RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture recently participated in the Diriyah Global Seminar under the theme “Sustaining Civilizations: Oases and the Continuity of Heritage.”

During the presentation, the ministry highlighted the evolution of the Kingdom’s water sector, moving from scarcity to sustainability, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

This progress, from the early 20th century to today, has established Saudi Arabia as a global leader in desalination, water management, and the expansion of supply and treatment networks.

Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, deputy minister for water affairs, emphasized water’s cultural and developmental significance and its role in shaping lifestyles in desert environments.

He also reviewed traditional methods of water extraction and irrigation, alongside major institutional transformations in the sector, the SPA added.

Al-Shaibani highlighted the Kingdom’s achievements in 2025 and its targets for 2030, noting that water supplies in 2025 rose to over 16 million cubic meters per day, consolidating Saudi Arabia’s position as the world’s largest producer of desalinated water.

The sector has also recorded two new Guinness World Records, bringing the total to 11, further affirming its global leadership in desalination technologies, the SPA reported.

Moreover, the Kingdom operates the world’s largest water transmission and storage system, with capacities exceeding 18.5 million cubic meters per day for transmission and over 29 million cubic meters for storage.