The National Water Company (NWC) has supplied more than 15.8 million cubic meters of water to the Two Holy Mosques and surrounding central areas in Makkah and Madinah during the first ten days of Ramadan 1446 AH, the company confirmed in an official statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The announcement underscores the scale of the logistical operation required to serve the millions of worshippers, residents, and visitors who gather in the holy cities during the holiest month of the Islamic calendar.
According to the NWC, water was pumped continuously for 24 hours a day to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, as well as to the central districts that host the largest concentrations of pilgrims and visitors. The company said it had prepared its operational plan for Ramadan well in advance, building a strategic and operational water storage reserve of approximately 10 million cubic meters across the two cities to guarantee uninterrupted supply. The effort forms part of a broader national commitment to ensuring that the guests of the Two Holy Mosques receive the highest standard of service during the holy month. How does a single utility manage to keep water flowing around the clock to the most visited religious sites on earth?
Context and Background
The scale of water demand in Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan is unlike any other seasonal challenge in the Kingdom. Millions of Umrah performers and worshippers arrive from inside Saudi Arabia and from more than 100 countries, dramatically increasing consumption in hotels, residential districts, public facilities, and the courtyards of the Two Holy Mosques themselves. Peak demand coincides with long fasting hours, heightened rituals, and intense daytime heat, making reliable water supply both a public health necessity and a matter of spiritual comfort for worshippers.
The National Water Company, a state-owned utility operating under the oversight of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has developed a specialized seasonal operating model for the holy cities over successive years. Its Ramadan plan integrates storage management, pumping schedules, maintenance readiness, and customer service into a single coordinated framework. The company said the plan is characterized by its smooth running and the full readiness of employees working around the clock at all service points and operation and maintenance centers spread across large areas of Makkah and Madinah.
Why does the Kingdom invest so heavily in water infrastructure for a single month of the year? The answer lies in the unique status of the Two Holy Mosques within the Islamic world and in Saudi Arabia’s longstanding responsibility as their custodian. The reliability of essential services in Makkah and Madinah is treated as a national priority, and the Ramadan operating plan reflects years of accumulated operational experience, engineering investment, and inter-agency coordination.
Key Details of the Ramadan Operation
The NWC reported that its teams distributed more than 15.8 million cubic meters of water in the first ten days of Ramadan alone, a figure that illustrates the immense daily throughput required. To sustain this volume, the company built a strategic and operational storage reserve of about 10 million cubic meters in Makkah and Madinah, ensuring that pumping could continue without interruption even during peak consumption periods or unexpected technical events.
Field teams have been equipped with modern machinery and equipment to respond rapidly to emergencies and technical malfunctions. Service stations and their equipment in both cities have been prepared to receive customer requests and address them efficiently. The company also emphasized that its employees are deployed around the clock at service points and operation and maintenance centers, covering the wide geographic areas that the two holy cities encompass.
Water quality has received equally rigorous attention. The NWC said it conducted more than 23,000 laboratory tests in Makkah and Madinah during the first ten days of Ramadan to verify that water meets international specifications and standards. This testing regime covers the full supply chain, from source and treatment through storage and distribution, providing assurance that the water reaching the Two Holy Mosques and surrounding districts is safe and fit for consumption. What does it take to verify the quality of water for millions of people in real time? The answer involves laboratories, sampling teams, and continuous monitoring working in parallel with the pumping operation.
Customer Service and Emergency Readiness
Beyond the physical infrastructure, the NWC has maintained a comprehensive customer service operation throughout Ramadan. The company receives inquiries and requests through its e-branch platform and its unified contact number, 8004411110, which serves water customers in all regions of the Kingdom 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports received through these channels are forwarded directly to maintenance teams working around the clock to ensure that inquiries are answered and required services are delivered promptly.
This integrated approach reflects a wider modernization of service delivery across Saudi utilities. Digital channels allow residents and visitors to report issues without visiting a physical office, while the unified contact number provides a single point of access for water-related requests nationwide. For pilgrims who may be unfamiliar with local procedures, the availability of round-the-clock support in multiple languages and channels adds an important layer of reassurance.
