01
Executive overview
Key findings
About SAR 4.6 billion (calculated): three National Water Company (NWC) Central Cluster capital rounds, 96 projects, May 2024 to April 2025
685,000 m³ a day: Riyadh–Qassim water transmission pipeline, estimated at about US$2 billion; preferred bidder named December 2025, no financial close announced by 7 November 2026
200,000 m³ a day: Al-Haer sewage treatment plant, SAR 1.8 billion or SAR 1.5 billion depending on source; commercial operation targeted for the end of 2026
Five bids: Riyadh East sewage treatment plant, 200,000 m³ a day, received 28 September 2026; commercial operation targeted for 2030
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Civil, network and EPC contractors
Use the construction and procurement tables to plan bids around NWC's Central Cluster rounds, which in April 2025 alone covered 1,955 km of lines, and around SHARAKAT plants such as Al-Haer, whose EPC contract was US$371 million.
Water and wastewater plant operators
Prepare for LTOM16, the Central Cluster package of 14 plants and 153,000 m³ a day under its original scope, with letters of intent due on 22 February 2027 and bids on 3 May 2027.
Project developers and lenders
Track the Riyadh–Qassim transmission line from its December 2025 preferred bidder to financial close, and the Riyadh East plant, estimated at about US$150 million, from five bids to award.
Equipment suppliers and advisers
Size local-content opportunities against SAR 2.8 billion committed across six localisation opportunities, and follow NWC's concession programme, whose advisers were planned to start in Q3 2026.
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Decision scope
Questions answered
How much is NWC spending directly on Riyadh's networks?
Three Central Cluster rounds between May 2024 and April 2025 total about SAR 4.6 billion across 96 projects; no completion date has been published.
Has the Riyadh–Qassim transmission line reached financial close?
No. A preferred bidder was named on 23 December 2025 and MEED reported in July 2026 that close had been tipped for that quarter, but none had been announced by 7 November 2026.
When will the Al-Haer sewage plant start operating?
SHARAKAT said in April 2026 that the 200,000 m³ a day plant was on track for commercial operation by the end of 2026; a February 2025 contractor report gave Q3 2027.
What private operating contracts are already in force?
A SAR 358 million management contract for distribution and long-term treatment contracts of SAR 1.62 billion and SAR 2.18 billion, about SAR 4.16 billion in total.
Is there a single capital total for Riyadh?
No. The largest Riyadh-specific allocation published is more than SAR 14.19 billion for 240 projects in NWC's August 2022 package.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Snapshot
1. Why This Matters Now in Riyadh
2. Current Position
3. Key Programmes, Projects and Investment
4. Policy, Regulation and Institutions
5. Risks and Constraints
6. Strategic Implications
7. What to Watch
Source Register
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Public preview
What to watch next
3.4 Private operation contracts in force
Al-Haer's commercial operation notice; Riyadh–Qassim financial close; a Riyadh East preferred bidder; issue of the Riyadh North tender; a fourth NWC Central Cluster round.
4. Policy, Regulation and Institutions
First 2027 billing results; any SWA statement of the 2027 deficit; the appointment of NWC's concession advisers.
5. Risks and Constraints
Any change to the Ministry of Finance deficit model; a published NWC annual report; reconciled figures for Al-Haer and Riyadh–Qassim at financial close or commissioning.
6. Strategic Implications
The make-up of the winning Riyadh East consortium; whether the Riyadh–Qassim close brings in international lenders; whether LTOM16 draws bidders from outside the current operator group.
Section 3: Riyadh water projects in procurement and the private operation contracts in force, with owners, values, capacities and dates.
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Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 13 pages, 9 sections, 12 tables and a register of 29 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
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Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The report draws on the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture's Statistical Book 2024, National Water Company and SHARAKAT announcements and presentations, Saudi Water Authority statements and service guide, Riyadh Municipality releases, company disclosures reported by Argaam, and MEED, Zawya and Smart Water Magazine project reporting, with project and tariff status checked to 7 November 2026.
Sources
29 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 7 November 2026. Principal data periods: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture Statistical Book 2024 (reference year 2024); project announcements May 2024 to November 2026; National Water Company indicators to March 2026; project, procurement and tariff status checked to 7 November 2026. Currency is the Saudi riyal (SAR); US dollar figures are shown where sources publish them..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
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Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
09
Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
10
Water Infrastructure Investment and Project Pipeline in Riyadh
- Format
- Length
- 13 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 249
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Insight Brief
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 13 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_WATER_INFRASTRUCTURE_INVESTMENT_AND_PROJECT_PIPELINE_IN_RIYADH_217a279d86bc
- Evidence current to
- 7 November 2026
14
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