Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in driving innovation for a secure global water future intensified on day 2 of the IDWS.
Hosted in Jeddah, the 4th Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS) 2025 shifted focus to practical delivery. Global thought leaders presented real-world case studies regarding the circular use of resources and advanced treatment. Furthermore, experts highlighted how organisations are actively seeking cross-sector collaboration to enhance operations and transparency. They also discussed adopting new technologies to improve resource efficiency across the entire water cycle. Consequently, public-private partnerships remain crucial to keeping water flowing efficiently for future generations.
Bryan Harvey from Jacobs delivered a deep dive into the vision for a water-secure future. He provided a strategic overview of global challenges, including mega-projects and desalination advances. Harvey cited the River Thames Project as an innovative leap in modern urban water management. This project collects excessive water from London’s drains to effectively prevent pollution. Uniquely, the project combines public and private sector investments to ensure long-term sustainability. Moreover, it reduces dependency on the public sector while unlocking further private investment.
Meanwhile, ACWA Power and the Saudi Water Partnership Company discussed the Kingdom’s private sector growth. They noted that Saudi companies are driving innovation and efficiency in water projects worldwide. Khaled Almedbel emphasised that every country requires proper infrastructure, such as water pipelines and grid connections. He added that adapting to international market differences is vital for delivering specific needs. Additionally, a panel of industry leaders explored the transformative impact of smart city initiatives. They examined AI-based leak detection and digital twin applications across complex water networks.
“We need to create a water-secure world. Water isn’t just essential for life – it’s the bedrock of economic growth, social progress, and climate mitigation,” said Victoria Edwards, President & Founder of FIDO Tech.
The panel analysed how AI revolutionises water management through real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. Furthermore, technologies like IoT sensors now detect leaks before they escalate into major issues. These tools empower utility companies to make data-driven decisions that support sustainability efforts. However, Sam De Boo from Ecolab issued a stark warning regarding rising water consumption. He emphasised the urgent need to address the growing water footprint of artificial intelligence. Significantly, AI may consume as much water as the United States’ annual drinking needs by 2030.
“We can create more energy, but we cannot create more water,” he warned, noting that the world’s entire freshwater supply would fit into a 55km bubble – roughly the size of Riyadh’s metropolitan area.
In another session, Mohamad Ali from IBM outlined how technology adoption boosts efficiencies significantly. He explained that IBM reduced costs by USD 3.5 billion by applying AI solutions. Additionally, IBM Consulting is working with SWA on the new ‘H₂O Platform’ to analyse assets. This platform tracks water from production through consumption to recycling to boost overall efficiencies. Meanwhile, technical briefings examined the circular use of by-products and robust monitoring systems. Dr Ibrahim Hendy detailed how constructed wetlands mimic natural systems to treat wastewater effectively.
Katherine Nightingale from WaterAid later analysed climate vulnerabilities in populated cities like Nairobi. She shared insights on the relationship between drought, flooding, and groundwater absorption. Nightingale hailed IDWS 2025 as a platform for invaluable learning for mayors and planners. Consequently, Saudi Arabia continued to serve as a hub for collaborative innovators through MoU signings. The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in regulating water services. SWA also signed agreements to improve the efficiency of brine and discharge management.
Italmatch Chemicals and IntelliSense agreed on a partnership focused on AI-driven optimisation of desalination. A spokesperson for Italmatch Chemicals said: “Through this agreement, we are localising key chemicals used in membrane pretreatment and combining them with advanced technical support to deliver the most efficient desalination performance for SWA. Partnering with Intellisense enables us to bring AI-driven optimisation together with our chemistry expertise to create a smarter, more sustainable solution for the Kingdom’s water sector,”.
“At IntelliSense, we specialise in real-time industrial optimisation using artificial intelligence, and we are already supporting critical industries in Saudi Arabia, including mining and water preservation. Our partnership with Italmatch is unique because it brings chemistry and AI together for the first time in an integrated desalination solution, helping SWA and other stakeholders enhance reliability, reduce costs and safeguard precious water resources,” added a company spokesperson.
Eng. Mohammed AL Sheikh. Deputy for Strategic Partnerships and Local Content at SWA, said: “Day two of IDWS 2025 amplified the Kingdom’s progress in fostering and applying world-class solutions to solve current and future water challenges – from cross-sector partnerships to circular water initiatives; from residuals management and enhanced monitoring to transparent ESG reporting. Once again, the Kingdom is providing a platform for real-world action and the milestones discussed and marked this week underscore Saudi Arabia’s steadfast commitment to impactful implementation and to building a resilient water future for all”.
Basma Dawwas, Event Director at Tahaluf, said: “Our goal with SWA for IDWS was to ignite meaningful, solutions-driven progress to a pressing global challenge. We’ve built an environment where innovators come together with forward-thinking concepts that inform and drive momentum. Day two continued this energy, bringing together innovators, financiers, and government leaders to forge partnerships that can redefine global water sustainability standards”.
IDWS 2025 will enter its final day on Wednesday with a shift towards future opportunities. The closing day demonstrates how Saudi Arabia remains at the forefront of this transformation. It champions bold ideas and practical solutions that accelerate change across the global sector. For more information and to register for a complimentary conference pass, please visit: https://www.idwsc.com.
About the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) The Saudi Water Authority is the national entity responsible for regulating, developing, and sustaining the water sector in the Kingdom. The Authority works to ensure water security through integrated planning, the application of global best practices in water resource management, the promotion of research and innovation, and the strengthening of public-private partnerships. The Authority aims to achieve high operational efficiency and improve service quality in alignment with the environmental and economic sustainability goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
About the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS) IDWS is the leading event in the Arab region and the Gulf, bringing together policymakers, experts, and innovators to accelerate sustainable water solutions through investment, policy development, and innovation. The conference has become a key platform for international cooperation and showcasing advanced technologies, with hundreds of speakers and thousands of participants from around the world.
Media Contacts: Yazeed Al-Nuwaysir, Public Relations – Saudi Water Authority yalnuwaysir@swa.gov.sa
Lama Al-Qasem Public Relations & Communications – Tahaluf press.IDWS@Tahaluf.com
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