The Middle East and North Africa are confronting an increasingly urgent struggle with water scarcity. As climate change intensifies — bringing higher temperatures and more frequent droughts — the region has become central to global efforts to develop advanced water solutions.
At the Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference in Jeddah this month, Saudi Arabia showcased its leadership in desalination technologies and water innovation. With water scarcity reaching critical levels across the Arab world, governments are committing to ambitious initiatives and forming strategic partnerships, positioning the MENA region as a global leader in water security.
Water shortages have long challenged major MENA nations, and unpredictable climate patterns have only deepened the crisis. In response, regional governments are accelerating investment in desalination and infrastructure, with plans to nearly double current desalination capacity by 2030. The region already produces 60 percent of the world’s desalinated water and aims to increase investment from $39.3 billion in 2022 to $100 billion by 2030. These efforts reflect mounting global demand for freshwater — projected to rise by up to 25 percent by 2050 — and a regional population expected to grow by 30 percent between 2020 and 2050.
Saudi Arabia is leading these developments, targeting a 10 percent increase in desalination output to 17.8 million cubic meters per day by 2030. Desalination is now indispensable across the Gulf: 90 percent of Kuwait’s drinking water, 70 percent of Saudi Arabia’s, 42 percent of the UAE’s, and 86 percent of Oman’s all come from desalination. As demand rises, desalination has shifted from an option to an essential resource.
A major milestone came last month when Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif inaugurated the Toray Membrane Middle East Factory in Dammam. The facility — the largest of its kind regionally — is a partnership between Abunayyan Holding and Japan’s Toray Industries. With investments exceeding $267 million, the plant will produce 300,000 membranes annually, strengthening supply-chain localization and boosting industrial self-sufficiency.
Saudi Arabia is also innovating beyond conventional desalination. A pioneering collaboration between the Saudi Water Authority and US-based Ebb Carbon aims to decarbonize the desalination process, marking the world’s first large-scale initiative focused on reducing emissions from water production. This step aligns with the Kingdom’s broader commitment to coupling water security with environmental sustainability.
Oman is making notable progress as well. In mid-2025, it opened its first solar-powered desalination plant in Musandam. Operating entirely on solar energy and using reverse osmosis, the facility reduces both dependency on fossil fuels and the environmental impacts associated with traditional desalination.
As the region expands its desalination capacity, its influence in the global water industry continues to grow. Technology is a major driver of this momentum. MENA nations are not only scaling production but also investing in advanced systems like reverse osmosis and multistage flash distillation. Saudi Arabia and the UAE host some of the world’s largest plants: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Desalination Plant, for example, produces 1.02 million cubic meters of water daily, while Qatar’s Ras Abu Fontas A facility generates more than 400,000 cubic meters per day.
Yet, the rapid expansion of desalination brings new challenges. One of the most significant is the energy–water feedback loop: as desalination output increases, so does energy consumption — particularly for cooling — which in turn increases water demand for power systems, reinforcing the need for even more desalination. This interdependence raises concerns about long-term resource sustainability.
Cost is another major issue. According to the World Bank, desalinated water in Saudi Arabia costs about $1.50 per cubic meter, similar to prices in the UAE. These high production costs ultimately affect consumers and can restrict access, especially in lower-income communities.
As the MENA region continues to position itself at the forefront of water innovation, its future success will require more than technological advancement alone. Sustainable growth will depend on the region’s ability to balance expanding capacity with responsible management of environmental and economic resources. A holistic approach — integrating technology, energy efficiency, and long-term conservation — will be essential for securing a resilient water future.
(Source: Arab News)