RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s water sector has attracted investments exceeding SR60 billion ($16 billion) as the Kingdom expands private-sector participation and strengthens water security, a top minister said.
Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli cited the figure at the inaugural Saudi Water Week in Jeddah but did not specify the period over which the investments were made.
He said the Kingdom has significantly expanded its desalination capacity, with daily production rising from 9 million cubic meters in 2016 to 16 million cubic meters in 2025, underscoring continued investment in water infrastructure and strengthening supply security.
This comes as Saudi Arabia continues to accelerate public-private partnerships across the water sector. The Saudi Water Partnership Co., the Kingdom’s primary water offtaker, manages a privatization investment portfolio valued at SR56 billion across 48 water and wastewater projects.
Speaking at the forum, Al-Fadhli said: “The clarity of regulatory frameworks, contracting, and the expansion of partnership models and their ownership have contributed to creating investments exceeding SR60 billion.”
