Dushanbe, The Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley emphasised that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved the highest growth rates in the doubling of desalinated water production, the expansion of strategic storage capacities, and the extension of water transmission lines. Additionally, the Kingdom has achieved high levels of wastewater treatment and reuse in the agriculture and industrial sectors, which has led to a reduction in the demand for non-renewable groundwater and the support of the objectives of integrated water resources management.
During his participation at the 3rd High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of International Decade for Action themed “Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028”, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 10 to 13 June, Al-Fadley stated that the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making significant and ongoing efforts to improve water sustainability. “In 2018, the government launched the Na
tional Water Strategy and achieved global leadership in the desalination system by setting nine Guinness World Records in the fields of production, transportation, and strategic storage,” he said, adding that the government has reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions in seawater desalination operations.
In addition to international contributions to support the growth and sustainability of the water sector, Al-Fadley affirmed that the Kingdom is working to strengthen its joint global role to address the challenges associated with sustainable development goals. The Kingdom has launched an initiative to establish the World Water Organisation in Riyadh and has provided funds to several countries on various continents, totalling over $6 billion.
The environment minister emphasised that the Kingdom is committed to prioritising water issues on the global agenda. This commitment is demonstrated through participating in the Group of Twenty (G20) and hosting various local and international forums and conferen
ces. These initiatives aim to promote research, innovation, and international cooperation in order to preserve and responsibly utilise this crucial resource.
He said the Kingdom awaits the outcome of this conference, confident it will support the objectives and work of the World Water Forum, which the Kingdom will host for its eleventh session in 2027.
Source: Saudi Press Agency