Oman’s RO 11.1 Billion Water Investment Plan: Key Opportunities for Investors and Business Owners
MUSCAT, DEC 15 — Nama Water Services (NWS), the principal operator of water and wastewater services throughout Oman (excluding Dhofar), has announced a major long-term investment strategy totaling approximately RO 11.1 billion (around $28.8 billion) through 2050 to safeguard the nation’s water future. This expansive capital expenditure (CAPEX) plan aligns closely with Oman Vision 2040 and addresses the needs of a population expected to double within the next 25 years.
The Integrated Master Plan (IMP) seeks to achieve near-universal water supply coverage and significantly enhance wastewater treatment capacity across the NWS service area, which currently serves over 90% of Oman’s population. Eng Abdulhakeem bin Amur al Dhuhli, Master Planning and Strategic Investments Manager at Nama Water, revealed these details during the Water Majlis 2025 event hosted by the Oman-German Friendship Association (OGFA) in collaboration with Nama Water Services. The magnitude of this investment underscores the national emphasis on resilient infrastructure to support economic diversification and sustainable urban growth while ensuring equitable management of all water resources.
For the short term, NWS has allocated a substantial RO 666 million for its 2025-2027 CAPEX programme. This three-year budget dedicates RO 453.3 million to water projects and RO 212.7 million to wastewater infrastructure, encompassing over 225 combined projects—more than 113 focused on water supply and over 112 on wastewater treatment and network expansion.
The strategy is being executed through a structured approach that evaluates infrastructure needs against projected water demand and wastewater generation, steering investment plans that also explore Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
Near-term expansions are designed to significantly enhance service quality for both residents and businesses. The 2025-2027 water programme will add over 8,000 km of new networks, improving distribution and serving previously underserved areas. Additionally, 202 new reservoirs with a total capacity exceeding 1.8 million cubic metres, alongside 90 new pumping stations, will improve water transport efficiency. These improvements are expected to connect more than 162,000 new water consumers. Meanwhile, the wastewater programme includes building 28 new sewage treatment plants (STPs) of varying sizes and over 1,500 km of new sewer lines, benefiting over 42,000 new wastewater customers during this period.
Looking ahead to 2050, the Integrated Master Plan is designed to accommodate Oman’s projected population growth to approximately 9.2 million. The total investment of RO 11.1 billion will fund 410 projects, with the largest share—RO 7.2 billion—dedicated to modernizing and expanding wastewater infrastructure. The remaining funds are allocated as RO 2.0 billion for water projects and RO 1.8 billion for integrated water and wastewater initiatives. By 2050, the plan aims to support 1.75 million water connections, a 30,000 km water distribution network, 151 STPs, and 30,000 km of sewage lines.
A key goal of the master plan is to deliver world-class service coverage that meets or exceeds Oman Vision 2040 targets. Water supply coverage is projected to rise from the current 72.5% to nearly 96% by 2040. Wastewater coverage targets a more dramatic increase, from 29.2% to 75% by the same year.
Sustainability is central to the plan, with a strong focus on increasing the use of Treated Effluent (TE), a vital alternative water source. TE utilization is expected to grow from 50% to 71%. The projects will also enhance the country’s capacity for water production by Independent Water Producers (IWP) to 932 million cubic metres annually and ensure 6.6 million cubic metres of storage capacity by 2050.
Through this RO 11.1 billion commitment, Nama Water Services is undertaking a generational initiative to resolve current water challenges and establish lasting infrastructure for a water-secure, prosperous Oman well into the latter half of the century. The Integrated Master Plan marks a strategic shift towards sustainable water management and improved asset performance, positioning Oman as a regional leader in integrated water solutions.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
Nama Water Services’ RO 11.1 billion investment plan up to 2050 marks a transformative opportunity for Oman’s infrastructure and economic diversification, with a strong focus on expanding water and wastewater services to meet a rapidly growing population. For businesses and investors, this signals major opportunities in construction, technology, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) within the water sector, while also highlighting the critical importance of sustainable water resource management as a foundation for long-term growth. Smart entrepreneurs should prioritize innovations in water efficiency, treatment, and network expansion to leverage this unprecedented national commitment.
