RO 163 Million Water Projects in Al Sharqiyah: What This Means for Investors and Businesses in Oman
IBRA: Nama Water Services has successfully completed a strategic water transmission project valued at RO 120 million, which links North and South Al Sharqiyah. In addition, the company is executing supplementary projects exceeding RO 43 million to enhance supply security and expand network coverage.
These investments are part of a comprehensive initiative to develop an integrated water system that addresses population growth, urban expansion, and infrastructure development within North Al Sharqiyah Governorate.
The newly completed transmission project interconnects the water systems of South Al Sharqiyah, North Al Sharqiyah, and Al Dakhiliyah governorates, creating a more resilient and flexible network designed to meet increasing demand until 2050 and improve reliability during emergencies.
This system includes 17 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 265,000 cubic metres, strategically located in the wilayats of Al Qabil, Ibra, and Al Mudhaibi. It also features 312 kilometres of main transmission pipelines with diameters ranging from 600 mm to 1,300 mm, alongside four main pumping stations that ensure stable water pressure.
Nama Water Services stated that these projects aim to guarantee sustainable water supply across all wilayats in North Al Sharqiyah, enhance operational efficiency, reduce water losses, and extend services to remote communities. The company has also expanded distribution networks to accommodate the region’s dispersed population.
The first phase of a water connection project in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi has been completed and is now operational, delivering 13,836 connections in central Al Mudhaibi, the villages of Al Rawdah, Al Akhdar, Lazq, Khadra Bani Difa, and the Niabat of Samad Al Shan. The second phase, valued at over RO 15 million, is 35% complete and will add 4,065 connections. This phase covers Khadra Bani Difa, Al Khashbah, Al Sudayrah, Al Muntarib, Al Mutayli, Al Washahi, Al Wafi, Al Khurais, Al Tasawir, and Al Majazah, including 40 kilometres of transmission pipelines, 217 kilometres of distribution networks, a pumping station, and an elevated reservoir.
A separate project serving villages in Wadi Andam in Al Mudhaibi has been completed and operational, providing 1,229 connections across 10 villages through a RO 3.668 million initiative.
Further work is underway on the Al Jardah water pipeline in Al Mudhaibi and the Malah pipeline in the Wilayat of Dima Wa Al Taiyyin, with a combined budget exceeding RO 28 million. This project will establish an integrated transmission and distribution network comprising main and booster pumping stations, reservoirs with capacities up to 4,000 cubic metres, and water tanker filling stations. It will include 77.8 kilometres of main transmission pipelines and nearly 433 kilometres of distribution networks, ranging from 110 mm to 600 mm in diameter, along with one main pumping station and eight reservoirs with a total capacity of 34,000 cubic metres. The scheme is expected to provide more than 6,200 water connections to existing and future residences.
Nama Water Services is also implementing four packages of smaller development projects to extend potable water services to remote villages. The first package in the Wilayat of Ibra has been completed, supplying 100 connections in the villages of Al Mu’tarid and Al Qa’a at a cost of RO 168,570. The second package, also in Ibra, has been completed and offers 247 connections across seven villages. A third package, currently at the tendering stage, will add over 500 connections across the wilayats of Ibra, Al Qabil, Al Mudhaibi, and Wadi Bani Khalid. Tender preparations are underway for a fourth package covering villages in Ibra, Al Qabil, and Al Mudhaibi.
As part of its 2025-2026 water-loss reduction programme, Nama Water Services is rehabilitating network sections with high leakage. The plan includes replacing or rehabilitating 17,000 metres of pipelines in 2025 and another 6,500 metres in 2026. This effort aims to decrease water losses in North Al Sharqiyah from 37% in 2024 to 20% in 2025, and further down to 17% in 2026.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The RO 120 million water transmission project and additional investments by Nama Water Services mark a strategic leap in Oman’s infrastructure resilience and service expansion, crucial for accommodating population growth and urbanization in North Al Sharqiyah. For businesses, this translates into enhanced operational stability and new market opportunities in emerging communities, while smart investors should focus on sectors benefiting from improved water security and infrastructure, such as real estate, agriculture, and utilities. However, the ambitious water-loss reduction targets signal a clear shift towards sustainability and efficiency, underscoring both a risk and an opportunity for innovative water management technologies and services.
