Saudi Water Authority Organizes U.S.-Saudi Water Summit 2025 in California

Friday at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, California. Organized by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), the summit was a part of SWA's delegation visit to the United States, headed by SWA President Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, from September 28 to October 7, with the participation of representatives from the public and private sectors.

In his opening remarks, SWA president welcomed participants and emphasized that the event serves as a pivotal platform for strengthening international cooperation in addressing water challenges, as well as an opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise and to develop innovative solutions that contribute to a more secure and sustainable future.

He noted that in recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has undergone major transformations that have positioned it among the world’s leading countries in the water sector, driven by its ambitious vision and pioneering projects that place innovation and advanced technologies at the core of its efforts.

-- His Excellency emphasized that the Saudi experience transcended the traditional focus on infrastructure expansion and resource development, evolving into a globally recognized model distinguished by record-breaking operational efficiency, advanced energy conservation, minimized environmental impact, and an integrated approach that extends its benefits across the entire spectrum of economic and industrial sectors.

-- He added that holding the summit in San Francisco, adjacent to Silicon Valley, reflects the alignment between Saudi Arabia’s vision and global directions in developing cross-border solutions. He also affirmed that the Kingdom’s agenda at this summit goes beyond its national interests, contributing instead to the service of all humanity, for the true value of water is only realized when it is lost.

-- His Excellency concluded his remarks by stressing that the SWA's organization of this summit reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to transforming challenges into opportunities and sharing its pioneering expertise with the world to shape a safer water future, reinforcing its position as an influential force in sustainability, water innovation, and service to humanity.

The summit featured a series of panel discussions, research papers, and presentations from both the Saudi and U.S. sides, delivered by members of the Saudi delegation and leading American institutions and companies. The sessions highlighted innovative experiences and solutions in the water sector.

The discussions addressed key themes, including desalination and water reuse technologies, digital transformation and smart networks, sustainability and environmental protection, financing and investment, and innovation and entrepreneurship, reflecting the richness of the dialogue and the alignment of perspectives between experts and specialists from both countries.

The Saudi-U.S. Water Summit served as a key stop in the delegation’s tour, during which members visited several U.S. institutions and major companies, including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Xylem, Plug and Play, and Google. The visits aimed to strengthen technical cooperation and gain insights into successful global experiences.

The summit brought together government, regulatory, investment, and research leaders from the Kingdom and the U.S. It also highlighted the Kingdom’s pioneering experience in transforming the water sector and its advancements in desalination and water transmission, achieving global records in operational efficiency, energy consumption reduction, and environmental impact mitigation, thus cementing its position as a global leader in water resource management.

The event also witnessed the signing of eight memorandum of understanding (MoUs) between the SWA and several U.S. entities and companies. The agreements aim to build capacity, exchange knowledge in the water sector, explore advanced solutions, and strengthen research and innovation cooperation, in addition to developing human capital, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable water management.