Saur Wins A New Major Contract In The Middle East For Ras Al Khaimah's First Large-Scale Wastewater PPP Project (UAE)

The consortium composed of Etihad Water and Electricity (EWE), Saur and TAQA Solutions has signed a commercial agreement with the Ras Al Khaimah Wastewater Authority (RAKWA) for the development of the Emirate’s first large-scale public-private partnership (PPP) project. Structured under a DFBOMT model (Design, Finance, Build, Own, Operate, Maintain and Transfer), the project marks a decisive milestone in the Emirate’s transition strategy towards modern and sustainable water services.

This new commercial success in the Middle East highlights Saur’s ability to mobilize its best international expertise. It illustrates Saur’s capacity to act as a reference operator on large-scale wastewater projects in environments with high technical, contractual and operational requirements. It also confirms the robustness of the Group’s model in operating and maintaining complex infrastructure within long-term public-private partnerships.

Within the consortium, Saur will act as the reference shareholder and lead operator, responsible for operations and maintenance (O&M) throughout the duration of the concession.

This project fully aligns with Saur’s ESG roadmap, relying on low-carbon infrastructure firmly rooted in a circular economy approach:

• Renewable energy and decarbonization: the wastewater treatment plant will be powered by renewable energy, ensuring a low carbon footprint across the entire operational cycle;
• Circular performance: the facility will initially treat 60,000 m³ of wastewater per day, with a planned expansion to 150,000 m³. Priority will be given to the reuse of treated sewage effluent (TSE) for irrigation and industrial purposes, thereby reducing reliance on energy-intensive desalination;
• Integrated system: the contract covers not only the independent sewage treatment plant (ISTP), but also a complex network of gravity sewers, pumping stations and transmission facilities;
• Investment: the project represents an investment of approximately USD 300 million, dedicated to the development of high-performance, resilient treatment infrastructure designed to sustainably meet the region’s growing water needs while complying with the most demanding ESG standards.

Luis de Lope, President of Saur International, said: “We are honored to be involved in this structuring project for Ras Al Khaimah. This success, driven by the collaboration of our international teams, illustrates our commitment to building long-term partnerships based on environmental performance. RAKWA fully aligns with our vision of transforming wastewater into a valuable resource while minimizing the carbon footprint of our operations.”

A lever for Saur’s European ambitions
This project strengthens Saur’s position as a reference operator for major global metropolitan areas. Following recent successes in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, this new reference in the United Arab Emirates demonstrates the Group’s ability to manage integrated water systems where reliability and sustainability are critical. It also highlights the complementarity of Saur Group’s expertise, developed across several European markets, and now deployed on international projects with high technical and operational complexity.

About Saur
As the first water company to issue blue bonds in 2024, Saur is paving the way for the integration of environmental responsibility and financial innovation. The Group delivers high-quality services and smart water management solutions for all stakeholders—from small municipalities to major cities and industrial players— while protecting the environment.

Guided by its purpose, “advocating for restoring water to the value it deserves,” Saur serves 20 million consumers and works with 9,200 local authorities and industrial clients. In 2024, the Group generated revenues of over €2.3B and employed 12,000 people worldwide. Present in more than 25 countries, including Cyprus, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, Saur delivers essential services in drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment and smart water management for municipalities and industries. For more information, visit www.saur.com