Gorontalopost, GORONTALO - The visit of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador Abdulla Salem Aldhaheri to Gorontalo is opening up new opportunities in the infrastructure and energy sectors.
On the second day of his working visit, Abdulla personally inspected the construction of the Bulango Ulu Dam in Bone Bolango Regency on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).
The dam, which is included in the list of national strategic projects, has been under
construction since 2019. The project is currently targeted for completion in 2026 and
will serve several important functions for the people of Gorontalo.
While observing the construction progress firsthand, Abdulla expressed his appreciation for the project's development. He even highlighted the potential for UAE-based companies to contribute to maximizing the benefits of the dam.
“We have visited and seen the construction of this dam firsthand. I am impressed and pleased to see the progress of the work.
To provide added value for Gorontalo, we will collaborate through UAE companies such as Masdar to contribute to this project,”explained Abdulla.
Masdar is one of the companies potentially involved in this collaboration.
This Abu Dhabi-based firm is a UAE-owned renewable energy company that develops various clean energy projects such as solar, wind, and green hydrogen across more than 40 countries.
The Bulango Ulu Dam has a water storage capacity of 93.549 million cubic meters
and an inundation area covering 549.11 hectares.
Given this scale, the dam is projected to become a vital piece of infrastructure in supporting the water needs and economic activities of the Gorontalo community.
In terms of benefits, the Bulango Ulu Dam will provide a source of clean water
for approximately 880,000 people.
Additionally, the project has the potential to generate around 80 megawatts of electricity and support irrigation systems for approximately 5,000 hectares of rice fields.
Beyond the water and energy sectors, the dam area also presents opportunities for development into a tourism destination.
This potential further expands the scope for collaboration that can be explored between Gorontalo and the UAE.
Abdulla’s visit is part of an ongoing effort to explore cooperative opportunities
between the UAE and Gorontalo Province. Previously, various sectoral opportunities
had been discussed, including renewable energy and investment.
During the site visit to the Bulango Ulu Dam, Abdulla was accompanied by Gorontalo Provincial Secretary Sofian Ibrahim, Head of the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) Wahyudin Katili,
and Head of the Public Works and SpatialPlanning Agency (PUPR) Aries Ardianto. The delegation was welcomed by Ali Rahmat, Head of the Sulawesi II River Basin Organization (BWS) in Gorontalo.
If this collaboration moves forward, the Bulango Ulu Dam will not only serve as a
strategic infrastructure project for Gorontalo but also potentially act as a gateway
for UAE investment in the clean energy sector and new economic development
within the region. (Mg-02)