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The Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority is pressing ahead with four projects to extend and modernise the natural gas network across the Central Region, the body said in an announcement carried by the Emirates News Agency. These initiatives, which carry a combined price tag of more than AED18.838 million, aim to serve growing residential, commercial and industrial needs while delivering safe, sustainable energy. SEWA has prioritised the Central Region as part of its long-term plan to roll out piped natural gas, a service it introduced as the first of its kind in the region for domestic, commercial and industrial applications.
The largest of the four schemes is the second phase of the main Al Bataeh gas pipeline extension, which will reach Al Dhaid while completing a loop around the Tal Al Zaafaran neighbourhood. According to SEWA, the 27-kilometre project is valued at AED7.73 million and has already achieved 70 percent completion. Engineers expect to finish the work by November 2026, the authority added.
SEWA has also completed much of the natural gas network development in Al Dhaid City that covers the Jebel Omar and Tal Al Zaafaran neighbourhoods. The authority’s figures show the AED5.25 million scheme spans 63,574 metres and will connect 286 buildings in Tal Al Zaafaran together with 164 buildings in Jebel Omar. Work on this package began earlier in 2026 and forms part of the current year’s expansion drive.
A third project will develop the gas network in Al Dhaid City’s Al Hisn 1 area at a cost of AED3.158 million over 30.3 kilometres. SEWA reported that teams are securing no-objection certificates from the relevant authorities before starting construction, with full completion targeted for the end of June 2027. This scheme will add further capacity in a rapidly developing residential zone.
The fourth initiative focuses on the Al Sweih area of Al Dhaid, where SEWA will invest AED2.7 million to lay 27 kilometres of network. The authority stated that this project is scheduled for completion by the end of July 2027 once approvals are in place. Combined, the four schemes will significantly widen access to piped natural gas across the Central Region.
Engineer Ibrahim Al Balghouni, Director of the Natural Gas Department at SEWA, explained that the projects rely on advanced technologies to maintain supply quality and adhere to the highest health and safety standards. Al Balghouni noted that SEWA has pursued similar expansions throughout the emirate, including a recently completed AED35 million integrated natural gas project in Dibba Al Hisn that featured a pumping station, 46 kilometres of pipeline and smart meters for 200 residential units. The authority’s broader gas programme supports Sharjah’s sustainability goals by promoting cleaner energy alternatives, according to SEWA data.
