Middle East Water Tech Brief – November 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 examine the accelerating shift toward renewable-powered desalination, circular resource recovery, and digital efficiency as the Middle East intensifies action on water-energy resilience. We highlight key regulatory advances, strategic investments, and groundbreaking technologies shaping water security in 2025 and beyond.

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Key Developments

Egypt: Cairo Water Week Promotes Nile Cooperation and Water Security

What’s New?

At the 8th Cairo Water Week (October 12, 2025), Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the country’s commitment to peace and sustainable water management. Egypt called for regional cooperation among Nile Basin countries and condemned Ethiopia’s unilateral actions regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

Why It Matters:

With Egypt lying below the water poverty line and depending solely on the Nile, equitable management is vital. The minister connected water access to human rights and peace, warning against actions that block Nile flows and urging consensus among basin states.

What’s Next?

Egypt will continue to monitor Eastern Nile developments, press for international legal cooperation, and promote joint climate resilience initiatives through events like Cairo Water Week.

Qatar: Kahramaa Sets Out New Water Law for Sustainability

What’s New?

Kahramaa, Qatar’s national water authority, affirmed commitment in October 2025 to implementing a new Water Law (No. 23 of 2025) targeting sustainable water management, efficiency, and better regulation in line with national development priorities.

Why It Matters:
As one of the world’s highest water-consuming countries, Qatar needs robust regulation and innovation to secure long-term water supplies and promote environmental stewardship.

What’s Next?
Expect more awareness campaigns, strict enforcement of water use regulations, and continued investment in innovative water generation and treatment technologies.

Jordan: Major Water Infrastructure Funding Approved

What’s New?

On October 11, 2025, Jordan’s government approved a €30 million agreement with German development bank KfW to support a mega water project and education programme, demonstrating commitment to strengthening national water security and infrastructure.

Why It Matters:

Such international partnerships bolster Jordan’s ability to address water scarcity, improve reliability, and enhance capacity for serving a growing population amid regional volatility.

What’s Next?

Watch for the launch of water loss reduction initiatives, further mega-project funding streams, and broader engagement with international partners to accelerate sustainable water infrastructure.

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Technology Spotlight: Innovations in Water Management

Advanced Japanese Drainage and Smart Sensor Networks Protect Alexandria

What it Does:

Japanese drainage technologies, including strategic separation of sewage and stormwater systems, deep tunnels, and smart AI-powered flood sensors, are being transferred to Alexandria, Egypt, to fortify the city against coastal flooding and infrastructure collapse.

Why it Matters:

These innovations help Alexandria confront rising sea levels and extreme rainfall events by improving real-time monitoring. AI and robotic inspections predict infrastructure failures before they occur, safeguarding valuable heritage and urban areas from disasters.

Impact:

The upgrade boosts resilience for thousands of buildings, preserves groundwater, and accelerates climate adaptation. This Egyptian-Japanese partnership sets a pioneering standard for integrating international tech in fast urbanizing, climate-stressed regions.

PlasmaPure Desalination Qualifies for Global XPRIZE—Qatar’s Next-Gen Water Tech

What it Does:

Qatar’s HBKU QEERI “PlasmaPure” team integrates advanced nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and plasma-activated multi-effect distillation. Their pilot system slashes energy demand and transforms brine into marketable minerals, competing for the $119 million XPRIZE Water Scarcity award.

Why it Matters:

This innovation helps Qatar and the GCC move toward sustainable, low-energy desalination. Novel sharkskin-inspired membranes reduce fouling, and plasma processes valorize waste, directly supporting water security and circular economy goals in arid countries.

Impact:

If scaled, the tech promises cheaper, reliable desalinated water and economic mineral recovery, accelerating GCC leadership in clean water breakthroughs and advancing the region’s Vision 2030 sustainability targets.

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Investment Tracker: Major Water Infrastructure Projects in 2025

Saudi Arabia

• Decentralized Water Purification Plant Network

• Value: SR1 billion (approx. $266 million), PPP contract

• Saudi Arabia began construction of 16 decentralized purification plants across the Kingdom. These plants, using advanced desalination and groundwater technologies, are expected to produce over 18,000 m³ of drinking water per day and were launched under a March 2025 agreement between the Saudi Water Authority and National Water Co. to drive innovation, improve water supply, and support sustainable development

Türkiye

• Silvan Irrigation Tunnel and Dam Project (Diyarbakır)

• Value: TL 27.65 billion ongoing investment (approx. $675 million), public sector contract

• Excavation began in April 2025 for Turkey’s largest irrigation tunnel, 13.2 km in length and part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) in Diyarbakır. This project, connected with the Silvan Dam, will transmit 212 m³/second to vital irrigated lands, boosting regional agricultural output and employment opportunities. It is designed to meet water security needs until 2050 and is considered the country’s second-largest irrigation initiative after the Atatürk Dam

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Upcoming Event

XIX World Water Congress: Water in a Changing World – Innovation and Adaptation

• Marrakech, Morocco – December 1-5, 2025

• Hosted by IWRA and Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water

• Explores innovation and adaptation in global water management, bringing together experts, policymakers, and the private sector to share knowledge and solutions for water security and climate resilience.

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Want More? Unlock Next-Level Intelligence

The Middle East Water Tech Brief – Premium Edition delivers expert, in-depth analysis on the region’s circular water transformation for decision-makers, investors, and innovators navigating the intersection of climate, water, and sustainability.

Why It Matters

As the Middle East accelerates renewable-powered desalination, circular resource recovery, and hydrogen-linked water planning, governments and utilities are transforming how essential resources are produced and managed. By integrating clean energy with digital optimization, the region is lowering operating costs, reducing emissions, and strengthening resilience in one of the world’s most water-stressed environments , while positioning water security as a foundation of future economic competitiveness and energy transition.

What You Will Discover

• How renewable-powered desalination in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Morocco is cutting energy dependence and insulating water supply from fossil fuel volatility

• Why circular solutions such as brine mining and zero-liquid discharge are turning environmental challenges into new industrial revenue streams

• How the rise of green hydrogen is reshaping water planning and driving investment in ultra-efficient desalination and wastewater reuse

• Where integrated policies and sovereign investment are accelerating national visions for climate-aligned growth and regional water-energy cooperation

Why Subscribe?

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