What Mowah does

Mowah is a Riyadh-headquartered, privately-held infrastructure company founded in 2002 that develops, finances, owns, and operates water, wastewater, and renewable energy assets across Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. It operates through Public-Private Partnership models (BOO, BOOT, ROT, O&M) under 20-30 year concession agreements with government and large industrial clients, including the National Water Company, Saudi Aramco, NEOM, and Saudi Electricity Company. Its core technology stack centers on Reverse Osmosis desalination (SWRO/BWRO), sewage treatment, sludge management via solar drying, solar PV generation, and AI-powered asset management delivered through its Ciclo subsidiary.

The company's project portfolio includes the South Riyadh IWP (80,000 m³/day, operational since 2005), Yanbu-4 IWP (450,000 m³/day, COD April 2024), Dammam ISTP (200,000 m³/day, expandable to 350,000), and Jafurah IWP (80,000 m³/day, COD October 2025), plus 156 MW of solar PV capacity across Benban, Egypt and South Riyadh. Mowah generates revenue through long-term water purchase agreements, power purchase agreements, O&M service contracts, and equipment sales via its five wholly-owned subsidiaries: Sal United (project development), Nayyar Energy (renewable IPPs), Meqdam (O&M), Medrar (pipeline and sludge technology), and Ciclo (advanced water technology and digital solutions).

The company is controlled by the Al Rayes family, with Faisal Al Rayes serving as CEO and Managing Director since 2008 and Abdulaziz Al Rayes as Chairman. Mowah engaged advisors for a potential IPO in 2022 but remains privately held. It is strategically positioned to benefit from Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 water privatization agenda and has expanded into social infrastructure facility management and C&I private PPAs as adjacent growth vectors.

Name

Mowah

Legal name

Mowah

Website

https://mowah.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Mowah is a Saudi Arabia-based, privately-held infrastructure company that develops, finances, and operates water desalination, wastewater treatment, and solar energy assets under long-term PPP concessions with government and industrial clients across the MENA region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Desalination and Environmental Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Desalination Plant EPC, O&M & Performance Optimization (EUANAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Plants & Operations (EUANAFAA), Industrial Wastewater & Effluent Treatment Services (BPALAHAD), Construction Management & General Contracting (EPCM, Scheduling, QA/QC, HSE) (EUAMAFAJ)

Keywords

• Water desalination services
• Wastewater treatment solutions
• Renewable energy development
• Public-private partnerships
• Operations and maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects: Mowah develops and operates large-scale water, wastewater, and energy infrastructure under PPP models including Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT), Build-Own-Operate (BOO), and Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer (ROT) structures. Revenue is generated through long-term water purchase agreements, power purchase agreements, and concession contracts typically spanning 20-30 years.
2. Operations & Maintenance Services: Comprehensive O&M services for water treatment plants, desalination facilities, sewage treatment plants, transmission pipelines, distribution networks, and pumping stations. Revenue generated through service contracts with government entities and industrial clients.
3. Renewable Energy Development: Development of utility-scale Independent Power Plants (IPP) and solar projects for C&I clients through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Nayyar subsidiary develops and invests in solar photovoltaic projects with long-term private PPAs.
4. Technology Solutions & Equipment Supply: Ciclo subsidiary supplies water treatment technologies, equipment packages, and turnkey solutions. Revenue from equipment sales, technical support, and localized manufacturing of water desalination components.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Mowah develops, invests in, and operates large-scale water desalination, wastewater treatment, and renewable energy infrastructure through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models including BOO, BOOT, ROT, and O&M contracts. The company delivers end-to-end solutions spanning project development, financing, construction, and long-term operations for government utilities, industrial clients, and social infrastructure projects primarily in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. Its operations are organized through five wholly-owned subsidiaries covering project development (Sal United), energy (Nayyar), O&M (Meqdam), technology and equipment (Medrar, Ciclo).

