Al Mudhaibi: The water distribution network project in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi, North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, affiliated with Nama Water Services, has been crowned with the Water Provision Initiative of the Year Award at the Asian Water Awards 2026 for the project to construct water distribution networks and house connections in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi – Phase One.
The recognition focused on an engineering experience that combined execution efficiency, financial discipline, and a broad developmental impact.
The project works were completed within the approved duration of 790 days without exceeding the contractual value of RO 65.25 million, despite the wide scope of works and diverse field challenges, reflecting the efficiency of managing an infrastructure project of this size and the coordination among the various stages of design, procurement, and execution.
Eng. Abdullah Salim Al Rasbi, CEO of the Development Projects Unit at Nama Water Services, said that the crowning of the Al Mudhaibi project reflects the development of institutional capabilities in managing strategic projects and confirms that the real value of investment lies not in its scale alone, but in the ability to turn it into reliable infrastructure, sustainable services, and developmental benefits that extend beyond the boundaries of the project to the community and economy.
He added that the project offered an advanced experience in resource management efficiency by applying the design, build, and finance model, achieving its targets within the contractual timeframe and without exceeding the approved value.
This performance embodies the importance of integration among planning, financing, and execution, alongside firm control over time and cost, thereby enhancing spending efficiency and establishing a result-oriented institutional approach.
The CEO of the Development Projects Unit at Nama Water Services pointed out that the company continues to develop its projects according to a vision aimed at enhancing infrastructure readiness, elevating supply reliability, and utilising contractual models that support investment sustainability and keep pace with future needs.
On the engineering level, the geographical and urban nature of the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi posed a challenge to the project teams, as network routes stretched across valleys (wadis) and old neighborhoods, intersecting with aflaj (traditional irrigation channels) and existing service networks. This required precise planning and extensive field coordination to ensure the execution of works while preserving the safety of the water heritage.
Eng. Ghalib Amer Al Musalami, Project Manager of the Water Networks Project in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi, stated that the nature of the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi imposed exceptional engineering challenges, including crossing wadis and highlands, working in areas crowded with existing services, and dealing with aflaj routes, their varying levels, and their intersections with new networks. This required a thorough study of site conditions, careful planning of works, and continuous field coordination to reach technical solutions that meet project requirements while simultaneously preserving the safety of the aflaj.
He added that what was achieved was not the product of engineering effort alone, but the fruit of integrating expertise and specialisations, the ability to adopt appropriate field solutions, and capitalising on local competencies and supporting companies, which contributed to enhancing local content (in-country value) and building expertise linked to executing infrastructure projects.
The project, which was executed by Towell Infrastructure Projects Company for Nama Water Services, represents one of the major projects for developing water distribution networks.
The total length of the networks reached approximately 892 kilometres to provide infrastructure for supplying around 15,000 homes with water and expanding the scope of services in beneficiary areas.
The project works covered Al Mudhaibi, Al Rawdah, Al Akhdar, Samad Al Shan, Lazaq, and Khadra Bani Dafa, contributing to enhancing the reliability of water supplies, supporting urban and economic development, and meeting the growing needs of local communities.
The project’s planning vision did not stop at present needs, but extended to forecasting future demand by designing a system capable of accommodating more than 154,000 residents by 2040, while contributing to reducing water loss and increasing distribution efficiency, thereby enhancing the long-term value of the investment.
The project was distinguished by adopting a contractual model combining design, build, and finance, under which the contractor financed the works during the execution period, with Nama Water Services settling the contract value over a five-year period starting after project delivery.
The importance of this model lies in distributing financial obligations over a specified period, providing flexibility in managing capital investments, and supporting the execution of infrastructure projects according to well-studied contractual arrangements.
Excellence in project execution was not limited to adhering to the approved timeline and budget, but extended to achieving advanced indicators in occupational safety, recording 3,476,992 work hours without lost-time injuries and with a zero frequency rate per million work hours, an achievement reflecting the level of commitment to occupational health and safety requirements and risk management during execution stages.
In terms of local content (in-country value), the project achieved an Omanization rate of approximately 25.97 percent and provided opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in execution works, supply chains, and supporting services. Relying on local services and facilities also contributed to expanding the project’s economic impact to include business owners and beneficiary communities.
The project’s contributions extended to the social domain by providing support to a number of schools, government entities, and local institutions, enhancing communication with beneficiary communities and adding a social dimension to the benefits of infrastructure investment.
Works included coordination with entities concerned with water supply to execute connection processes in phases and monitor network performance efficiency and household connection safety during the trial operation period, supporting system readiness and operational efficiency.
Extending these achievements, Nama Water Services continues to execute Phase Two of the water distribution network project in Al Mudhaibi, with investments amounting to approximately OMR15 million, to cover 11 villages not included in Phase One, where the completion rate has reached 45 percent.
This phase comes to complete the coverage scope in the wilayat, enhance network integration, and ensure readiness to keep pace with population growth and increasing demand for water services.
The Asian Water Awards are among the specialised platforms highlighting outstanding projects and initiatives in the water sector, focusing on experiences that contribute to developing infrastructure and enhancing service efficiency and sustainability.
With this recognition, the Al Mudhaibi project adds to the record of water projects in the Sultanate of Oman an experience that combined broad developmental impact, investment management efficiency, execution discipline, advanced occupational safety standards, and the capability to overcome engineering challenges while preserving the unique identity of the area.