The NWC’s operational plan also includes coordination with other Saudi authorities responsible for crowd management, health services, and municipal operations in the holy cities. This inter-agency cooperation is essential during Ramadan, when the density of worshippers in central Makkah and Madinah reaches its annual peak. Reliable water supply supports hygiene, cooling systems, ablution facilities, and food service operations that together sustain the pilgrimage experience.
International and Regional Impact
The announcement carries significance well beyond Saudi Arabia’s borders. The Two Holy Mosques host worshippers from every continent, and the quality of services provided during Ramadan is observed and reported by international media, pilgrimage operators, and religious organizations worldwide. A smooth, well-managed water operation reinforces the Kingdom’s reputation for hospitality, organizational capacity, and care for the guests of God.
Regional governments and travel agencies that organize Umrah and Hajj journeys pay close attention to infrastructure performance in Makkah and Madinah, as it directly affects the experience of their citizens. The NWC’s reported readiness, backed by storage reserves, laboratory testing, and emergency response teams, provides tangible evidence that the holy cities are prepared for high-volume seasons. For international audiences, the story illustrates how Saudi Arabia combines engineering scale with service precision to meet religious and humanitarian obligations.
Could any other country replicate this level of seasonal infrastructure mobilization? The comparison highlights the unique operational demands created by the Two Holy Mosques and the institutional experience Saudi Arabia has accumulated in meeting them. The Kingdom’s ability to sustain 24-hour pumping, maintain large reserves, and conduct tens of thousands of quality tests within a ten-day window reflects decades of investment in water systems and human capital.
Economic and Strategic Significance
Water infrastructure is a core component of Saudi Arabia’s economic and social development strategy. The National Water Company’s operations in Makkah and Madinah are part of a broader national program to expand desalination capacity, improve distribution networks, reduce losses, and enhance service quality across all regions. These investments support urban growth, industrial development, and quality of life objectives that are central to the Kingdom’s long-term planning.
The Ramadan operation also demonstrates the economic value of preparedness. By building storage reserves in advance and positioning maintenance teams strategically, the NWC reduces the risk of service interruptions that could disrupt commerce, transport, and hospitality activity in the holy cities during their busiest period. Reliable utilities are a prerequisite for the tourism and pilgrimage economy, which contributes significantly to national revenue and employment.
From a strategic perspective, the ability to manage water supply at this scale strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a leader in utility management and smart infrastructure in the region. The use of digital customer service channels, laboratory testing regimes, and round-the-clock field operations reflects a modern, data-informed approach to public service delivery. These capabilities are increasingly relevant as the Kingdom hosts larger numbers of pilgrims and expands the capacity of the Two Holy Mosques.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The NWC’s Ramadan performance aligns directly with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to enhance the quality of life for citizens and visitors, improve public services, and strengthen the Kingdom’s role as a global destination for pilgrims and tourists. Vision 2030 places significant emphasis on infrastructure modernization, environmental sustainability, and the efficient management of natural resources, including water. The company’s operational plan reflects these priorities in practice, combining large-scale storage, continuous pumping, and rigorous quality assurance.
Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to welcome a growing number of Umrah performers and Hajj pilgrims while continuously raising service standards in the holy cities. The NWC’s ability to supply more than 15.8 million cubic meters of water in ten days, supported by 23,000 laboratory tests and 24-hour customer service, demonstrates the operational maturity required to meet those ambitions. As the Kingdom continues to invest in water infrastructure and digital services, the Ramadan operation stands as a clear example of how Vision 2030 goals are translated into daily reality for the guests of the Two Holy Mosques.
20 Questions
Q1. What did the National Water Company announce regarding water supply during Ramadan?
A1. The National Water Company announced that it supplied more than 15.8 million cubic meters of water to the Two Holy Mosques and central areas in Makkah and Madinah during the first ten days of Ramadan 1446 AH.
Q2. How long was water pumped to the Two Holy Mosques each day?
