With an Expected Annual Economic Impact of Up to SAR 3 Billion, Riyadh Hosts the Seventh Edition of the Water Research Community

The seventh edition of the Water Research Community will launch tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Riyadh. Organized by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), represented by the Water Technologies Innovation Institute and Advanced Research (WTIIRA), in collaboration with KACST, the event will bring together leading researchers, experts, and water sector specialists from around the world.

The event will feature keynote addresses by H.E. Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Eldesouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and H.E. Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of the Saudi Water Authority.

The event builds on the Kingdom’s water sector efforts to foster a specialized research environment that connects scientific expertise with sector needs, establish a global platform linking research and innovation with industry, and transform water-related knowledge, ideas, and innovations into practical applications and solutions that support water resource sustainability and enhance efficiency.

These efforts and research outcomes are expected to generate an annual economic impact of up to SAR 3 billion in the coming years. The event’s direct outcomes also aim to convert approximately 15% of submitted proposals into applied projects, publish more than 250 scientific papers, register 20 high-impact patents, and fund more than 15 projects, in addition to establishing Saudi startups with an estimated market value exceeding SAR 300 million in the coming years.

The seventh edition focuses on four key areas: materials science, technology integration, digital intelligence, and business models. With this edition, total participation across all editions is expected to exceed 1,900 researchers and experts, while the number of research proposals is projected to surpass 470 and the number of signed agreements to reach 46. The event will also host experts and representatives from more than 60 local and international universities and academic institutions, including King Abdulaziz University, the University of Tabuk, the University of Manchester, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and King Saud University.

Saudi Arabia accounts for approximately 2.3% of global water-related research, while research associated with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on clean water and sanitation, represents approximately 1.48% of global scientific publications. This comes as the global water and wastewater treatment technology market is expected to exceed SAR 1 trillion in 2026.

The Water Research Community reflects the Kingdom’s broader efforts to build an advanced research and innovation ecosystem, localize technologies, and transfer knowledge to address water scarcity challenges locally and globally. These efforts support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and reinforce the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global hub for innovation in sustainable water solutions.