Middle East Water Tech Brief – May 2025
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.
Water security across the Middle East is entering a transformative era, driven by strategic investments, climate-resilient infrastructure, and smart water technologies.
In this edition of the Middle East Water Tech Brief, we spotlight the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) bold advances in desalination, wastewater reuse, flood protection, and decentralized purification systems—each aligned with national development goals like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050.
From Riyadh’s $533M infrastructure expansion to atmospheric water generation breakthroughs in Abu Dhabi, this issue tracks how innovation and capital are shaping the region’s circular, resilient, and technology-enabled water systems.
Key Developments
Saudi Arabia: $533 Million Investment in Riyadh Water and Sewerage Infrastructure
What’s New?
Saudi Arabia has launched 30 water and sewerage projects across the Riyadh region, investing $533 million to expand service coverage and enhance system efficiency.
Why It Matters:
Improving water and sewerage infrastructure is critical for sustainable urban development and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.
What’s Next?
The projects will be executed in phases with continuous monitoring to support Riyadh’s rapid urban growth and service quality improvements.
Oman: Inauguration of Wadi Al Jifnain Flood Protection Dam
What’s New?
Oman inaugurated the RO 45.6 million Wadi Al Jifnain Dam in Seeb to enhance flood protection for residential and commercial areas using advanced monitoring technologies.
Why It Matters:
The dam strengthens flood resilience while preserving ecological corridors, supporting Oman’s integrated water management strategy.
What’s Next?
Real-time monitoring will optimize water management, setting a model for future climate-resilient infrastructure projects.
UAE: Portable Desalination Units for Cyprus
What’s New?
The United Arab Emirates is providing Cyprus with portable desalination units free of charge to address emergency water shortages following a major plant outage.
Why It Matters:
The units, producing up to 15,000 cubic meters daily, strengthen Cyprus’ water resilience during peak demand periods.
What’s Next?
Deployment is underway, with future opportunities for broader regional water security cooperation.
Technology Spotlight: Innovations in Water Management
Capacitive Deionization for Water Purification
What it Does:
Capacitive deionization uses an electrical charge to remove contaminants from water without membranes or chemicals, reducing energy use and waste.
Why it Matters:
The technology supports Saudi Arabia’s shift to sustainable, energy-efficient water purification and expands clean water access for residential and industrial use.
Impact:
Stockholm Water Technology and DRC-ChemTec will deploy 1,750 systems over four years, treating 3,500 cubic meters per day with plans to expand into wastewater reuse.
WaHa Vaporator for Atmospheric Water Generation
What it Does:
The WaHa Vaporator extracts potable water from air humidity with high energy efficiency, operating independently of traditional water supplies.
Why it Matters:
The technology supports water security in arid regions by providing a decentralized, reliable, and sustainable source of drinking water.
Impact:
Field tests in Abu Dhabi show 100% uptime and 99.9% reliability, with plans to expand deployment across the UAE and the wider Middle East.
Investment Tracker: Major Water Infrastructure Projects in 2025
Egypt
Agriculture and Irrigation Expansion Plan
$332M (Toshka, Sinai, New Delta)
Advances water-efficient agriculture, modern irrigation, and agricultural reclamation to boost exports and crop productivity.
Kuwait
Smart Water Meter Rollout
125,000 units (Phase II)
Expands smart water metering across Kuwait to enhance efficiency, debt recovery, and service delivery modernization.
Saudi Arabia
National Water Company Infrastructure Expansion
$1.61B (30 projects)
Expanding water and sanitation networks across Hail, Qassim, and Riyadh to improve service coverage, water quality, and supply reliability for over 270,000 people.
UAE
Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnels Project
$22B (6 packages)
Modernizing Dubai’s sewage and recycled water infrastructure through deep tunnels and treatment plant expansions under a 25–35-year PPP framework.
Upcoming Event
Stormwater and Wastewater Conference Saudi Arabia | June 23–24, 2025 – Hilton Hotel, Jeddah
Focus on stormwater management, wastewater recycling, and urban resilience
Speakers include deputy ministers, NWC leadership, and major urban developers
Key platform for advancing Saudi Arabia’s water reuse and infrastructure strategies
Want More? Unlock Exclusive Expert Insights
Go deeper with exclusive access to expert-driven analysis on how the Middle East is shaping the future of global water resilience and innovation.
Insight: Water Infrastructure Is the Foundation of Resilient Economies
Explore how strategic projects in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Oman are transforming urban water systems and future-proofing economic growth across the Gulf.
Insight: Financing Innovation Is Accelerating Water Security
Dive into how PPP models, BOOT contracts, and blended finance strategies are reshaping how large-scale water projects are delivered across the region.
Insight: GCC Water Leadership Is Going Global
See how Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman are exporting water management expertise to emerging markets in North Africa, Central Asia, and beyond.
Insight: Smart Water Technologies Are Redefining Sustainability
Learn how decentralized purification, atmospheric water generation, and smart metering initiatives are building circular, technology-enabled water economies.
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