Saudi Arabia Sets Sustainable Water Security Framework

Saudi Arabia has successfully established an integrated and sustainable model of water security despite its arid desert conditions, a senior official affirmed during a global dialogue session in Bali, Indonesia, attributing the achievement to the unwavering support of the Kingdom’s leadership and sustained investment in desalination and water networks. The statement was delivered by Dr. Abdulaziz AlShaibani, Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, who took part in the international session titled “From Bali to Riyadh and Beyond.” The gathering reviewed the outcomes and recommendations of the tenth World Water Forum, which convened on the Indonesian island of Bali in May 2024 with the participation of heads of state, ministers, and officials from 160 countries alongside numerous international organizations.

Can a nation built on desert sands truly lead the world in water security? Saudi Arabia’s answer, delivered on an international stage, is a confident yes. The Kingdom’s sophisticated water system, described by Dr. AlShaibani as functioning like “underground rivers,” was presented as the product of decades of strategic foresight, placing water security at the very core of the Kingdom’s development ambitions. The affirmation came through official Saudi channels, with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture positioning the achievement as evidence that sustained national planning can overcome even the harshest natural constraints. The session’s title itself signals the Kingdom’s trajectory: from the forum in Bali toward Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia will host the next edition of the World Water Forum and assume a central role in shaping the global water agenda.

Context and Background

Why does a desert kingdom’s water strategy command attention from 160 nations? Saudi Arabia’s water journey is rooted in necessity and ambition in equal measure. With no permanent rivers or lakes and among the lowest natural freshwater availability rates in the world, the Kingdom historically depended on limited groundwater and seasonal rainfall. In response, the government built one of the planet’s most extensive desalination industries, operated by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), now among the largest producers of desalinated water globally. This infrastructure is complemented by vast pipeline networks, storage reservoirs, and advanced distribution systems that ensure reliable supplies reach households, industry, and agriculture across the country.

Dr. AlShaibani explained that this sophisticated system emerged from the foresight of the Kingdom’s leadership and its determination to strengthen the sector’s capabilities. The initiative places water security at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious development strategies, underscoring a national commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable water resources. These efforts enhance quality of life and foster economic growth, aligning directly with the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, the national transformation program launched under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Water, in this framework, is not merely a utility but a foundation for industry, urbanization, food security, and public health.

The tenth World Water Forum in Bali in May 2024 served as a critical checkpoint for global progress. Attended by heads of participating countries, ministers, and officials from 160 countries, along with numerous international organizations, the forum produced recommendations that the “From Bali to Riyadh and Beyond” session was designed to review and carry forward. Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects its growing role as a convening power in global environmental and resource governance, a role that will be formalized when Riyadh hosts the next World Water Forum.

Key Details

What exactly did Saudi Arabia present to the international audience in Bali? At the heart of Dr. AlShaibani’s remarks was the concept of an integrated national water system, one that treats desalination, distribution, reuse, and conservation as a single connected architecture rather than isolated projects. The Kingdom’s desalination capacity has expanded dramatically over the past decade, supported by investments in reverse osmosis technology, which significantly reduces energy consumption compared with older thermal methods. Mega-plants on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf now feed massive transmission lines that carry potable water hundreds of kilometers inland to Riyadh, Jeddah, and other major population centers.

Dr. AlShaibani emphasized that the world currently confronts intricate water challenges that demand unified international action, noting that water has emerged as a crucial element in attaining stability and development. He called on countries and organizations to collaborate in creating innovative and sustainable solutions, expressing the Kingdom’s view that sharing international experiences and embracing best practices through platforms like the World Water Forum is a vital step toward addressing water scarcity and ensuring sustainable management. The Deputy Minister also conveyed the Kingdom’s gratitude for Indonesia’s exceptional role in hosting the tenth edition of the forum, a gesture of diplomatic appreciation that underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to multilateral partnership.

Beyond desalination, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in water reuse and conservation. Treated wastewater is increasingly directed toward agriculture and landscaping, reducing pressure on non-renewable groundwater. The National Water Strategy 2030, overseen by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, sets targets for reducing per capita consumption, cutting losses in distribution networks, and expanding strategic storage capacity. These measures are complemented by public awareness campaigns and pricing reforms designed to encourage responsible use. The result is a system that Dr. AlShaibani could describe as sustainable not only in engineering terms but in economic and environmental terms as well.

