Middle East Water Tech Brief – October 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 accelerating risk of “Day Zero” shortages, Morocco’s bold desalination and floatovoltaics initiatives, and Tunisia’s WaterSec as a global AI-driven innovation. We also track major infrastructure investments and preview the Saudi Water Partnership Company Forum, highlighting how technology and partnerships are shaping regional resilience.
Key Developments
Accelerated Risk of “Day Zero” Water Shortages
What’s New?
A new study highlights that hotspots of acute drinking water shortages—“Day Zero” episodes—could emerge in 35% of drought-prone regions within the next 15 years, far sooner than previously projected. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, already the most water-scarce globally, is among the most at risk as climate change and rising demand accelerate stress on limited freshwater resources.
Why It Matters:
These intensifying conditions could expose hundreds of millions of people across MENA and the Mediterranean basin to severe shortages, with urban populations particularly vulnerable. In countries where per capita freshwater availability is already below critical scarcity thresholds, the findings underscore that water crises are a pressing near-term challenge rather than a distant scenario.
What’s Next?
Regional policymakers must accelerate investment in adaptation, integrated planning, and demand management strategies. Even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C, populations across MENA will continue to face unprecedented pressure on water supplies, highlighting the urgency of systemic responses to secure resilience.
Morocco: Large-Scale Desalination Network Combatting Water Stress
What’s New?
The Casablanca-Settat region is implementing a large-scale desalination initiative, establishing approximately 30 stations to counter the dual pressures of declining rainfall and increasing water demand. Of these, 17 modular seawater desalination units using reverse osmosis technology are already operational, with more under development.
Why It Matters:
Supported by a 400-million-dirham investment, the program is vital for securing drinking water supplies in the face of climate change and rapid urbanization. A major facility with an annual production capacity of 200 million cubic meters is expected to meet up to 80% of the region’s requirements once operational.
What’s Next?
The Regional Multi-Service Company (SRM) Casablanca-Settat is managing the rollout, with measures that include rigorous monitoring of water resources and awareness initiatives to promote conservation and ensure long-term security.
Morocco: Floatovoltaics Pilot Project Reduces Dam Water Evaporation
What’s New?
A pioneering pilot project near Tangier has deployed more than 400 floating solar platforms on a reservoir. This system addresses water loss by reducing evaporation while also generating renewable energy—an increasingly important measure during the dry season from April to September.
Why It Matters:
The floating photovoltaic panels both produce electricity and shield the water surface, significantly reducing losses. When fully expanded with 22,000 panels, the project is projected to conserve approximately 1.2 million cubic meters of water annually, equivalent to 1% of Tangier’s total yearly demand.
What’s Next?
Plans call for expansion across 10 hectares, providing up to 13 megawatts of power to the Tangier Med port complex. Feasibility assessments are underway for two additional floating solar sites near Marrakech and in northern Morocco.
Technology Spotlight: Innovations in Water Management
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) for Industrial Water Reuse
What it Does:
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology operates Jordan’s first integrated industrial wastewater treatment facility in Zarqa. It recycles wastewater from operations such as soda and chlorine production, ensuring minimal liquid waste while supporting industrial water reuse.
Why it Matters:
The system reduces freshwater demand by up to 25% and lowers water-related costs by 30%. ZLD strengthens Jordan’s national strategy to expand non-conventional resources while enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of domestic industries.
Impact:
Processing 150 cubic meters of wastewater daily, the facility saves approximately JD 130,000 annually. It serves as a scalable model for industries to transform environmental risks into opportunities for cost efficiency and sustainable growth.
WaterSec: AI-Powered IoT for Real-Time Water Monitoring
What it Does:
WaterSec, a Tunisian startup, provides an AI-driven Internet of Things (IoT) solution that prevents water wastage by monitoring usage in real time. Its web and mobile platforms track consumption patterns, issue alerts, and empower users to detect leaks.
Why it Matters:
The platform helps households and businesses optimize water use, reduce wastage, and lower bills. By enabling early leak detection and flow control, it fosters greater water awareness and strengthens regional strategies to address long-term water scarcity.
Impact:
Selected by the Davos Forum in 2024 among the 50 most promising startups globally, WaterSec highlights Tunisia’s role in digital innovation. Its recognition underscores the global potential of MENA-born solutions to deliver impactful, sustainable technologies.
Investment Tracker: Major Water Infrastructure Projects in 2025
Kuwait
Doha SWRO Desalination Plant (Stage 2)
Valued at KD 114.3 million (USD 377 million), the project has been awarded to the Heisco–VA Tech Wabag consortium. The contract covers supply, erection, and full O&M services for the advanced seawater reverse osmosis desalination facility.
Türkiye
Flood and Drought Management Project
Backed by USD 600 million in World Bank financing, this national initiative strengthens Türkiye’s resilience to climate change. It integrates infrastructure upgrades, advanced early warning systems, and institutional capacity building to improve long-term water resources management.
Upcoming Event
Saudi Water Partnership Company Forum – Riyadh | November 2–3, 2025 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Focus on public-private partnerships (PPPs) in desalination, wastewater treatment, transmission, and strategic storage to secure national water supply
Features government leaders, international developers, utilities, and investors shaping the region’s water future
Strategic platform for showcasing innovations, advancing investment opportunities, and aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 sustainability goals
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