Dubai Electricity & Water (Dewa) has invited companies to submit proposals for the engineering consultancy contract for the emirate’s planned hydropower pumped storage project.

Consultants have until 1 February to submit bids for the 250MW hydroelectric pumped storage scheme. The project will be the first hydroelectric facility in the GCC.

The project will use water stored in the Hatta Dam, near the Oman border.

The existing Hatta Dam can store up to 1,716 million gallons of water. The project will involve the construction of an upper reservoir, which will be able to hold up to 880 million gallons. The upper reservoir will be located 300 metres above the dam level.

During off-peak hours, turbines will use solar energy to pump water from the dam to the upper reservoir.

The project will support the AED1.3bn ($354m) Hatta development plan, which was announced earlier in November. Under the plan, three main areas, including an economic and service zone, tourism and sports zone and a culture and education area, will be built in the Hatta area.

The Hatta development plan is part of the UAE’s 2021 Vision, launched in 2014.