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Doha West Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO)

Kuwait, Kuwait

2015 - Ongoing

Blue InfrastructureClean TechnologiesWater

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Project Description

Approach Words: Sustainability, Urban Livability

Public Policy Instruments: Infrastructure

The Doha West Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Project is a major desalination initiative located in the western coastal district of Doha, on the outskirts of Kuwait City.¹ ² The project was launched as part of the Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (Kuwait)’s strategy to increase freshwater supply and reduce reliance on groundwater or mixedtechnologies, thereby strengthening the nation’s strategic water reserve.³ ⁴

The vision of the project is “to produce highquality potable water through reverse osmosis technology, thereby enhancing Kuwait’s water security and supporting future industrial and residential expansion”. The plant aims to generate approximately 60 million imperial gallons of fresh water per day (≈ 273,000 m³/day) using advanced SWRO membranes and recarbonation and/or alkalinisation systems to meet potable standards.⁵ ⁶

To implement this vision, the project includes:

A largescale SWRO desalination facility with a capacity of 60 million imperial gallons per day.⁷
Intake and outfall infrastructure along the Arabian Gulf coast designed for seawater feed and controlled effluent discharge, minimising marine impact.⁸
Integration of the newly desalinated water into Kuwait’s national water transmission grid and storage reserves, thereby enhancing supply reliability for the Doha Greater Kuwait region. ⁹

The project emphasises sustainability by shifting toward energy efficient RO technology, viewed by the policy and technical planning documents as a more efficient alternative to traditional thermal desalination methods, and by planning modular scalability for increased future capacity.¹⁰ ¹¹

Owner/Developer (Public)

Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (Kuwait)¹⁹

Funder

Government of Kuwait ²⁰

Contractor/Implementer

HEISCO

Owner/Developer (Public)

Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (Kuwait)¹⁹

Contractor/Implementer

HEISCO

Funder

Government of Kuwait ²⁰

The project is being developed under a procurement model encompassing design, supply, installation, and operation and maintenance of the desalination plant, with contracts awarded through the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) and oversight by the State Audit Bureau (SAB).¹² ¹³ Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (Kuwait) and private contractors such as HEISCO and VA Tech Wabag Ltd., who were awarded the supply, erection, and O&M contract for the plant’s second phase.¹⁴ ¹⁵ The bid amounted to KD 114.3 million (~US$377 million), with implementation expected over eight years from the award date.¹⁶

Commercial operation is expected around 2026, following the contract award and preparatory works, thereby contributing to the country’s plan to align water infrastructure with its broader economic growth and infrastructure modernisation goals.¹⁷ ¹⁸

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

N.A.

Endnotes

N.A.

References

Arab Times. (2025, June 22). New desalination phase to boost Kuwait’s water reserves by 60 million gallons daily. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from <https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/new-desalination-phase-to-boost-kuwaits-water-reserves-by-60-million-gallons-daily/>
Times Kuwait. (2024, June 5). The Doha West desalination project will produce 60 million gallons a day. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://kuwaitlocal.com/news/the-doha-west-desalination-project-will-produce-60-million-gallons-a-day>
Arab Times. (2025, June 22). New desalination phase to boost Kuwait’s water reserves by 60 million gallons daily. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from <https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/new-desalination-phase-to-boost-kuwaits-water-reserves-by-60-million-gallons-daily/>
Times Kuwait. (2024, June 5). The Doha West desalination project will produce 60 million gallons a day. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://kuwaitlocal.com/news/the-doha-west-desalination-project-will-produce-60-million-gallons-a-day>
Times Kuwait. (2024, June 5). The Doha West desalination project will produce 60 million gallons a day. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://kuwaitlocal.com/news/the-doha-west-desalination-project-will-produce-60-million-gallons-a-day>
Arab Times. (2025, June 22). New desalination phase to boost Kuwait’s water reserves by 60 million gallons daily. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from <https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/new-desalination-phase-to-boost-kuwaits-water-reserves-by-60-million-gallons-daily/>
Arab Times. (2025, June 22). New desalination phase to boost Kuwait’s water reserves by 60 million gallons daily. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from <https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/new-desalination-phase-to-boost-kuwaits-water-reserves-by-60-million-gallons-daily/>
Veolia. (n.d.). Az Zour, Kuwait desalination plant recycles power station cooling water. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.watertechonline.com/process-water/article/16199439/az-zour-kuwait-desalination-plant-recycles-power-station-cooling-water>
Environment Public Authority (Kuwait). (2019, July). State of Kuwait: Second National Communication submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [PDF]. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://epa.gov.kw/Portals/0/PDF/StateOfKuwaitSecondEN.pdf>
Veolia. (n.d.). Az Zour, Kuwait desalination plant recycles power station cooling water. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.watertechonline.com/process-water/article/16199439/az-zour-kuwait-desalination-plant-recycles-power-station-cooling-water>
Abdullah, Y. M.; Al Ragom, F.; Alsayegh, O.; Al Adwani, S. A.; Khajah, M.; & Sreekanth, K. J. (2023). Kuwait Energy Outlook 2023: The Security Transition Nexus of Kuwait. Kuwait City: Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.kisr.edu.kw/media/filer_public/62/bb/62bb91a9-81da-4428-86ff-ab044317db93/keo_2023_-_english_10-12-2023.pdf>
Arab Times. (2025, June 22). New desalination phase to boost Kuwait’s water reserves by 60 million gallons daily. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from <https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/new-desalination-phase-to-boost-kuwaits-water-reserves-by-60-million-gallons-daily/>
MEED. (2025, October 29). Kuwait forms project company for Al Zour North expansion. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.meed.com/kuwait-forms-project-company-for-al-zour-north-expansion>
GulfBase.com. (2025, August 12). Heisco consortium lowest bidder for $377 m Kuwait water project. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://gulfbase.com/news/heisco-consortium-lowest-bidder-for-377m-kuwait-water-project/210201>
TradeArabia. (2025, October 3). Heisco consortium lowest bidder for $377m Kuwait water project. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.tradearabia.com/News/435597/Heisco-consortium-lowest-bidder-for-%24377m-Kuwait-water-project>
TradeArabia. (2025, August 11). Heisco consortium lowest bidder for $377 m Kuwait water project. Retrieved November 12, 2025, from <https://www.tradearabia.com/News/297511/Heisco-consortium-lowest-bidder-for-%24377m-Kuwait-water-project>
Arab Times. (2025, June 22). New desalination phase to boost Kuwait’s water reserves by 60 million gallons daily. Retrieved November 14, 2025, from <https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/new-desalination-phase-to-boost-kuwaits-water-reserves-by-60-million-gallons-daily/>
Times Kuwait. (2024, June 5). The Doha West desalination project will produce 60 million gallons a day. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://kuwaitlocal.com/news/the-doha-west-desalination-project-will-produce-60-million-gallons-a-day>
TradeArabia. (2025, October 3). Heisco consortium lowest bidder for $377m Kuwait water project. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.tradearabia.com/News/435597/Heisco-consortium-lowest-bidder-for-%24377m-Kuwait-water-project>
TradeArabia. (2025, October 3). Heisco consortium lowest bidder for $377m Kuwait water project. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.tradearabia.com/News/435597/Heisco-consortium-lowest-bidder-for-%24377m-Kuwait-water-project>
TradeArabia. (2025, October 3). Heisco consortium lowest bidder for $377m Kuwait water project. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from <https://www.tradearabia.com/News/435597/Heisco-consortium-lowest-bidder-for-%24377m-Kuwait-water-project>

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