The Government has recently revoked three land leases granted to Blue Waters Products Ltd, igniting a police investigation into the transactions surrounding 450 acres of land on Orange Grove Estate. This move came after the Minister of Lands and Legal Affairs informed Dominic Hadeed, Blue Waters’ founder, of the Cabinet’s decision on May 5, 2026.
The heart of the controversy lies in the prime agricultural land initially leased to French spirits giant Pernod Ricard in 1995. Blue Waters took over the local holdings of Pernod Ricard in 2007. Following this acquisition, Hadeed reportedly initiated discussions with relevant state agencies regarding agricultural and commercial leases.
According to an affidavit prepared by former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi, these negotiations spanned 19 years and were carried over by four administrations. In the meantime, Blue Waters continued to occupy the property and invest in its development, banking on promises that formal leases would be granted.
Records show that the Commissioner of State Lands issued an offer letter on September 26, 2022, which Blue Waters accepted a few weeks later on October 14. The company fulfilled its financial obligations by paying the full premium and processing fees by September 7, 2023. Despite these payments, the leases were never formalised, culminating in the recent revocation and subsequent police investigation.
