In July 2019, The National reported that Acwa Power had announced commercial operation of the Shuaibah Expansion II reverse osmosis plant in Makkah province ahead of schedule. The plant produced 250,000 m³/day, cost $314 million and had been running since May. It was inaugurated by the provincial governor, Prince Khalid bin Faisal. According to the developer, the 21-month build set a record for large reverse osmosis plants. Operations were run entirely by Saudi teams.
The report showed how private developers in Saudi Arabia were shortening build times for large reverse osmosis plants, while the country also relied on local operating staff.
Source: The National