Saudi Arabia calls for stronger regional water management, to host 2027 World Water Forum

Saudi Arabia has emphasized the importance of effective water management and intensified regional cooperation to address challenges facing the water sector in the Arab world, including water scarcity, limited renewal of resources, complex demand management, and the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.

The remarks were made by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley during the 17th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Water, held in Egypt on the sidelines of Cairo Water Week, which will take place from October 24 to 29, 2026, under the theme “Water as a Catalyst for Peace, Shared Prosperity, and a Sustainable Planet.”

Al-Fadley stated that effective water management at both local and regional levels is a key factor for stability, and that turning challenges into opportunities in the water sector contributes to prosperity. He stressed that sound water governance, policies, innovation, and financing create an environment conducive to attracting investment, generating new jobs, and boosting investment opportunities across economic, social, and environmental sectors.

He noted that access to clean and safe water and sanitation services remains a global priority, highlighting the ongoing gap in achieving the sixth Sustainable Development Goal. Al-Fadley affirmed that Saudi Arabia has given significant attention to the water sector to achieve Vision 2030 targets, having adopted the National Water Strategy and restructured the sector with clear roles and objectives covering production, transport, strategic storage, distribution, treatment, and reuse through scheduled projects extending to 2075. He added that private sector investment in water projects has exceeded 56 billion riyals (SAR).

Al-Fadley called on participants to support international initiatives launched by Saudi Arabia, such as the Global Water Organization and the International Water Research Center, and to take part in the World Water Forum, which Riyadh will host from March 21 to 25, 2027. He also announced that registration for the forum is now open via the official website.