Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed that addressing global water challenges requires moving beyond discussions to practical solutions on the ground through strengthening the integration of policies and science, supporting innovation, expanding financing opportunities in the water sector, and developing more efficient and effective mechanisms for international cooperation.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom called on countries, decision-makers, and experts from around the world to participate in the 11th World Water Forum, which Riyadh will host in 2027, with the aim of strengthening strategic partnerships and supporting innovative solutions that build a more sustainable global water future.
This came during the participation of Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture Dr. Abdulaziz Alshaibani in the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action 'Water for Sustainable Development', 2018-2028, heading a high-level delegation.
The conference is hosted by the Republic of Tajikistan in the capital Dushanbe from May 25 to 28, 2026, organized jointly by the Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations. The conference aims to support the implementation of the objectives of the International Decade for Action and to accelerate progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation.
In the Kingdom's address delivered at the conference's plenary session, Dr. Alshibani expressed Saudi Arabia's appreciation to the Government of Tajikistan for organizing the conference and its role in keeping water issues among the priorities of the global development agenda. He noted that the world is going through a stage in which water challenges are increasingly linked to climate risks, economic development, and food security.
The deputy minister highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to advance the water sector under Saudi Vision 2030. He noted that these efforts include restructuring and governance of the sector across the entire supply chain, enhancing efficiency in management and operations, expanding projects for water treatment and reuse, improving infrastructure performance, and strengthening private-sector participation. He also underscored Saudi Arabia's global leadership in water desalination technologies, along with investment in innovation, research, and development.
Moreover, he highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen international cooperation in the water sector.
Dr. Alshibani indicated that among the most notable initiatives is the 2023 announcement by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, of the establishment of the Global Water Organization, aimed at enhancing international cooperation, knowledge exchange, innovation, and capacity-building across various water fields.
He noted that the organization's charter was signed by eight founding countries in May 2025.
Additionally, he pointed to the Kingdom's launch of the International Water Research Center during COP16 in Riyadh, designed as a global platform for scientific research, cooperation, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking to address current and future water challenges.