Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

"Helping a Growing City Expand"

What's the most effective way for rapidly growing United Arab Emirates to deal with critical water issues?

MWH is helping this Middle Eastern country tackle that challenge in Abu Dhabi. The effort is part of a capital works program valued in excess of $400 million.

With more than one million people, Abu Dhabi is the largest of seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates.

The urban center, Abu Dhabi City, serves as the nation's capital. Situated on the edge of the Arabian Gulf, the area is known for its startling green oasis and warm evening breezes — not to mention its rapid expansion.

Significant oil wealth is funding a government drive to provide high quality housing for all Abu Dhabi's citizens. Two new population centers are developing — Khalifa City B and Baniyas/Shawemekh — from what began as 46 square miles of empty desert.

Proprietary Software

For the Abu Dhabi Municipality, MWH is designing and building sewerage, surface-water drainage and irrigation infrastructure for these two desert communities.

MWH is applying proprietary Sewerage Design Manager software for much of the design work. The software package designs sewer systems, produces drawings and calculates quantities automatically.

This advanced technology has come in handy on the complex project.

A key challenge has been the construction of a $16 million trunk server. It consists of 7.5 kilometers of 1400-1800 mm-diameter concrete-encased GRP pipe. The pipe was installed by microtunneling at depths approaching 14.5 meters.