Saudi Arabia’s role as a driver of innovation for a safer, secure future for global water was amplified at the fouth Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS) held last month (December 8 to 10) in Jeddah.

Industry experts gathered to highlight how organisations are seeking cross-sector collaboration, adopting new technologies and adapting data to enhance operations, resource efficiency and transparency across the water cycle.

In the opening keynote session, Bryan Harvey, Vice-President ME at Jacobs, delivered a deep dive into the future of water in a session titled ‘From Scarcity to Sustainability: The Vision for a Water-Secure Future’.

He gave a strategic overview of global water security challenges and evolving strategies, including mega-projects, desalination advances, and the emergence of regional hubs driving water technology excellence across different continents.

Citing the River Thames Project in the UK as an example, he explained how it represents an innovative leap in urban water management, collecting excessive water from London’s drains and wastewater pipes to prevent pollution.

Elsewhere, Khaled Almedbel, Vice-President of Business Development at Acwa Power, and Mohammed Alyousif, Executive Director at Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) discussed how Saudi Arabia’s private sector is emerging as a global powerhouse in water infrastructure investment and, with Vision 2030 as a catalyst, Saudi companies are driving innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in water projects worldwide.