In November 2026, the Mirfa Liwa water transmission and distribution project in western Abu Dhabi, which had been on hold for several years, was officially restarted with an initial estimated investment of 775 million US dollars. The project was adjusted from the original EPC split model to a DBO design, construction, and operation integration model and re tendered. 17 contractors have been invited to bid, including five from Chinese engineering companies, namely China Mechanical Engineering, China Chemical Engineering, China Railway Fourth Bureau, Jerry Oil and Gas Engineering, and China Power Construction. The deadline for project bidding is set for January 5, 2027.

Mode switching releases new rules

The project was first split into two sections, water supply and distribution network, and started bidding in December 2024 according to the EPC mode. After a year and a half of evaluation, the final bid has not been determined. After switching to the DBO mode, the project assessment rules have undergone significant changes. Long term operational performance indicators such as leakage control, energy consumption level, and system availability will be directly included in payment terms, placing higher demands on contractors' full chain delivery and long-term operation and maintenance capabilities.

The core construction content of the project includes the construction of a new pumping station in Mirfa, with a designed water delivery capacity of approximately 580000 cubic meters per day. A water main pipeline with a total length of approximately 125 kilometers extends from Mirfa to Muzairah, supporting three storage tank facilities and four distribution network areas. After completion, it will greatly enhance the water supply guarantee capacity of the western region of Abu Dhabi and fill the gaps in the local long-distance water delivery network.

The competition in the Middle East water industry is heating up

Among the 17 invited contractors, five Chinese engineering companies have also obtained bidding qualifications, accounting for nearly one-third of the total number invited. This also marks a further increase in the participation of Chinese water engineering companies in the high-end water market in the Middle East. Previously, Abu Dhabi has successively implemented multiple large-scale seawater desalination and long-distance water transmission projects, and the expansion pace of local water infrastructure continues to accelerate.

Unlike traditional EPC projects that only focus on delivery quality during the construction phase, the DBO model requires companies to cover the full lifecycle capabilities of design optimization, engineering construction, and long-term operation. This also means that subsequent winning bidders will deeply participate in project lifecycle management. The competitive dimension of the Middle East water engineering market has shifted from a single construction capability to a comprehensive service capability across the entire chain.Editor/Cheng Liting