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Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project (IWP)

Jazan, Saudi Arabia

1970 - Ongoing

InfrastructureWater

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Project Description

Approach Words: Efficiency, Integrated City, Sustainability

Public Policy Instruments:

The Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project (IWP) is a major development initiative located on the Red Sea coast, 137 kilometers north of Jazan.¹ It is one of the largest seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants in Saudi Arabia with a daily production capacity of 450,000 cubic meters.² The project was launched in January 2019 following the signing of the consortium contract.³

It envisions delivering a clean, fresh water to millions, using cutting edge technology to turn the sea into sustainable source of life for people.⁴ Shuqaiq 3 IWP aims at providing reliable water supply for 2 million people,⁵ strengthen water infrastructure for the Asir and Jizan regions,⁶ and deploy advanced reverse osmosis technology for seawater desalination. Operated under a 25-year Build-Own-Operate (BOO) contract with the Saudi Water Partnership Company,⁷ ⁸ the project plays a significant role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s water security strategy through public-private partnership (PPP).⁹

To implement these objectives, the Shuqaiq 3 IWP occupies an area of 111,000 square meters and integrates several key components:¹⁰ ¹¹

7,000 reverse osmosis pressure vessels for water treatment¹²
45,000 reverse osmosis membranes for the desalination process¹³
Electrical and power infrastructure for stable operations¹⁴
Intake and outfall systems for seawater processing¹⁵

The project integrates sustainability features like energy-efficient reverse osmosis systems,¹⁶ and incorporates advanced engineering standards, including 70,000 cubic meters of concrete, 503 kilometers of electrical wiring, and 4,481 tons of steel in the construction.¹⁷ During implementation, safety is prioritized, with a comprehensive management system ensuring the completion of two million man-hours without injuries.¹⁸

The project is managed and implemented by a consortium of Marubeni Corporation (lead developer), Abdul Latif Jameel, Acciona (EPC contractor), and Rawafid Alhadarah, with the Saudi Water Partnership Company serving as the offtaker.¹⁹

Implementation followed a structured timeline:

Phase 1 (2019): Contract signing in January and financial close in May respectively.²⁰ ²¹
Phase 2 (2019 – 2021): Construction phase with over 2,200 workers and major infrastructure works.²²
Phase 3 (2022): Commissioning and commercial operations achieved in January.²³

Now fully operational, Shuqaiq 3 IWP supplies reliable clean water to millions of residents across southern Saudi Arabia.²⁴