International and Regional Impact

How does Saudi Arabia’s water security model resonate beyond its borders? The Kingdom’s experience carries profound implications for a region where water scarcity is a shared and urgent reality. Across the Middle East and North Africa, countries face similar arid conditions, growing populations, and climate pressures. By demonstrating that a desert nation can achieve reliable, high-quality water supplies at scale, Saudi Arabia offers a replicable template for neighbors and developing nations alike. The Kingdom’s willingness to share expertise through forums and bilateral cooperation strengthens its position as a regional leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship.

At the global level, Saudi Arabia’s participation in the World Water Forum process signals its intent to help shape international norms around water governance. Water has become a critical element in attaining stability and development, as Dr. AlShaibani noted, and the Kingdom’s voice carries weight in discussions that link water security to food security, energy transitions, and climate resilience. The transition from Bali to Riyadh symbolizes a shift in the forum’s center of gravity toward the Middle East, where solutions are tested under the most demanding conditions. International organizations and participating states now look to the Kingdom to host a forum that advances concrete commitments rather than abstract declarations.

Regional cooperation also extends to shared aquifers, transboundary water management, and humanitarian water initiatives. Saudi Arabia has historically supported water projects in neighboring countries through development funds and aid programs, reinforcing its reputation as a constructive actor in regional stability. The Kingdom’s approach, which combines technological leadership with diplomatic engagement, positions it as a bridge between developed and developing nations in the global water conversation.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Why does water security matter so much to Saudi Arabia’s economic future? The answer lies in the Kingdom’s diversification agenda. Vision 2030 aims to transform the economy by expanding non-oil sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, mining, and entertainment. Each of these sectors depends on reliable water supplies. New cities such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project require innovative water systems, including desalination powered by renewable energy, to operate sustainably in desert environments. Agriculture, too, must balance food security goals with water conservation, a challenge the Kingdom addresses through modern irrigation techniques and crop selection policies.

Investment in water infrastructure also generates economic returns by reducing losses, lowering energy costs, and creating jobs in engineering, technology, and environmental management. Saudi companies have developed expertise in desalination and water treatment that is increasingly exportable, opening new markets for Saudi services and know-how. The financial sustainability of the sector is reinforced by partnerships between government agencies and the private sector, including the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which supports infrastructure projects aligned with national priorities. By treating water as a strategic asset, Saudi Arabia integrates resource management into its broader fiscal and development planning.

Strategically, water security underpins national resilience. A nation that can guarantee water for its citizens, industries, and institutions is better equipped to withstand climate shocks, regional instability, and global supply chain disruptions. The Kingdom’s storage capacity, emergency response systems, and diversified production sources provide redundancy that many countries lack. This resilience is a quiet but essential component of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and its ability to pursue ambitious long-term projects without interruption.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does water security connect to the broader promise of Vision 2030? The national transformation program places sustainability, quality of life, and economic diversification at its center, and water is a common thread running through all three. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s initiatives support the Vision’s environmental sustainability goals, including the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant billions of trees and reduce carbon emissions. Desalination plants increasingly rely on renewable energy, while water reuse and conservation reduce the environmental footprint of urban and agricultural growth.

Quality of life, another Vision 2030 pillar, depends on dependable water services for homes, hospitals, schools, and public spaces. The Kingdom’s investment in modern networks ensures that citizens and residents experience the benefits of development in tangible, daily ways. Meanwhile, the economic diversification agenda relies on water-intensive industries and tourism destinations that must operate sustainably to attract global investment. Dr. AlShaibani’s message in Bali thus aligns with a national narrative that presents Saudi Arabia not only as a beneficiary of global cooperation but as a contributor of solutions, ready to host the world in Riyadh and lead by example. The Kingdom’s water story is, in essence, the Vision 2030 story: ambition, innovation, and responsibility converging to secure a prosperous future.

20 Questions

Q1. What did Saudi Arabia announce regarding its water security framework?

A1. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture affirmed that the Kingdom has established an integrated and sustainable model of water security despite arid desert conditions, attributing success to leadership support and investment in desalination and water networks.

Q2. Who delivered the affirmation on behalf of Saudi Arabia?

