diff --git a/external/mdal/api/mdal.h b/external/mdal/api/mdal.h
index 305e4d5630b8..df91756e1474 100644
--- a/external/mdal/api/mdal.h
+++ b/external/mdal/api/mdal.h
@@ -442,6 +442,14 @@ MDAL_EXPORT MDAL_DatasetGroupH MDAL_M_addDatasetGroup(
   MDAL_DriverH driver,
   const char *datasetGroupFile );
 
+/**
+ * Removes DatasetGroup from Mesh based on it's index. On error see MDAL_LastStatus
+ * for error type.
+ *
+ * \since MDAL 1.3.0
+ */
+MDAL_EXPORT void MDAL_M_RemoveDatasetGroup( MDAL_MeshH mesh, int index );
+
 /**
  * Returns name of MDAL driver
  * not thread-safe and valid only till next call
@@ -587,6 +595,13 @@ MDAL_EXPORT void MDAL_G_setMetadata( MDAL_DatasetGroupH group, const char *key,
  */
 MDAL_EXPORT const char *MDAL_G_name( MDAL_DatasetGroupH group );
 
+/**
+ * Sets dataset group name
+ *
+ * \since MDAL 1.3.0
+ */
+MDAL_EXPORT void MDAL_G_setName( MDAL_DatasetGroupH group, const char *name );
+
 /**
  * Returns name of MDAL driver
  * not thread-safe and valid only till next call
diff --git a/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_2dm.cpp b/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_2dm.cpp
index 35b73bfb0034..243cb12c403e 100644
--- a/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_2dm.cpp
+++ b/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_2dm.cpp
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ void MDAL::Driver2dm::save( const std::string &fileName, const std::string &, MD
     for ( size_t j = 0; j < 2; ++j )
     {
       line.append( " " );
-      line.append( MDAL::coordinateToString( vertex[j] ) );
+      line.append( MDAL::doubleToString( vertex[j], 8, true ) );
     }
     line.append( " " );
     line.append( MDAL::doubleToString( vertex[2] ) );
diff --git a/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.cpp b/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.cpp
index c09d5fa0e557..b2b5583fc835 100644
--- a/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.cpp
+++ b/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.cpp
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ size_t MDAL::XmdfDataset::activeData( size_t indexStart, size_t count, int *buff
 MDAL::DriverXmdf::DriverXmdf()
   : Driver( "XMDF",
             "TUFLOW XMDF",
-            "*.xmdf",
-            Capability::ReadDatasets )
+            "*.xmdf;;*.h5",
+            Capability::ReadDatasets | Capability::ReadMesh )
 {
 }
 
@@ -206,6 +206,17 @@ void MDAL::DriverXmdf::addDatasetGroupsFromXmdfGroup( DatasetGroups &groups,
     size_t vertexCount,
     size_t faceCount ) const
 {
+  // check if this root group can be loaded as a dataset group and if so, then load it
+  std::vector<std::string> gDataNames = rootGroup.datasets();
+  if ( MDAL::contains( gDataNames, "Times" ) &&
+       MDAL::contains( gDataNames, "Values" ) &&
+       MDAL::contains( gDataNames, "Mins" ) &&
+       MDAL::contains( gDataNames, "Maxs" ) )
+  {
+    std::shared_ptr<DatasetGroup> ds = readXmdfGroupAsDatasetGroup( rootGroup, rootGroup.name() + nameSuffix, vertexCount, faceCount );
+    groups.push_back( ds );
+  }
+
   for ( const std::string &groupName : rootGroup.groups() )
   {
     HdfGroup g = rootGroup.group( groupName );
@@ -331,3 +342,241 @@ std::shared_ptr<MDAL::DatasetGroup> MDAL::DriverXmdf::readXmdfGroupAsDatasetGrou
 
