Saudi Arabia is set to host one of the world’s most influential gatherings focused on water innovation and sustainability—IDWS 2025, the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference—taking place from December 8–10, 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton in Jeddah. Under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the event will convene global leaders, technologists, and policymakers to tackle urgent water challenges, with desalination technologies taking center stage.
Organized by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), the conference will unveil the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW)—the region’s largest award for breakthrough water solutions. A key focus will be on next-generation desalination, including energy-efficient systems, digital twins, and scalable reverse osmosis innovations that can transform water production and reuse.
The event will also feature Miyahthon, a water innovation hackathon inviting startups and young engineers to co-create solutions across the water cycle, with a strong emphasis on desalination and digital water management. Winning teams will receive mentorship, incubation, and funding opportunities to pilot their technologies in the Kingdom and beyond.
Complementing the conference, the Water Academy will launch advanced training programs in partnership with London Business School and other global institutions, aiming to build capacity in desalination engineering, water policy, and sustainable infrastructure.
With global water demand projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a leader in desalination innovation—leveraging its Vision 2030 goals to drive sustainable water solutions for the region and the world.
(Source: ZAWYA)