RAK to build wastewater plant to serve growing population

• Consortium to build sewage plant
• Recycled water to be used for irrigation
• Population expected to grow by 2030

Ras Al Khaimah has awarded a contract to develop a wastewater treatment plant amid forecasts of population growth and a surge in real estate development.

The plant will have a capacity of 60,000 cubic metres per day and will serve an expected population of 300,000.

The government has signed the long-term sewage treatment agreement with a consortium made up of state-backed utility service provider Etihad Water and Electricity, Taqa Water Solutions and Saur International.

The project, which will upgrade and expand the emirate’s wastewater infrastructure, will be the first public-private partnership in Ras Al Khaimah. 

Taqa Water Solutions will collect wastewater at the Ras Al Khaimah plant through a 6.3km gravity pipeline and distribute the recycled water via a network extending up to 26km, Ahmed Al Shamsi, CEO of Taqa Water Solutions, said in a statement.

The recycled water will be used primarily for irrigation and cooling, in line with the UAE’s 2030 vision, its net zero 2050 strategy and UN sustainable development goals, he said.

The cost and completion date for the project were not revealed.

Ras Al Khaimah’s property market came into 2026 in a rapid appreciation phase, underpinned by strong off-plan sales, sharp price gains for apartments and coastal masterplans. The ValuStrat index shows RAK residential capital values rising 15 percent year on year.

Further reading:

• State of the market: Property in Abu Dhabi and RAK
• Water, desert, mountains: Marjan CEO has grand plans for RAK
• Ras Al Khaimah apartments cost more than Dubai’s best

Between January and September last year 84 percent of residential sales were off-plan, totalling more than 4,100 units at an average price of AED2 million ($544,588). Only 776 ready homes were sold in the same period.

On Al Marjan Island, where casino developer Wynn is building a resort, values have gained significantly. Average prices have increased from about AED2,499 to over AED3,070 in two years, placing the district ahead of Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeirah per square foot.

RAK currently has a population of 400,000, according to official data.