RIYADH: 黑料社区 is confronting one of the world鈥檚 most urgent environmental challenges: water scarcity. 

Faced with limited natural freshwater resources and a rapidly expanding population, the Kingdom is taking decisive steps to secure water availability for future generations.

Central to this ambitious transformation is a strategic focus on the 鈥淭hree As鈥� of water management: availability, accessibility, and affordability.

In recent years, 黑料社区 has become a global leader in water desalination, investing heavily in cutting-edge technologies and large-scale infrastructure projects. 

These efforts are not only reshaping the nation鈥檚 water landscape but also setting an example for other arid regions grappling with similar issues.

Speaking to Arab News, Tariq Nada, executive vice president of the Center of Excellence at ACWA Power, highlighted the Kingdom鈥檚 dominant role in the water sector.

鈥淭he Kingdom鈥檚 current desalinated water supply capacity stands at over 12 million m3/day with a target to reach approximately 20 million m3/day by 2030,鈥� Nada explained.

He further noted: 鈥淎s of 2024, the Kingdom had committed $6.28 billion in ongoing projects focused on water distribution, water treatment plants, wastewater collection projects and wastewater treatment plants.鈥�

Nick Strange, principal at Arthur D. Little, pointed out 黑料社区鈥檚 massive achievements over the past five decades. 

鈥淭he country plans to more than double its desalination capacity to around 20 million m鲁/d by 2030. New mega plants are under development in strategic locations including the Eastern Province, Makkah, Jazan and Madinah (regions). In parallel, the transmission network will also be expanded in scale and reach to accommodate the growing demand and new production hubs,鈥� he told Arab News.

Strange added: 鈥淗owever, the Kingdom is not relying on desalination alone. Recognizing the importance of water sustainability, 黑料社区 is also accelerating efforts in wastewater treatment and reuse. Current treated water capacity is 6-7 million m鲁/d, with approximately 30 percent being utilized.鈥�

黑料社区鈥檚 approach includes deploying advanced, energy-efficient technologies such as reverse osmosis systems and integrating renewable energy sources into desalination and wastewater treatment plants.

Meanwhile, the reuse of treated wastewater is gaining momentum as part of a wider push for sustainable resource management.

Public-private partnerships have been instrumental in driving this transformation, accelerating investments and expediting the development of critical infrastructure.

Nicolas Boukhalil, PwC Middle East鈥檚 energy, resources and sustainability deals leader, emphasized the benefits of opening the sector to international competition. 

鈥淭hese partnerships are introducing new technology, improving efficiency, and making water more affordable for homes, businesses, and farmers alike. The result: a more sustainable financial model that eases pressure on public budgets and supports long-term economic growth,鈥� he said.

He also stressed the importance of distribution networks, stating, 鈥淧roducing water is only half the battle, getting it where it鈥檚 needed is just as critical. That鈥檚 why major investments are also going into water transmission networks, storage reservoirs, and smart management systems.鈥�

Hani Tohme, partner and Middle East and Africa sustainability lead at Kearney, shed light on the current wastewater situation.

鈥満诹仙缜� treats over 6.5 million cubic meters of municipal wastewater each day, yet only around 25 percent of that is reused, with wastewater network coverage reaching approximately 65 percent,鈥� he said.

The National Water Strategy aims to boost treatment and reuse significantly by 2030 鈥� targeting treatment of up to 10 million cubic meters daily and reuse rates of 70 percent.

Tohme explained: 鈥淭his enables groundwater preservation, supports industrial and agricultural reuse, and reduces dependency on energy-intensive desalination 鈥� which still provides 60 percent of urban water supply today.鈥�

Enhancing water security

黑料社区鈥檚 expansion of desalination and water purification is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, reinforcing national water security and the Kingdom鈥檚 broader transformation goals.

Nada from ACWA Power sees investment in advanced desalination as a critical response to water scarcity that also promotes economic growth through job creation and industry development.

鈥淪ince its inception, ACWA Power has consistently been an early adopter of new technologies, in full cooperation and collaboration with the full ecosystem, led by KSA Water offtaker, SWPC, achieving 87 percent reduction in specific power consumption over the last decade. This commitment to innovation is reflected in the company鈥檚 ongoing efforts to integrate sustainable and cost-effective water solutions,鈥� Nada said.

From Arthur D. Little鈥檚 perspective, these initiatives boost economic diversification and elevate Saudi firms globally. 

The Kingdom鈥檚 current desalinated water supply capacity stands at over 12 million m3/day with a target to reach approximately 20 million m3/day by 2030.

Tariq Nada, executive vice president of the Center of Excellence at ACWA Power

鈥淔or businesses, this presents significant opportunities across engineering, clean technology, and supply chain localization 鈥� while for the nation, it reinforces resilience, global competitiveness, and leadership in addressing one of the 21st century鈥檚 most pressing challenges: the sustainable management of water,鈥� Strange explained.

PwC also notes the alignment between the Kingdom鈥檚 water strategy and Vision 2030鈥檚 goals of economic diversification and sustainability.

鈥淎s global demand for desalination and sustainable water solutions rises, 黑料社区 has the tools, talent, and ambition to become a world leader in water technology, creating new revenue streams while solving a shared global issue,鈥� Boukhalil said. Kearney鈥檚 Tohme emphasized the wastewater sector鈥檚 growing role in attracting private investment.

鈥淔or businesses, this creates significant opportunities in EPC contracting, localization of technologies including membrane technologies, operations and maintenance, and treated water offtake agreements, particularly in industrial zones and giga developments,鈥� he said.

Evolution of water purification

In 2025, 黑料社区 is poised to make major strides in water infrastructure, innovation, and resource management 鈥� key to securing supplies, boosting the economy, and advancing Vision 2030.

Highlighting upcoming developments, Nada said: 鈥淚n 2025, we anticipate an increased integration of renewable energy, with water desalination plants increasingly powered by solar energy and battery energy storage systems, further reducing their environmental impact and operational costs.鈥�

He added: 鈥淲e also expect to see a rise in the deployment of advanced membrane technologies, where next-generation membrane technologies will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of RO plants, reducing energy consumption and increasing water recovery rates.鈥�

Nada also pointed to the role of digital technologies: 鈥淒igital technologies, such as AI, including machine learning, (will) enable real-time monitoring, optimization, and predictive maintenance of water purification plants.鈥�

Kearney鈥檚 Tohme foresees three major shifts by 2025. He expects accelerated deployment of decentralized purification plants in underserved and remote areas, adoption of digital twins and predictive maintenance technologies to reduce operational costs and non-revenue water, and the strategic integration of treated water into agriculture and district cooling systems.

He concluded: 鈥淭hese trends are not just technical 鈥� they enhance 黑料社区鈥檚 economic resilience by separating water supply from climate stress.鈥