A2. Dr. Abdulaziz AlShaibani, Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, delivered the affirmation during a global dialogue session in Bali, Indonesia, titled “From Bali to Riyadh and Beyond.”

Q3. What was the purpose of the Bali dialogue session?

A3. The session aimed to review the work and recommendations from the tenth World Water Forum, which took place in Bali in May 2024, and to chart the path forward toward the next forum in Riyadh.

Q4. How many countries participated in the tenth World Water Forum?

A4. The tenth World Water Forum was attended by heads of participating countries, ministers, and officials from 160 countries, along with numerous international organizations, reflecting broad global engagement on water issues.

Q5. What did Dr. AlShaibani say about the Kingdom’s water system?

A5. He described the Kingdom’s sophisticated water system, often referred to as underground rivers, as emerging from the foresight of the wise leadership and its ambitions to strengthen the sector’s capabilities for sustainable supply.

Q6. How does water security align with Saudi Vision 2030?

A6. Water security is placed at the core of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious development strategies, enhancing quality of life and fostering economic growth in direct alignment with the goals outlined in Vision 2030.

Q7. What global challenges did Dr. AlShaibani highlight?

A7. He emphasized that the world confronts intricate water challenges requiring unified international action, noting that water has become a crucial element in attaining stability and development across nations.

Q8. What solution did Saudi Arabia advocate for water scarcity?

A8. The Kingdom advocates sharing international experiences and embracing best practices through platforms like the World Water Forum as a vital step toward addressing water scarcity and ensuring sustainable management.

Q9. What role did Indonesia play in the forum process?

A9. Indonesia hosted the tenth edition of the World Water Forum in Bali in May 2024, a role for which Dr. AlShaibani conveyed the Kingdom’s gratitude at the conclusion of his speech.

Q10. What is the significance of the session title “From Bali to Riyadh and Beyond”?

A10. The title signals the transition of the World Water Forum process from Bali to Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia will host the next edition and assume a central role in shaping the global water agenda.

Q11. How has Saudi Arabia achieved water security in desert conditions?

A11. The Kingdom has invested significantly in desalination and developed extensive water networks that ensure reliable supplies, supported by strategic planning and leadership commitment to sustainable resource management.

Q12. What are the “underground rivers” mentioned by Dr. AlShaibani?

A12. The term refers to Saudi Arabia’s sophisticated water system, including vast pipeline networks and storage infrastructure that transport and distribute water across the Kingdom, ensuring reliable supply to society and various sectors.

Q13. Why is international cooperation important for water security?

A13. Water challenges are global and interconnected, requiring countries and organizations to collaborate on innovative and sustainable solutions, as no single nation can address scarcity and climate pressures alone.

Q14. What economic benefits does water security bring to Saudi Arabia?

A14. Reliable water supplies support economic diversification, enabling tourism, manufacturing, and new cities, while reducing losses and creating jobs in engineering, technology, and environmental management sectors.

Q15. How does water security support Saudi Arabia’s quality of life goals?

A15. Dependable water services for homes, hospitals, schools, and public spaces ensure citizens and residents experience tangible benefits of development, a key pillar of Vision 2030’s quality of life objectives.

Q16. What is the role of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture?

A16. The Ministry oversees the Kingdom’s water strategy, including desalination, distribution, conservation, and reuse, and represents Saudi Arabia in international forums to share expertise and best practices.

Q17. How does Saudi Arabia’s water model help other nations?

A17. By demonstrating that a desert nation can achieve reliable, high-quality water supplies at scale, Saudi Arabia offers a replicable template for neighbors and developing countries facing similar arid conditions and climate pressures.

Q18. What did Dr. AlShaibani say about stability and development?

A18. He noted that water has emerged as a crucial element in attaining stability and development, underscoring the need for unified international action and innovative solutions to secure sustainable water resources.

Q19. What future role will Riyadh play in global water discussions?

A19. Riyadh will host the next World Water Forum, positioning Saudi Arabia as a convening power that advances concrete commitments and shapes international norms around water governance and sustainability.

Q20. How does water security reflect Saudi Arabia’s global leadership?

A20. The Kingdom’s integrated water model, shared through international forums and cooperation, reflects its leadership in sustainability, its commitment to Vision 2030, and its readiness to contribute solutions to global challenges.

Reader Feedback

We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.

Name *

Message *

Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.