In December 2017, Arab News reported that Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) had signed a set of contracts for the Makkah region worth over SR9 billion ($2.4 billion). They covered phase 4 of Jeddah's reverse osmosis desalination at Shoaiba and a further plant at the Shoaiba site involving technology transfer and water purchase. Pipe supply, pumping stations and transmission lines were also included, linking Arafat with Taif, serving the Rabigh-Jeddah-Makkah system and reaching Turubah, Ranyah and Al-Khurma.
The report showed Saudi Arabia packaging new desalination capacity together with long transmission lines in a single round of contracts, aimed at reaching areas of the Makkah region without supply.
Source: Arab News