In a significant step towards regional energy integration, the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) has announced a major electrical expansion project that will connect the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with Saudi Arabia. The project, unveiled during a ceremony at the GCCIA headquarters in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, includes the construction of a 96-kilometer, double-circuit 400 kV overhead line linking the Al Sila station in the UAE to the Salwa station in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, three main stations—Ghunan, Al Sila, and Salwa—will undergo expansion to enhance the region’s electrical infrastructure. The project is part of a broader initiative to strengthen the GCC’s electrical interconnection network, improve energy security, and support the transition to clean energy. Scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025, the project is expected to be operational by the end of 2027. The expansion will also include the installation of advanced conversion equipment, such as circuit breakers, electrical reactors, and protection systems, to boost the reliability and efficiency of the Gulf’s electrical network. Furthermore, the project will feature a 530-kilometer 400 kV power line connecting the Al Sila station in the UAE to the Ibri station in Oman, along with the construction of two new transmission stations in Oman’s Ibri and the UAE’s Al Baynunah areas. A dynamic compensator station (STATCOM) will also be installed to enhance network stability and increase transmission capacity to 1,600 megawatts. This ambitious initiative is expected to yield substantial economic and environmental benefits, including reduced operating costs, improved energy trading capabilities, and lower carbon emissions, aligning with the GCC’s sustainability goals.
New overhead line to connect UAE with Saudi Arabia in GCC’s new electrical expansion project
