Executive Overview
The Muharraq Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of Bahrain’s most advanced sanitation and water reuse infrastructures, developed to improve wastewater management and support sustainable water resources in the Muharraq catchment area.
With a treatment capacity of 100,000 m³/day, the facility integrates a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant with an extensive sewer conveyance system. The project includes the first 16.5 km deep gravity sewer trunk pipeline in the GCC region, which collects wastewater across Muharraq Island and transports it to the treatment facility.
The plant serves a population of approximately 260,000 people, treating wastewater from residential areas as well as key infrastructure such as hospitals and Bahrain International Airport.
In a country facing extreme water stress, the project plays a critical role by enabling the production of high-quality reclaimed water for irrigation, industrial use and urban services, helping reduce pressure on scarce freshwater resources.
Contractual & Financial Structure
The Muharraq project was developed under a 29-year BOOT concession agreement, signed in 2011 with the Ministry of Works of Bahrain.
Under this public-private partnership model, the private sector was responsible for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the wastewater infrastructure, with transfer to the government at the end of the concession period in 2040.
Almar Water Solutions acquired a 35% participation in the project company in 2019, marking the company’s first infrastructure asset acquisition and strengthening its presence in long-term water PPP projects in the Middle East.