   return group;
 }
+
+bool MDAL::DriverXmdf::canReadMesh( const std::string &uri )
+{
+  HdfFile file( uri, HdfFile::ReadOnly );
+  if ( !file.isValid() )
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  HdfDataset dsFileType = file.dataset( "/File Type" );
+  if ( dsFileType.readString() != "Xmdf" )
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<std::string> meshPaths = meshGroupPaths( file );
+
+  return !meshPaths.empty();
+}
+
+std::string MDAL::DriverXmdf::buildUri( const std::string &meshFile )
+{
+  mDatFile = meshFile;
+
+  std::vector<std::string> meshNames = findMeshesNames();
+
+  return MDAL::buildAndMergeMeshUris( meshFile, meshNames, name() );
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> MDAL::DriverXmdf::findMeshesNames() const
+{
+  std::vector<std::string> meshesInFile;
+
+  HdfFile file( mDatFile, HdfFile::ReadOnly );
+  if ( !file.isValid() )
+  {
+    return meshesInFile;
+  }
+
+  meshesInFile = meshGroupPaths( file );
+
+  return meshesInFile;
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> MDAL::DriverXmdf::meshGroupPaths( const HdfFile &file ) const
+{
+  std::vector<std::string> meshPaths;
+
+  std::vector<std::string> rootGroups = file.groups();
+
+  for ( const std::string &groupName : rootGroups )
+  {
+    HdfGroup g = file.group( groupName );
+    std::vector<std::string> paths = meshGroupPaths( g );
+    meshPaths.insert( meshPaths.end(), paths.begin(), paths.end() );
+  }
+
+  return meshPaths;
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> MDAL::DriverXmdf::meshGroupPaths( const HdfGroup &group ) const
+{
+  std::vector<std::string> meshPaths;
+
+  std::vector<std::string> gDataNames = group.groups();
+
+  if ( MDAL::contains( gDataNames, "Nodes" ) ||
+       MDAL::contains( gDataNames, "Elements" ) )
+  {
+    meshPaths.push_back( group.name() );
+  }
+
+  for ( const std::string &groupName : gDataNames )
+  {
+    HdfGroup g = group.group( groupName );
+    std::vector<std::string> paths = meshGroupPaths( g );
+    meshPaths.insert( meshPaths.end(), paths.begin(), paths.end() );
+  }
+
+  return meshPaths;
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr< MDAL::Mesh > MDAL::DriverXmdf::load( const std::string &meshFile, const std::string &meshName )
+{
+  mDatFile = meshFile;
+
+  MDAL::Log::resetLastStatus();
+
+  HdfFile file( mDatFile, HdfFile::ReadOnly );
+  if ( !file.isValid() )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_UnknownFormat, name(), "File " + mDatFile + " is not valid" );
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  HdfDataset dsFileType = file.dataset( "/File Type" );
+  if ( dsFileType.readString() != "Xmdf" )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_UnknownFormat, name(), "Unknown dataset file type" );
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<std::string> meshNames = findMeshesNames();
+
+  if ( meshNames.empty() )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_IncompatibleMesh, name(), "No meshes found in file " + mDatFile );
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  std::string meshNameToLoad = meshName;
+
+  if ( meshNameToLoad.empty() )
+  {
+    meshNameToLoad = meshNames[0];
+  }
+
+  if ( !MDAL::contains( meshNames, meshNameToLoad ) )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_IncompatibleMesh, name(), "No meshes with name " + meshNameToLoad + " found in file " + mDatFile );
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  HdfGroup groupMeshModule = file.group( meshNameToLoad );
+
+  std::vector<std::string> gDataNames = groupMeshModule.groups();
+
+  HdfGroup gNodes = groupMeshModule.group( "Nodes" );
+
+  std::vector<std::string> namesNodes = gNodes.datasets();
+  HdfDataset nodes = gNodes.dataset( namesNodes[0] );
+
+  std::vector<hsize_t> nodesDims = nodes.dims();
+  hsize_t nodesRows = nodesDims[0];
+  size_t vertexDims = nodesDims[1];
+
+  if ( vertexDims < 2 || vertexDims > 3 )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_IncompatibleMesh, name(), "Vertices have unsupported number of dimensions " + std::to_string( vertexDims ) + " only 2 (X,Y) or 3 (X, Y, Z) dimensions are allowed." );
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<double> nodesData = nodes.readArrayDouble();
+
+  Vertices vertices( nodesRows );
+
+  size_t currentVertexIndex = 0;
+  size_t i = 0;
+  while ( i < nodesData.size() )
+  {
+    Vertex &vertex = vertices[currentVertexIndex];
+
+    vertex.x = nodesData[i];
+    i++;
+    vertex.y = nodesData[i];
+    i++;
+    if ( vertexDims == 3 )
+    {
+      vertex.z = nodesData[i];
+      i++;
+    }
+    currentVertexIndex++;
+  }
+
+  nodesData.clear();
+
+  HdfGroup gElements = groupMeshModule.group( "Elements" );
+
+  std::vector<std::string> namesElements = gElements.datasets();
+  HdfDataset elements = gElements.dataset( namesElements[0] );
+
+  std::vector<hsize_t> elementsDims = elements.dims();
+  hsize_t elementsRows = elementsDims[0];
+  hsize_t elementsRowsDims = elementsDims[1];
+
+  std::vector<int> facesData = elements.readArrayInt();
+
+  Faces faces( elementsRows );
+  size_t maxVerticesPerFace = 0;
+
+  size_t currentFaceIndex = 0;
+  i = 0;
+  while ( i < facesData.size() )
+  {
+    std::vector<size_t> tempFace;
+    for ( hsize_t j = 0; j < elementsRowsDims; j++ )
+    {
+      int vertexIndex = facesData[i];
+      if ( vertexIndex > 0 )
+      {
+        // XMDF is 1-based, MDAL is 0-based
+        tempFace.push_back( facesData[i] - 1 );
+      }
+      i++;
+    }
+
+    // only store faces with more than 2 vertices
+    if ( tempFace.size()  > static_cast<size_t>( 2 ) )
+    {
+      Face &face = faces[currentFaceIndex];
+      std::copy( tempFace.begin(), tempFace.end(), std::back_inserter( face ) );
+
+      if ( tempFace.size() > maxVerticesPerFace )
+      {
+        maxVerticesPerFace = tempFace.size();
+      }
+
+      currentFaceIndex++;
+    }
+  }
+
+  facesData.clear();
+
+  // copy only the faces that have been properly filled
+  faces = Faces( faces.begin(), faces.begin() + static_cast<long>( currentFaceIndex ) );
+
+  // create the mesh and set the required data
+  std::unique_ptr< MemoryMesh > mesh(
+    new MemoryMesh(
+      name(),
+      maxVerticesPerFace,
+      mDatFile
+    )
+  );
+
+  std::vector<double> values( vertices.size() );
+  for ( size_t i = 0; i < vertices.size(); ++i )
+  {
+    values[i] = vertices[i].z;
+  }
+
+  mesh->setFaces( std::move( faces ) );
+  mesh->setVertices( std::move( vertices ) );
+
+  addVertexScalarDatasetGroup( mesh.get(), values, "Z-Values" );
+
+  return mesh;
+}
diff --git a/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.hpp b/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.hpp
index cd565034d712..3163031b4a33 100644
--- a/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.hpp
+++ b/external/mdal/frmts/mdal_xmdf.hpp
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ namespace MDAL
       bool canReadDatasets( const std::string &uri ) override;
       void load( const std::string &datFile, Mesh *mesh ) override;
 
