Under the patronage of the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of the Makkah Region, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, and on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Region, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah, inaugurated today the 4th edition of the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWSC), organized by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) from 8 to 10 December 2025.
The opening was attended by Engineer Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of SWA, along with official delegations, international experts, and institutional leaders from more than 139 countries.
Launch of the “SWA Rabigh Water Oasis” and the New Guinness Record
During the inauguration, His Royal Highness officially announced the launch of the Rabigh Water Oasis (SWA Rabigh Water Oasis), one of the world’s largest integrated research and innovation ecosystems dedicated to water technologies and supply chains.
The Oasis was registered at the Guinness World Records after being certified with an area of 33,395.88 square meters, officially recognized as the largest water innovation oasis in the world, marking a new milestone that reinforces the Kingdom’s global leadership in building world-class scientific and research platforms.
Honoring the Winners of the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW 2025)
His Royal Highness the Governor of Jeddah also honored the winners of the third edition of the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW), where:
- Guihua Yu won the Grand Discovery Award under the track of Sustainable Water Production and Environmental Protection.
- HanQing Yu received the Grand Impact Award under the track of Low-Cost Wastewater Treatment Technologies.
- In addition, 12 winners of the Impact Awards were honored following a competition that attracted more than 2,500 innovators from 119 countries.
International Exhibition Showcasing the Latest Water Technologies
His Royal Highness toured the accompanying exhibition, which featured more than 100 local and international exhibitors, showcasing the latest innovations in desalination, reuse, digital governance, AI, loss-reduction systems, and advanced water technologies, reflecting the advanced level achieved by this edition of the conference.
SWA President: A Global Gap Between the Importance of Water and Investment in Innovation
In his keynote address, Eng. Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim emphasized that the world is facing a significant gap between the critical importance of the water sector, linked to nearly 60% of global GDP, estimated at USD 58 trillion, and the low level of investment in environmental innovation, which does not exceed 1% globally.
He noted that patents related to water technologies represent only 5% of total environmental innovation patents, while venture capital investment in the water sector remains below 0.5%.
By comparison, he explained, venture capital accounts for 35% in telecommunications and digitalization, and 18% in renewable energy, highlighting the vast untapped opportunities ahead for the water sector.
“In Saudi Arabia, we have been blessed with visionary leadership that places people at the center of development, We have made significant strides in securing water supply sources”.
Al-Abdulkarim stated:
“Today, the desalination industry and the provision of abundant water supplies are led by the Gulf region, and Saudi Arabia in particular, through energy efficiency and strong private sector participation in production and transmission” .
He further explained that while Saudi Arabia leads globally in supply availability, transmission efficiency, and energy performance, different regions around the world excel in complementary areas:
- Europe focuses on advanced technologies and policy innovation.
- East Asia leads in water reuse.
- North America excels in digital transformation.
- South America advances the circular economy model.
- Africa focuses on small-scale, low-cost innovation solutions.
Al-Abdulkarim highlighted the alarming reality of 21st-century challenges, noting that more than 2 billion people worldwide, one quarter of the global population, lack access to safe drinking water, while 700 million people face the risk of displacement due to water scarcity.
He also pointed out that 90% of global innovations fail due to weak business models, stressing that innovation is no longer limited to technology alone but extends to financing, policies, and operating models.
He reaffirmed that from Jeddah, where desalination began with “Al-Kandasa”, Saudi Arabia is moving forward with confidence to lead the future of global water security, supported by a clear national vision and a pioneering regulatory and investment ecosystem.
Strategic Launches and Landmark Agreements
The first day of IDWSC witnessed the signing of 13 strategic agreements and memoranda of cooperation between government, private, and academic entities, in addition to the launch of several major initiatives and projects, most notably:
SWA Rabigh Water Oasis
- NVIDIA computing and AI solutions for water
- Initiatives of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)
- SIO Platform for reuse and AI-powered open data
- Microalgae cultivation project using brine discharge in Jubail
- Albahri Floating Reverse Osmosis Desalination Barges
- High-Level Roundtable with U.S. Water Sector Leaders
A high-level roundtable session was held under the leadership of SWA President, with the participation of senior water sector leaders from Saudi Arabia and their counterparts from the United States, including the CEO of DC Water and the Chairman of the Orange County Water District. The session focused on governance models, infrastructure management, and sector development.
An Exceptional Edition in Participation and Global Impact
The 4th edition of IDWSC is taking place with unprecedented momentum, following the expansion of international participation from 20 countries in 2024 to 139 countries this year, alongside an increase in exhibitors from 40 to more than 100, and the delivery of 20 specialized training programs targeting elite professionals in the global water sector.
