Design of the new Al Jubail SWRO Desalination Plant in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia

Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) is constructing phase 2 of its existing desalination plant within the Eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al Jubail. Ayesa was appointed by Al Hassanain Co. through an EPC contract to deliver the detailed design for the marine works package including the intake and outfall pipelines and all associated structures.

Jubail Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant (SWRO), a continuation of the Al Fatah Water and Power project located in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, is designed to extract 20,000m³ of filtered water per day via an intake structure from beach wells. Al Hassanain Co. (AHC) commissioned Ayesa to review an initial concept design carried out by others and to optimise the detailed design for the intake pipelines and the outfall pipeline.

Ayesa worked as Al Hassanain Co. engineering designer. Our scope included detailed analysis of the hydraulic modelling, on-bottom stability, pipe stress calculations, structural design of reinforced concrete anchor block collars and intake tower, outfall diffuser design, battery limit connections and constructability assessments. Within the design, Ayesa delivered reporting for each design item as well as IFC drawings which included all reinforced concrete rebar scheduling.

Ayesa’s multidisciplinary design played a crucial role in the development of significant infrastructure, featuring HDPE pipelines with diameters of 3.0m for the intake and 2.8m for the outfall. Ayesa collaborated closely with Al Hassanain Co. to incorporate their material preferences into the design, supporting the client’s procurement programme. The design also aligned with Al Hassanain Co.’s construction methodology, including lifting and casting sequences, and provided construction assistance with pipe pull-out requirements and sinking methodologies. Ayesa’s design engineers in the Middle East were well-positioned to mobilise for the project, attend design workshops and meetings, and conduct site visits as needed. This hands-on approach ensured a high level of service for our client, Al Hassanain Co., and the employer, SWCC.