+      bool canReadMesh( const std::string &uri ) override;
+      std::unique_ptr< Mesh > load( const std::string &meshFile, const std::string &meshName = "" ) override;
+
     private:
       MDAL::Mesh *mMesh = nullptr;
       std::string mDatFile;
@@ -111,6 +114,11 @@ namespace MDAL
                            size_t vertexCount,
                            size_t faceCount ) const;
 
+      std::string buildUri( const std::string &meshFile ) override;
+      std::vector<std::string> findMeshesNames() const;
+
+      std::vector<std::string> meshGroupPaths( const HdfGroup &group ) const;
+      std::vector<std::string> meshGroupPaths( const HdfFile &file ) const;
   };
 
 } // namespace MDAL
diff --git a/external/mdal/mdal.cpp b/external/mdal/mdal.cpp
index c1c2ed1e06c7..6faa0d42894e 100644
--- a/external/mdal/mdal.cpp
+++ b/external/mdal/mdal.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ static const char *EMPTY_STR = "";
 
 const char *MDAL_Version()
 {
-  return "1.2.0";
+  return "1.3.0";
 }
 
 MDAL_Status MDAL_LastStatus()
@@ -580,6 +580,34 @@ MDAL_DatasetGroupH MDAL_M_addDatasetGroup(
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+void MDAL_M_RemoveDatasetGroup( MDAL_MeshH mesh, int index )
+{
+  MDAL::Log::resetLastStatus();
+
+  if ( !mesh )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_IncompatibleMesh, "Mesh is not valid (null)" );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if ( index < 0 )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_IncompatibleMesh, "Requested index is not valid: " + std::to_string( index ) );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  MDAL::Mesh *m = static_cast< MDAL::Mesh * >( mesh );
+  int len = static_cast<int>( m->datasetGroups.size() );
+  if ( len <= index )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_IncompatibleMesh, "Requested index " + std::to_string( index ) + " is bigger than datasets count" );
+    return;
+  }
+  size_t i = static_cast<size_t>( index );
+
+  m->datasetGroups.erase( m->datasetGroups.begin() + static_cast<long>( i ) );
+}
+
 const char *MDAL_M_driverName( MDAL_MeshH mesh )
 {
   if ( !mesh )
@@ -847,6 +875,18 @@ const char *MDAL_G_name( MDAL_DatasetGroupH group )
   return _return_str( g->name() );
 }
 