Product overview

Mowah is a Saudi Arabia-based provider of integrated water, renewable energy, and environmental solutions, founded in 2002. Its offering is structured as a platform of subsidiaries delivering end-to-end services across the infrastructure lifecycle: Sal United handles project development and investment; Nayyar Energy develops solar IPPs and C&I power purchase agreements; Meqdam provides operations and maintenance services; Medrar supplies specialized water/wastewater technologies including sludge treatment equipment; and Ciclo delivers advanced technologies including AI-powered analytics and cloud-based asset management. Mowah's core projects include large-scale Independent Water Plants (IWPs) using Reverse Osmosis desalination, Independent Sewage Treatment Plants (ISTPs), and utility-scale solar PV installations, all delivered through PPP models (BOO, BOOT, ROT, O&M).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sal United (Project Development & Investment) A developer and investor arm of Mowah that specializes in large-scale water, environmental, social infrastructure, and general infrastructure projects, delivering them end-to-end (development, design, financing, build, operation, and maintenance) with capability in raising non-recourse project financing for government and large private clients.
• Nayyar Energy (Renewable Energy Development) Developer and investor focused on large and medium utility-scale Independent Power Projects (IPPs), Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar projects, and private Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for sustainable long-term energy delivery.
• Meqdam (Operations & Maintenance Services) Manages an extensive portfolio of O&M projects across water, environment, and energy sectors including RO plants, sewage treatment plants, wells, transmission pipelines, distribution networks, pumping stations, and facilities management for infrastructure and social infrastructure projects.
• Medrar (Water & Wastewater Equipment & Solutions) Specialized solutions provider for water, wastewater, and environmental sectors, offering expansion joints, pipeline connectors, cabling products, and wastewater sludge treatment solutions including thickening, dewatering belt presses, and solar sludge drying systems.
• Ciclo / Mowah Technology & Solutions (Advanced Water Technologies) Design and implementation of advanced water and wastewater technologies and solutions, spanning equipment supply, purification systems, sludge management, operational analytics, AI tools, and cloud-based asset management software for the MENA market.
• South Riyadh Independent Water Project (IWP) The first and largest private groundwater-based water treatment plant serving the Second Industrial City of Riyadh, utilizing Reverse Osmosis technology with 80,000 m³/day production capacity and 65 km of transmission lines, operated under a BOO model with a 30-year Water Purchase Agreement.
• Yanbu-4 Independent Water Plant (IWP) A seawater Reverse Osmosis desalination plant with 450,000 m³/day production capacity, including a 40 km water transmission pipeline, pumping and storage facilities, and 10 MW of solar PV, developed in partnership with Engie and Nesma under a Build and Transfer model.
• Jafurah Independent Water Plant (IWP) An 80,000 m³/day seawater Reverse Osmosis desalination plant with a 200 km water transmission and distribution network and associated electrical infrastructure, developed under a BOOT model as a Public-Private Partnership.
• Dammam Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP) The first independent sewage treatment project in Saudi Arabia implemented through a PPP under the BOOT model, with a current capacity of 200,000 m³/day expandable to 350,000 m³/day, serving the western region of Dammam.
• 150 MW Solar PV Portfolio (Benban, Egypt) Three solar photovoltaic plants of 50 MW each, totaling 150 MW, located in Benban, Egypt, managed through three SPVs (Subh, Sunrise, and Rising Sun) under 25-year Power Purchase Agreements with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company.

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• EngieflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Mowah partnered with Engie and Nesma for the Yanbu-4 IWP project. Engie is a global energy company and Nesma is a Saudi construction group. The partnership successfully achieved Commercial Operation Date in April 2024 for the 450,000 m³/day desalination plant.
• NesmaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Mowah partnered with Engie and Nesma for the Yanbu-4 IWP project. Nesma provided construction expertise as a Saudi-based construction group. The project reached Commercial Operation Date in April 2024.
• Al BawanicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Al Bawani is a major Saudi construction and infrastructure company. Mowah partnered with Al Bawani and Lamar Holding as Lead Developer for the Jafurah IWP Project. Financial close was achieved in September 2023.
• Lamar HoldingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Lamar Holding partnered with Mowah and Al Bawani as Lead Developer for the Jafurah IWP Project achieving financial close in September 2023.
• Microsoft DynamicscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2023Mowah partnered with Microsoft Dynamics in June 2023 for digital transformation initiatives. The partnership aims to implement Microsoft Dynamics solutions for enterprise resource planning and operational efficiency.
• MetitocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Metito Utilities, a global leader in sustainable water management, partnered with Mowah and Orascom on the Dammam ISTP project. The project was awarded in 2019 as the first independent sewage treatment initiative in Saudi Arabia under PPP/BOOT model.
• OrascomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Orascom Construction partnered with Mowah and Metito on the Dammam ISTP project. The project has capacity of 200,000 m³/day expandable to 350,000 m³/day.
• Bahrain Enara CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Nayyar subsidiary, Mowah secured 36.8% stake in Bahrain Enara Company which holds 50% stakes in three SPVs (Subh, Sunrise, Rising Sun) managing three 50 MW solar PV plants in Benban, Egypt.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Metito Utilities: MENA-based EPC and O&M specialist for desalination and wastewater — partnered with Mowah on Dammam ISTP and competes for adjacent Saudi water PPP opportunities.
• ACWA Power: Saudi-listed developer, owner and operator of power and desalination plants using the same BOO/BOOT/PPP model, with overlapping customers (NWC, SPPC) and RO/seawater project focus — Mowah's closest publicly traded comparable.
• Marafiq: Saudi independent water and power producer operating under IWPP/BOOT framework in Jubail and Yanbu, competing for the same Saudi mega-tenders with bundled power+water concessions.

Broad incumbents

• Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC): Saudi state-owned bulk water producer operating the largest seawater desalination fleet in the Kingdom — sets tariff benchmarks and is a counterparty/competitor for PPP bids.
• Veolia: Global water utility and services incumbent with operations across municipal and industrial water — competes for Saudi O&M and concession tenders via its Middle East platform.
• Engie: Global multi-utility with deep desalination and renewable energy operations; partnered with Mowah/Nesma on Yanbu-4 and competes for adjacent Saudi and MENA water concessions.
• Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: International water services and treatment specialist with established EPC and operational presence in the Gulf; overlaps with Mowah's Ciclo and Medrar technology portfolios.

Emerging players

• Almar Water Solutions: Middle East-focused water infrastructure developer and operator (part of Abdul Latif Jameel) — directly competes with Mowah for GCC desalination and wastewater BOOT concessions.
• Tedagua: Spanish EPC contractor specializing in seawater desalination and water treatment plants, active in the MENA region — competes for RO and sewage treatment projects at a similar scale to Mowah's EPC work.
• Doosan Enerbility: Korean EPC and OEM with significant desalination (RO) and power plant capabilities — engages as a bidder/partner on Saudi mega-tenders including those Mowah competes for.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mowah-water-treatment-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mowah