Water Research Community Concludes with 12 Agreements Signed and 130 Research Proposals Received

The Saudi Water Authority (SWA), represented by the Water Technologies Innovation Institute and Advanced Research (WTIIRA), concluded the seventh edition of the Water Research Community at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Riyadh, in collaboration with KACST. The edition saw the signing of 12 agreements and the submission of 130 research proposals, with the participation of nearly 400 researchers, experts, and representatives from government entities, universities, research centers, and industry from Saudi Arabia and abroad.

Among the 12 agreements signed was a memorandum of understanding with the Council of Universities’ Affairs to strengthen integration between academia and industry and provide pathways for applied research, as well as an agreement with Qassim University to establish a joint research laboratory at the Water Innovation Oasis in Rabigh. Research groups for Umm Al-Qura University and the University of Tabuk were also launched at the Oasis. SWA also supports the application of research through research grants worth up to SAR 2 million, benefiting eight academic and research entities.

During his opening remarks, H.E. Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of the Saudi Water Authority, described the delivery of water services across the Kingdom, despite its vast geographic scale, as a “technological miracle” achieved by the grace of God, followed by the leadership’s vision and the advanced infrastructure it has enabled. He explained that the sector has progressed from building large-scale facilities to operating them with accumulated expertise, providing feedback to global manufacturers, and contributing to improvements in equipment efficiency, which has helped localize their industries in the Kingdom. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is now at the forefront of the global water sector and is advancing toward owning advanced technologies and delivering their next generation to the world.

H.E. added: “Scientific research in the water sector does not end with a research paper; it begins with one.” He explained that SWA works with KACST, universities, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs to connect big data and operational challenges with research, development, and application.

He noted that the sector’s smart infrastructure generates more than 11 billion unique signals every day, providing insights into performance efficiency, operating conditions, and opportunities for improvement. He added that improving reverse osmosis membrane efficiency by just 1% could save more than 10 megawatts of electricity, while innovation opportunities extend from water production to water reuse, supporting water availability and accessibility for all at an affordable cost.

The program for this edition featured four technical workshops focused on sustainability and advanced materials, process innovation, clean and renewable energy, and the circular economy, in addition to a training workshop on materials engineering in water research. The accompanying exhibition featured more than 60 scientific posters, including 15 presented by KACST. Topics ranged from technologies for localizing reverse osmosis membrane manufacturing, radioactive groundwater treatment and AI-enabled resource recovery, and the use of waste heat from data centers for water production, to solutions for acidic and greywater, underwater object and water leak detection, and precision and sustainable agriculture.

The Water Research Community aims to convert approximately 15% of submitted proposals into applied projects, publish more than 250 scientific papers, register 20 high-impact patents, fund more than 15 projects, and establish Saudi startups with a market value exceeding SAR 300 million. It also aims to move 6–10 technologies annually from experimentation to commercial application, while the annual economic impact of these efforts is expected to reach SAR 3 billion.

These targets reflect Saudi Arabia’s growing research base. The Kingdom ranks third globally in the scientific impact of highly cited publications related to desalinated water production, after China and the United States, and tenth in dams and surface water. Saudi scientific publications in the water sector increased by 93% between 2015 and 2020, while the number of registered patents increased from 7,000 in 2015 to 13,000 in 2025.

Across seven editions held in Al Khobar, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Tabuk, Dhahran, Manchester, and Riyadh, the Water Research Community has brought together more than 1,900 researchers and experts, received more than 470 research proposals, and recorded a total of 47 strategic agreements.