+void MDAL_G_setName( MDAL_DatasetGroupH group, const char *name )
+{
+  if ( !group )
+  {
+    MDAL::Log::error( MDAL_Status::Err_IncompatibleDataset, "Dataset Group is not valid (null)" );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  MDAL::DatasetGroup *g = static_cast< MDAL::DatasetGroup * >( group );
+  g->setName( name );
+}
+
 bool MDAL_G_hasScalarData( MDAL_DatasetGroupH group )
 {
   if ( !group )
diff --git a/external/mdal/mdal_utils.cpp b/external/mdal/mdal_utils.cpp
index 6babb1bd4c2d..b9ee0482d416 100644
--- a/external/mdal/mdal_utils.cpp
+++ b/external/mdal/mdal_utils.cpp
@@ -839,10 +839,14 @@ std::string MDAL::coordinateToString( double coordinate, int precision )
   return returnString;
 }
 
-std::string MDAL::doubleToString( double value, int precision )
+std::string MDAL::doubleToString( double value, int precision, bool forceScientific )
 {
   std::ostringstream oss;
   oss.precision( precision );
+  if ( forceScientific )
+  {
+    oss.setf( std::ios::scientific );
+  }
   oss << value;
   return oss.str();
 }
diff --git a/external/mdal/mdal_utils.hpp b/external/mdal/mdal_utils.hpp
index 9997c9474ec2..db9e56d9acf3 100644
--- a/external/mdal/mdal_utils.hpp
+++ b/external/mdal/mdal_utils.hpp
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ namespace MDAL
 
   //! Returns a string with scientific format
   //! precision is the number of signifiant digits
-  std::string doubleToString( double value, int precision = 6 );
+  //! forceScientific forces the scientific notation of the number even if not necessary
+  std::string doubleToString( double value, int precision = 6, bool forceScientific = false );
 
   /**
    * Splits by deliminer and skips empty parts.
diff --git a/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp b/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp
index 8a17d2ced2f4..3192d888a040 100644
--- a/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp
@@ -1084,7 +1084,7 @@ QVariantMap QgsMdalProviderMetadata::decodeUri( const QString &uri ) const
 {
   QVariantMap uriComponents;
 
-  const thread_local QRegularExpression layerRegex( QStringLiteral( "^([a-zA-Z0-9_]+?):\"(.*)\"(?::([a-zA-Z0-9_ ]+?$)|($))" ) );
+  const thread_local QRegularExpression layerRegex( QStringLiteral( "^([a-zA-Z0-9_]+?):\"(.*)\"(?::([a-zA-Z0-9_ /]+?$)|($))" ) );
   const QRegularExpressionMatch layerNameMatch = layerRegex.match( uri );
   if ( layerNameMatch.hasMatch() )
   {
diff --git a/tests/testdata/mesh/quad_flower_to_edit_expected.2dm b/tests/testdata/mesh/quad_flower_to_edit_expected.2dm
index 86a1eaf44781..d7e75cdaed8e 100644
--- a/tests/testdata/mesh/quad_flower_to_edit_expected.2dm
+++ b/tests/testdata/mesh/quad_flower_to_edit_expected.2dm
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 MESH2D
-ND 1 2000 2000 200
-ND 2 2500 2500 800
-ND 3 2000 3000 200
-ND 4 1000 3000 200
-ND 5 1500 1500 -200
-ND 6 700 1750 -200
-ND 7 4000 4000 0
-ND 8 4000 4100 0
-ND 9 4100 4000 0
-ND 10 4100 4100 0
+ND 1 2.00000000e+03 2.00000000e+03 200
+ND 2 2.50000000e+03 2.50000000e+03 800
+ND 3 2.00000000e+03 3.00000000e+03 200
+ND 4 1.00000000e+03 3.00000000e+03 200
+ND 5 1.50000000e+03 1.50000000e+03 -200
+ND 6 7.00000000e+02 1.75000000e+03 -200
+ND 7 4.00000000e+03 4.00000000e+03 0
+ND 8 4.00000000e+03 4.10000000e+03 0
+ND 9 4.10000000e+03 4.00000000e+03 0
+ND 10 4.10000000e+03 4.10000000e+03 0
 E3T 1 1 2 3
 E3T 2 4 1 3
 E3T 3 1 4 6