Riyadh: Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz on Sunday inaugurated the inaugural Saudi Water Week, which runs through Thursday in Jeddah.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the event features broad local, regional, and international participation and aims to support the Kingdom's efforts to develop the water sector, strengthen cooperation, foster innovation, and reinforce Saudi Arabia's global leadership in advancing water security and sustainability. The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, along with officials from Saudi Arabia and abroad.
The week features two major events: the 7th Arab Water Forum (AWF7) and the 2nd Stakeholders' Consultation Meeting of the 11th World Water Forum. The events bring together policymakers, experts, specialists, representatives of regional and international organizations, government agencies, private-sector representatives, and research institutions.
An accompanying exhibition showcases the latest technologies, innovations, and smart solutions in water resources management, desalination, water reuse, and digitization. It also highlights the significant progress achieved by Saudi Arabia's water sector. The exhibition brings together government agencies and specialized national and international companies to facilitate the exchange of expertise and knowledge and promote qualitative partnerships.
In his opening remarks, Minister Alfadley said the inaugural Saudi Water Week holds special significance in Jeddah's water development journey. He said the region marked the beginning of the shift toward innovative solutions to water challenges after King Abdulaziz ordered the introduction of the first modern desalination technologies in the 1920s to serve visitors to the Grand Mosque, including Hajj pilgrims and Umrah performers. He said the move sent an early message that innovation is a strategic choice for addressing water scarcity, not only in Saudi Arabia but around the world.
The minister said the Kingdom has addressed water challenges through a gradual and integrated reform approach. Over the past decade, the water sector has undergone a comprehensive strategic transformation. The changes extended beyond infrastructure expansion to include institutional reform, governance, regulation, financing, operations, and the localization of industry and expertise. He said these efforts have improved investment efficiency within a comprehensive reform framework led by Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Water Strategy.
Alfadley said the transformation has produced tangible results. Consumption of non-renewable groundwater fell from about 21 billion cubic metres in 2016 to nearly 11 billion cubic metres in 2025, while desalinated water production capacity increased from 9 million cubic metres per day in 2016 to 16 million cubic metres per day. He added that access to safe drinking water has reached 100% of the population, while around 85% is covered by the water network. Strategic water storage capacity has also increased by more than 125%.
The minister said the water sector has become more efficient and attractive to private-sector investment and partnerships. He noted that an integrated institutional framework encourages private-sector participation across the supply chain. He also highlighted clear regulatory and contractual frameworks. Expanded partnership models and enabling measures have attracted more than SAR60 billion in investments while lowering water production costs and improving energy efficiency across the production system.
Alfadley said the sector has evolved from a model focused on expanding water supply and services to one that balances supply and demand while ensuring security of supply, efficiency, and financial and environmental sustainability.
He said Saudi Arabia has played an active role in advancing the regional and international water agenda by launching and supporting key platforms and partnerships. He highlighted the launch of the Global Water Organization, headquartered in Riyadh, and the International Water Research Center. The minister also underlined Saudi Arabia's hosting of specialized summits, conferences, and ministerial and presidential meetings to strengthen international cooperation on water issues, including the One Water Summit in 2024. He added that the Kingdom is set to host the 11th World Water Forum.
Alfadley said the inaugural Saudi Water Week is intended to serve as a national platform for aligning efforts and maximizing the impact of national and international water-related conferences and events. He said the initiative is expected to generate greater momentum and engagement on water issues while promoting the exchange of expertise locally and internationally. It also seeks to create new opportunities for partnerships, investment, and innovation, support water security and sustainability as a vital economic resource, and strengthen Saudi Arabia's contribution to shaping the future of water in the Arab region and beyond.