WJ Saudi has been selected to carry out dewatering works for one of Saudi Arabia’s megaprojects – the Jeddah Canal, part of the MARAFY waterfront development by ROSHN.
Once completed, the 11-kilometer-long canal will connect the new development to the Red Sea via Obhur Creek, enhancing Jeddah’s landscape and waterfront experience. The first phase of the project, covering a 2.5km section of the canal, has been awarded to WJ by PC Marine. WJ has been involved from the early stages, assisting in optimizing the dewatering system design to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
According to ROSHN, MARAFY will feature an 11km canal waterfront, surrounded by luxury outlets, gourmet restaurants, lush gardens, and open spaces. The development will include residential, commercial, and retail spaces, adding new attractions to Jeddah and further enhancing its status as a vibrant and modern city.
The overall project is led by ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading multi-asset class real estate developer and a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, playing a key role in Saudi Vision 2030. You can learn more about ROSHN’s initiatives by visiting their website: ROSHN.
WJ Saudi commenced work on-site at the end of 2024, with the dewatering for the first phase expected to run over two years. WJ has significant experience dewatering large-scale canal projects throughout the Middle East, including the Dubai Canal.
For the Dubai Canal project, WJ designed, installed, and operated the dewatering system for the Main Contractor, Besix, on behalf of Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). This 3km canal extension connected Business Bay to the sea, requiring deepwell dewatering to control the groundwater table. Water was discharged via large-diameter HDPE pipes into the sea.
We caught up with WJ Saudi’s Regional Director, Oliver Vincent, who shared his thoughts on this milestone project:
“We welcome the opportunity to work with PC Marine and ROSHN on this incredible project. WJ has a long history of supporting clients in canal construction, and this latest infrastructure development aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver well-engineered dewatering and pumping solutions to the Kingdom. One of my first projects in the Middle East back in 2014 was the Dubai Canal extension, and it was great to be part of a project that has had such a positive impact on a city. I look forward to seeing a similar impact in Jeddah in the coming years.”
“From a personal point, my background in Geology and Geotechnics makes the Jeddah Canal project particularly fascinating. The variable ground conditions along the Jeddah Canal present unique dewatering challenges, providing a great opportunity for WJ to showcase its expertise and range of dewatering solutions”.
At the early pre-construction stage, WJ compiled comprehensive site investigation data and developed a conceptual dewatering model. This model was refined and updated after completing pumping tests and 3D computer modelling to ensure an optimized design.
The dewatering system has been carefully engineered, including:
This level of engineering provides cost savings, reliability, and confidence for our client, aligning with WJ’s commitment to delivering safe, well-engineered, and cost-effective dewatering solutions.
WJ Saudi is proud to be part of this landmark infrastructure project and looks forward to working closely with PC Marine and ROSHN to bring the Jeddah Canal to life.
WJ Saudi has completed similar groundwater management projects in the UK and globally. Click on the links below to learn more about what we do.
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