JEDDAH: The first edition of Saudi Water Week concluded in Jeddah on Thursday after five days of discussions by more than 2,500 participants from over 80 countries and laid out a roadmap toward the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh next year.
The June 28 to July 2 event attracted 20 ministerial delegations, more than 180 international experts and speakers, and featured 97 specialized sessions and activities as well as 20 participating pavilions, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the event was billed as a strategic milestone in advancing global cooperation and positioning the Kingdom at the center of international dialogue on security, sustainability and innovation.
Road to Riyadh 2027
The ministry said the event established a comprehensive “Road to Riyadh 2027” framework that will guide preparations for the World Water Forum, one of the world’s largest gatherings on the sector.
Saudi Water Week also hosted consultative meetings for the 11th World Water Forum and the Seventh Arab Water Forum, bringing together policymakers, experts and stakeholders from Saudi Arabia, the Arab region and beyond.
The event included 97 specialized sessions and activities, along with 20 participating pavilions. (SPA)
Discussions focused on reducing waste, improving efficiency, expanding access to sustainable solutions and addressing future challenges to water security.
Workshops and dialogue sessions examined governance, financing, innovation, integrated resources management and youth engagement, with organizers saying the aim was to translate ideas into practical and implementable strategies.
The ministry said the event received positive feedback for integrating multiple international forums into a single platform that strengthened both political and technical dialogue and accelerated preparations for the global gathering in Riyadh.
Global recognition
During the event, World Water Council President Loic Fauchon praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in developing the sector and said the Kingdom should aspire to become the globe’s “water capital.”
Speaking at the second stakeholders’ consultation meeting for the World Water Forum, Fauchon said the council remained committed to ensuring the success of the 2027 event through international partnerships, sustainable solutions and innovation.
World Water Council cited Saudi Arabia’s leading role in developing the water sector. (SPA)
He identified food, health, the environment and renewable energy as priority areas and said the forum in Riyadh should help mobilize proposals from experts and institutions worldwide.
Fauchon reiterated the council’s commitment to supporting poorer regions in securing access to resources and called for safe drinking water to remain at the top of international political and development agendas.
Reforms and partnerships
Throughout the week, Saudi officials highlighted major reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening water governance and sustainability.
The Saudi Irrigation Organization showcased its key initiatives and flagship projects while establishing partnerships aimed at enhancing the efficiency of its operations across the Kingdom. (SPA)
The Saudi Irrigation Organization used the event to showcase initiatives on treated water reuse, sustainable resource management, digital transformation, smart data, remote sensing and the Irrigation Practices Code.
The organization signed five agreements and memoranda of understanding with the Saudi Water Authority and other entities to strengthen cooperation, support the adoption of the Irrigation Practices Code, qualify irrigation-system auditors and develop modern technologies to improve efficiency.
Its exhibition pavilion also featured digital services, technology solutions, guidance manuals and a mobile laboratory designed to promote best practices in irrigation and support more sustainable water management in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Earlier during the week, Saudi authorities also announced a series of reforms and strategic agreements aimed at accelerating innovation, expanding international partnerships and reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a global hub for water-sector cooperation.
90-year journey
One of the highlights of the accompanying exhibition was a mural documenting more than 90 years of development in Saudi Arabia’s water sector.
A historical mural documenting the development of Saudi Arabia’s water sector has attracted significant attention from visitors at the inaugural Saudi Water Week exhibition. (SPA)
The exhibit traced the sector’s evolution from 1931 when King Abdulaziz commissioned international experts to conduct geological surveys and identify resources, to the Kingdom’s emergence as a global leader in management and sustainability.
The mural also outlined future ambitions, including increasing water service coverage to 85 percent and sanitation coverage to 70 percent, ensuring a continuous 24-hour supply and expanding production capacity to 21 million cubic meters per day by 2050 to serve more than 20,000 communities across the Kingdom.
Saudi Water Week marked the first time that several major sector gatherings and consultations were brought together under one umbrella in the Kingdom.
It underscored Saudi Arabia’s ambition to shape global discussions on security and sustainable resource management ahead of the World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027.
