Jeddah: Under the patronage of Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, and on behalf of Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi inaugurated the fourth edition of the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS2025) today, organized by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA). The event, which continues until December 10, is attended by leading international and local officials in the water and economy sectors, as well as experts and specialists from the United Nations, the World Bank, and major organizations and companies.
According to Saudi Press Agency, SWA President Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim delivered a speech in which he noted that the world faces a clear gap between the importance of water in the global economy-where it contributes to about 60% of global output-and the low volume of investment in environmental innovation, which does not exceed 1%. He said that water-related patents represent only 5% of total environmental patents, while venture investment in the sector remains below 0.5%.
Al-Abdulkarim stressed that transcontinental challenges require the combined efforts of all disciplines, not only in technologies, but also in developing business models, financing mechanisms, and policies, adding that global innovation exchange is the true driver of the future.
During the event, the Jeddah governor announced the launch of the ‘Water Oasis’ in Rabigh, which is considered one of the world’s most advanced integrated research and innovation ecosystems dedicated to developing qualitative solutions in water and supply chains. SWA officially entered the Guinness World Records with a new record for the world’s largest innovation water oasis, covering an area of 33,395.88 square meters, adding another global achievement to the Kingdom’s record of accomplishments in the water sector.
The governor also honored the winning projects of the third edition of the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW 2025), in addition to honoring 12 winners of the Impact Medals following a global competition that attracted more than 2,500 innovators from more than 119 countries.
The prince toured the accompanying exhibition, which featured more than 100 exhibitors showcasing the latest advancements in water technologies, including desalination solutions, water reuse, digital transformation, regulatory governance, and emerging innovations in the water industry. The exhibition reflects the scientific and technological progress achieved by this year’s edition.