution and safety to achieving key milestones ahead of schedule.