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

Endnotes

References

Saudi Water Partnership Company. (2017). ‘WEC Issues Request for Expressions of Interest for Shuqaiq Phase 3 Independent Water Project’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.swpc.sa/en/wec-issues-request-for-expressions-of-interest-for-shuqaiq-phase-3-independent-water-project/>
Saudi Water Partnership Company. ‘Shuqaiq 3 Project Profile’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.swpc.sa/en/company_wallet/shuqaiq-3/>
MEED. (2019). ‘Consortium signs contract for Saudi Arabia’s Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.meed.com/consortium-signs-contract-saudi-arabias-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
ACCIONA. (2024). ‘ACCIONA completes the construction of Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.acciona.com/updates/news/acciona-completes-construction-shuqaiq-3-desalination-plant-saudi-arabia>
Marubeni Corporation. (2022). ‘Commercial Operation of Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2022/release/00034.html>
ACCIONA. (2024). ‘ACCIONA completes the construction of Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.acciona.com/updates/news/acciona-completes-construction-shuqaiq-3-desalination-plant-saudi-arabia>
Saudi Water Partnership Company. ‘Shuqaiq 3 Project Profile’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.swpc.sa/en/company_wallet/shuqaiq-3/>
Almar Water Solutions. (2022). ‘Shuqaiq 3 – Desalination Plant’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://almarwater.com/pf/shuqaiq-3/>
KPMG. (2021). ‘Success factors for Public Private Partnerships in the water sector’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/sa/pdf/2021/swpc-partnership-final.pdf>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘New technology and ground-breaking engineering on display at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/new-technology-and-ground-breaking-engineering-on-display-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘Construction continues at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/construction-continues-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘New technology and ground-breaking engineering on display at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/new-technology-and-ground-breaking-engineering-on-display-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘New technology and ground-breaking engineering on display at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/new-technology-and-ground-breaking-engineering-on-display-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Saudi Gulf Projects. (2019). ‘Saudi Arabia’s Shuqaiq 3 IWP awarded to Developer’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.saudigulfprojects.com/2019/01/saudi-arabias-shuqaiq-3-iwp-awarded-to-developer/>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘New technology and ground-breaking engineering on display at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/new-technology-and-ground-breaking-engineering-on-display-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
ACCIONA. (2024). ‘ACCIONA starts operation and maintenance of Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.acciona.com/updates/articles/acciona-starts-operation-maintenance-shuqaiq-3-desalination-plant-saudi-arabia>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘Construction continues at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/construction-continues-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
ACCIONA Energia. ‘Construction of KSA SWPC’s Shuqaiq 3 IWP desalination plant achieves two million man-hours without injuries’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.acciona-energia.com/updates/news/construction-of-ksa-swpcs-shuqaiq-3-iwp-desalination-plant-achieves-two-million-man-hours-without-injuries>
Marubeni Corporation. (2022). ‘Commercial Operation of Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2022/release/00034.html>
KPMG. (2021). ‘Success factors for Public Private Partnerships in the water sector’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/sa/pdf/2021/swpc-partnership-final.pdf>
MEED. (2019). ‘Consortium signs contract for Saudi Arabia’s Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.meed.com/consortium-signs-contract-saudi-arabias-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘Construction continues at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/construction-continues-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Marubeni Corporation. (2022). ‘Commercial Operation of Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2022/release/00034.html>
ACCIONA. (2024). ‘ACCIONA completes the construction of Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.acciona.com/updates/news/acciona-completes-construction-shuqaiq-3-desalination-plant-saudi-arabia>
Saudi Water Partnership Company. ‘Shuqaiq 3 Project Profile’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.swpc.sa/en/company_wallet/shuqaiq-3/>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘New technology and ground-breaking engineering on display at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/new-technology-and-ground-breaking-engineering-on-display-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘Construction continues at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/construction-continues-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Marubeni Corporation. (2022). ‘Commercial Operation of Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2022/release/00034.html>
IDOM. (2025). ‘Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant (450000 m³/day)’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.idom.com/en/project/shuqaiq-3-water-desalination-plant-450000-m3-day/>
Saudi Water Partnership Company. ‘Shuqaiq 3 Project Profile’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.swpc.sa/en/company_wallet/shuqaiq-3/>
Marubeni Corporation. (2022). ‘Commercial Operation of Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2022/release/00034.html>
ACCIONA. (2024). ‘ACCIONA completes the construction of Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.acciona.com/updates/news/acciona-completes-construction-shuqaiq-3-desalination-plant-saudi-arabia>
ACCIONA. (2024). ‘ACCIONA starts operation and maintenance of Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.acciona.com/updates/articles/acciona-starts-operation-maintenance-shuqaiq-3-desalination-plant-saudi-arabia>
Abdul Latif Jameel. (2021). ‘Construction continues at Shuqaiq 3 IWP’. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://alj.com/en/news/construction-continues-at-shuqaiq-3-iwp/>
Marubeni Corporation. (2020). ‘Shuqaiq 3 IWP in Saudi Arabia and Maynilad Water Services’ Parañaque New Water Plant in the Philippines won the “Desalination Deal of the Year” at the Global Water Awards 2023′. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2020/info/00005.html>

Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project (IWP)

Jazan, Saudi Arabia

1970 - Ongoing

Project Description

Project Link, Endnotes and References

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