Middle East Water Tech Brief – April 2025

Advancing Water Innovation in the Middle East

Welcome to this month’s edition of the Middle East Water Tech Brief, your essential source for the latest water innovations, investments, and policies shaping the region’s water security.

This edition highlights the most influential developments shaping water futures in the Middle East, from AI-powered leak detection to groundbreaking international partnerships and investment surges.

Key Highlights This Month

• Saudi Arabia’s Smart Leak Detection Rollout – AI-driven systems reduce non-revenue water losses in major cities.

• UAE–World Bank Global Water Alliance – Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative partners to scale global water innovation.

• AI in Desalination – Saudi Arabia is harnessing artificial intelligence to optimize operations and cut ecological impacts.

• Technology Spotlight – From KAUST’s water-retaining soil innovations to satellite-IoT monitoring tools, new solutions are emerging fast.

• Investment Tracker – Major infrastructure projects across Oman, Egypt, the UAE, and Morocco.

Want exclusive expert insights on how Middle Eastern Sovereign Wealth Funds are reshaping global water security, plus in-depth analysis of policy reforms, regulatory innovation, and next-gen desalination technologies?

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Key Developments

Saudi Arabia: Smart Urban Water Network Deployment

• What’s New? Saudi Water Partnership Company is deploying an AI-driven smart leak detection system across major cities.

• Why It Matters: With non-revenue water losses averaging 30%, early detection tech is a game-changer for sustainability and cost-efficiency.

• What’s Next? Phased expansion to secondary cities and integration with predictive maintenance systems.

Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative–World Bank Alliance: Driving Global Water Innovation

• What’s New? At the 2025 World Governments Summit, the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and the World Bank signed an MoU to address global water scarcity through innovation and investment.

• Why It Matters: The partnership combines UAE leadership with global development expertise to scale sustainable water solutions in areas like irrigation, reuse, and desalination.

• What’s Next? Focus areas include innovation ecosystems, new financing models, and cross-sector platforms to deploy scalable water security solutions.

AI in Desalination: Enhancing Efficiency in Saudi Arabia

• What’s New? Saudi Arabia is integrating AI into its desalination processes to improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

• Why It Matters: By leveraging AI, the Kingdom aims to optimize desalination operations, thereby conserving energy and minimizing ecological footprints.

• What’s Next? Continued investment in AI-driven technologies is expected to further enhance water production efficiency, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals.

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Technology Spotlight: Innovations in Water Management

KAUST SandX & CarboSoil

• What it Does: SandX reduces water evaporation by 80%, while CarboSoil enhances soil water retention and captures carbon.

• Why it Matters: Supports water conservation and sustainable agriculture in arid environments.

• Impact: Field trials underway in Saudi Arabia, with plans to scale across the Middle East.

Krucial Water Monitoring System

• What it Does: Combines satellite imagery and IoT sensors to real-time insights on both water quality and quantity.

• Why it Matters: Enables predictive management of drought, runoff, and water pollution using scalable, adaptive tools.

• Impact: Currently advancing toward pilot testing, with real-world demonstrations planned in 2025.

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Investment Tracker: Major Water Infrastructure Projects in 2025

Oman

• National Water Expansion Plan

• $1.82B (27 projects)

• Expands water/sanitation infrastructure to benefit ~938,000 people

Egypt

• NWFE Renewable Energy Projects

• 3,700 MW (solar)

• Boosts clean energy share to 42% by 2030, supports water-energy nexus

UAE

• Smart Metering Deployment

• 100% customers; 40% integrated

• Improves service quality and consumption management via EtihadWE

Morocco

• Water Highway Project

• National Scale

• Supplies major cities with treated northern river water

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Upcoming Event

World Future Energy Summit | April 16–18, 2025 – Abu Dhabi

• Focus on water-energy nexus and technology innovation

• Speakers include ministers, Veolia MENA CEO, and regional utility heads

• Key opportunity for public-private collaboration

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Want More? Unlock Exclusive Expert Insights

Subscribe to the premium edition for exclusive access to:

• Insight: Sovereign capital is reshaping global water security

  How Middle Eastern Sovereign Wealth Funds are accelerating resilience through investments in desalination, groundwater treatment, and PPP infrastructure—from Saudi Arabia to the UK and Uzbekistan.

• Insight: Policy reform is becoming the backbone of water governance

  In-depth analysis of Lebanon’s World Bank–backed water sector reform and Abu Dhabi’s new 2025 Water Quality Regulation driving regional standards.

• Insight: Desalination meets digitalization

  Explore how graphene membranes, solar desalination, and AI-powered purification are redefining energy-efficient water treatment.

• Insight: The region is becoming a water tech market-maker

  Get forecasts on the explosive growth of desalination and atmospheric water generation technologies across MENA.

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