Sharjah continues to invest heavily in long-term infrastructure that protects the city, supports urban growth, and improves environmental sustainability. One of the most strategic projects currently shaping the emirate’s future is the Stormwater and Groundwater Main Line Project, a major underground drainage system designed to transform how excess water is managed across key parts of the city.

Led by Sharjah Municipality and Al Marwan Construct, with the full support of Al Marwan Machinery’s heavy equipment fleet and technical capabilities, this project is not simply another utility installation. It is a large-scale engineering solution built to protect communities, reduce flood risks, and strengthen Sharjah’s infrastructure resilience for decades to come.

With 4.9 kilometers of underground pipeline, advanced pipe jacking construction, massive 3,000 mm diameter pipes, and direct discharge to the sea, this project represents one of the most technically demanding drainage developments in the region.

Why This Project Matters for Sharjah

Urban development across Sharjah continues to expand rapidly, increasing the need for stronger stormwater and groundwater management systems.

Heavy rainfall events, groundwater accumulation, and urban runoff can create serious challenges for roads, utilities, residential zones, and industrial areas. Traditional drainage systems often struggle to keep pace with modern urban density.

This new main line addresses that challenge directly.

The project is designed to serve four major areas across approximately 3,912 hectares, creating a much stronger drainage backbone that improves flood prevention and groundwater control across a large section of the emirate.

Its purpose is clear: move stormwater and groundwater safely and efficiently away from urban zones and discharge it directly to the sea through a dedicated main line system. Sharjah, as the UAE’s third-largest emirate and one of its major industrial and residential hubs, continues to prioritize infrastructure that supports long-term sustainability and urban resilience.

Project Scope and Technical Specifications

The scale of the project reflects its strategic importance.

The main scope includes:

• 4.9 kilometers of underground pipeline
• 3,000 mm pipeline diameter
• Installation depths ranging from 13 to 20 meters underground
• Coverage across four major service areas
• Total drainage coverage of 3,912 hectares
• Direct discharge outlet to the sea
• Expected project completion by February 2027

Unlike conventional open trench excavation, this project uses pipe jacking and tubular drilling methods, allowing construction to proceed deep underground with minimal disruption to surrounding roads, utilities, and urban activity.

This is especially critical in highly developed city zones where surface disruption must be minimized.

Pipe jacking is one of the most advanced trenchless construction methods used in major infrastructure projects worldwide. It enables precise underground pipeline installation while maintaining operational continuity above ground.

Why Pipe Jacking Was the Right Choice

A pipeline with a 3-meter internal diameter installed at depths reaching 20 meters requires a highly specialized construction approach.

Traditional excavation would cause major traffic disruption, utility relocation challenges, environmental complications, and significantly higher operational risks.

Pipe jacking solves this. This method allows large concrete pipes to be hydraulically pushed underground from one shaft to another, reducing excavation zones and protecting surrounding infrastructure.

Its advantages include:

• less disruption to roads and traffic
• safer deep installation works
• better control over groundwater conditions
• higher precision for long-distance alignment
• reduced environmental impact
• faster execution in dense urban zones

For a city like Sharjah, where urban continuity is essential, trenchless construction becomes the smarter and safer solution.

Infrastructure That Builds the Future

The strongest cities are often built underground.

Stormwater systems, groundwater control networks, and utility corridors may not be visible, but they play a critical role in protecting cities, supporting urban expansion, and improving long-term resilience.

Sharjah’s Stormwater and Groundwater Main Line Project is a strong example of strategic infrastructure investment, designed not only to solve today’s drainage challenges, but to prepare the emirate for future growth and extreme weather events.

Al Marwan has already demonstrated its leadership in this field during the major flood relief operations following the Al Hadir storm in Sharjah in 2024, and more recently during Munkhafad Al Azm, where rapid heavy equipment deployment, dewatering support, and emergency site response played a key role in restoring affected areas and protecting infrastructure.

Today, with Al Marwan Construct leading the execution of this major main line project and Al Marwan Machinery providing the heavy equipment strength behind it, the company continues to support Sharjah’s long-term infrastructure vision through precision, reliability, and real project expertise.