BEEAH and Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE), through its development and investment arm, have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to jointly operate and expand sewage treatment projects in Sharjah.
As part of the agreement, both parties will manage operations of existing treatment facilities to multiply processing capacity and develop all associated network infrastructure required to support seamless expansion.
Under the agreement, the partners will establish two dedicated companies to deliver and manage the expansion projects. A jointly owned project company, with BEEAH and EtihadWE’s development and investment arm each holding a 50 percent stake, will be responsible for project development and execution. A separate operations and maintenance company will oversee long-term asset management and service continuity, with EtihadWE’s arm holding a 60 percent stake and BEEAH retaining the remaining 40 percent.
Fahad Shehail CEO – Environment BEEAH Group
“Wastewater is becoming an increasingly important part of how cities manage resources efficiently. Our agreement with EtihadWE’s development arm reflects a more integrated approach to developing water infrastructure in the UAE, where waste management and water circularity can no longer operate as systems disparate from our primary supply networks. BEEAH looks forward to leading resilient, world-class wastewater treatment facilities that will continue to reliably serve Sharjah for generations to come.”
Eng. Yousif Ahmed Al Ali, CEO of Etihad Water and Electricity, and Chairman of its development and investment arm, said that, “This partnership marks an important step in our mission to advance essential infrastructure across the Northern Emirates, as demand for utility services rises and national priorities steer commitments toward sustainable development. By working with BEEAH, we are strengthening a strategic project in Sharjah that will enhance utility readiness, support sustainable growth, and contribute to the targets of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.”
The JDA aligns with the UAE’s accelerated efforts to increase treated wastewater reuse to 95 percent by 2036. As the nation transitions away from reliance on desalinated water and finite groundwater resources, key circularity projects are focusing on recycling treated wastewater for non-potable uses such as landscaping, irrigation, and cooling, moving beyond safe discharge commitments toward higher-value reuse applications and improved water efficiency.
The agreement leverages the specialized capabilities of both partners. BEEAH’s Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant at its integrated Waste Management Complex in Sharjah processes up to 350 cubic meters of industrial wastewater per day using a combination of physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes, producing water certified for safe landscape irrigation and discharge.
Etihad Water and Electricity’s development and investment arm brings its expertise in delivering major water infrastructure projects across the Northern Emirates, including its recent $284 million (AED 1.046 billion) engineering, procurement, and construction agreement to develop the Fujairah 1 desalination plant, as per the statement.