A2. Water was pumped continuously for 24 hours a day to the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and the surrounding central areas throughout the first ten days of Ramadan.
Q3. What is the size of the strategic water storage reserve in Makkah and Madinah?
A3. The NWC prepared a strategic and operational water storage reserve of approximately 10 million cubic meters in Makkah and Madinah to ensure continuous pumping and meet the needs of residents and visitors.
Q4. Why did the company prepare its operational plan in advance?
A4. The plan was prepared early to guarantee uninterrupted water supply, manage peak demand during Ramadan, and provide the necessary water to the population, guests, and visitors of the Two Holy Mosques.
Q5. How many laboratory tests were conducted in the first ten days of Ramadan?
A5. The NWC conducted more than 23,000 laboratory tests in Makkah and Madinah during the first ten days of Ramadan to ensure water quality and compliance with international specifications and standards.
Q6. What equipment has been provided to field teams?
A6. Field teams have been equipped with modern equipment and machinery to deal with emergencies and technical malfunctions quickly, ensuring that water services remain reliable throughout the holy month.
Q7. How can customers contact the National Water Company?
A7. Customers can reach the NWC through its e-branch platform and the unified contact number 8004411110, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week across all regions of the Kingdom.
Q8. What happens to customer reports received by the NWC?
A8. Reports and requests are forwarded to maintenance teams working around the clock to ensure that inquiries are answered and the required services are provided promptly to customers.
Q9. Which cities are covered by this Ramadan operational plan?
A9. The operational plan covers Makkah and Madinah, the two holy cities that host the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque and receive millions of worshippers during Ramadan.
Q10. What does the NWC say about the performance of its Ramadan plan?
A10. The NWC stated that its operational plan in Makkah and Madinah is characterized by smooth running and the full readiness of employees working around the clock at all service points and maintenance centers.
Q11. Why is water quality testing so important during Ramadan?
A11. Water quality testing ensures that the water supplied to the Two Holy Mosques and surrounding areas is safe, complies with international standards, and protects the health of millions of worshippers and residents.
Q12. How does the NWC ensure rapid response to emergencies?
A12. The company maintains field teams equipped with modern machinery, operates service points around the clock, and coordinates maintenance centers across large areas to respond quickly to emergencies and technical malfunctions.
Q13. What role does the e-branch play in NWC operations?
A13. The e-branch allows customers to submit inquiries and requests digitally, providing a convenient channel that complements the unified contact number and supports efficient service delivery across the Kingdom.
Q14. How does this operation reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to pilgrims?
A14. The operation demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving the guests of the Two Holy Mosques by ensuring reliable water supply, high quality standards, and round-the-clock support during the holiest month of the year.
Q15. What is the significance of the 15.8 million cubic meter figure?
A15. The figure illustrates the immense scale of water demand in Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan and the logistical capacity required to meet the needs of millions of worshippers, residents, and visitors.
Q16. How does the NWC plan support the local population in Makkah and Madinah?
A16. The plan ensures that residents, alongside pilgrims and visitors, receive continuous and reliable water supply, supporting daily life, hygiene, commerce, and essential services in both holy cities.
Q17. What standards does the NWC use to assess water quality?
A17. The NWC tests water against international specifications and standards, conducting laboratory analysis across the supply chain to confirm that water is safe and suitable for consumption.
Q18. How does this operation connect to Saudi Vision 2030?
A18. The operation supports Vision 2030 goals of enhancing quality of life, modernizing public services, improving infrastructure, and strengthening the Kingdom’s capacity to serve growing numbers of pilgrims and visitors.
Q19. What areas beyond the Two Holy Mosques receive water under this plan?
A19. The plan covers the central areas of Makkah and Madinah, including districts that host large concentrations of worshippers, hotels, and service facilities during the holy month.
Q20. What message does the NWC’s Ramadan operation send internationally?
A20. It signals Saudi Arabia’s operational excellence, commitment to hospitality, and ability to manage complex infrastructure at scale, reinforcing confidence among international pilgrims and partners in the Kingdom’s services.
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