The countries that comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) face significant water challenges, due to their being located in one of the most arid regions on Earth. Saudi Arabia, as the largest country in the GCC, is particularly at risk due growing demand from its population, and significant needs from the agriculture and industrial sectors. These demands have put significant pressure on natural water reserves, combined with the fact that rainfall is, generally speaking, scant.
Experts also note that the Kingdom loses a significant 40% of its water supply, due to inefficiencies in its distribution networks. As climate patterns continue to shift and demand grows, the Kingdom is making significant investments into water infrastructure to secure its future. Here, Jason Saundalkar, Head of Content at Big Project Middle East talks to Abdulaziz Daghestani, Area Sales Director, Water Utilities, MENA and Country Director for Saudi Arabia at Grundfos about solutions that can bridge the gap between demand and supply and ensure long-term resilience.
Given the significant development underway in the Kingdom and the increasing impact of climate change, how do you see water demand evolving over the next five to ten years—and what steps can be taken to meet this demand sustainably?Saudi Arabia’s water demand is expected to increase steadily over the next decade, driven by rapid urban growth, industrial expansion, and the scale of projects linked to Vision 2030. National forecasts point to a sharp rise in consumption by 2030, as cities grow and infrastructure expands to meet the needs of new economic sectors. At the same time, climate change is contributing to more extreme and unpredictable weather events, further complicating water supply and demand planning.
Meeting this challenge sustainably requires more than just increasing capacity. It involves using existing resources more efficiently, reducing water loss across networks, and improving the overall performance of water systems through better planning and operational visibility. Across KSA, this often means retrofitting older infrastructure with more efficient technologies – such as submersible pumps and automated pressure controls – that can be deployed with minimal disruption. These targeted improvements help strengthen resilience, reduce energy use, and support long-term sustainability goals.
As cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and NEOM grow, embedding intelligent water infrastructure will be essential – not just for ensuring supply but for building long-term climate resilience across the Kingdom. This will require close collaboration between policymakers, utilities, and technology providers to ensure that solutions are scalable, adaptive, and aligned with national sustainability goals.
As wastewater treatment and recycling play a critical role in meeting future water needs, could you provide a detailed overview of the Kingdom’s current capabilities in this area, and highlight the key investments needed to scale these systems in line with growing demand?Saudi Arabia currently treats approximately 5.6m cu/m of wastewater daily, and the country plans to increase treated effluent reuse to 70% by 2030. Achieving this target will require sustained investment in tertiary treatment technologies, decentralised facilities in fast-growing zones, and the infrastructure needed to transport treated water for reuse in agriculture, landscaping, and industry.
Nationwide, there has been a clear shift toward designing wastewater treatment systems that are efficient, resilient, and adaptable to future demand. These upgrades are helping to lower operational costs, while supporting the Kingdom’s broader sustainability and climate goals through large-scale water reuse.
Looking ahead, combining infrastructure expansion with digital monitoring and predictive maintenance will be essential to ensure consistent high performance. This marks a wider transition – from treating wastewater as a by-product to managing its shift as a valuable, renewable resource.
What role can digitisation and automation play in optimising water distribution networks? How much water can be saved through the use of technology?Digitisation is playing a growing role in helping utilities manage water more intelligently. With tools like Grundos Utilities Analytics that provide real-time monitoring and leak detection, operators can quickly respond to issues and reduce unnecessary losses. The true value of these tools lies in their ability to shift operations from reactive to proactive. Instead of responding to problems after they occur, utilities can anticipate and prevent them, saving time and resources and reducing disruptions for communities.
Smart water technologies can significantly reduce non-revenue water (NRW) – caused by leaks, theft, or metering inaccuracies – by improving visibility and control across the network. These technologies help ensure that more water reaches consumers efficiently.
In the UAE, we’ve seen similar approaches deliver meaningful results. For instance, in Sharjah’s elevated Sheis area, local authorities used digitally controlled booster systems with automated pump monitoring to address topographical distribution challenges. This helped maintain a stable and efficient water supply without the need for frequent manual intervention – demonstrating how automation can support consistent service delivery in complex environments.
These learnings offer valuable insights for Saudi Arabia, where diverse terrain and expanding urban zones present comparable challenges. As the country continues to invest in modern, climate-resilient infrastructure, embracing digitisation is essential for achieving long-term water security and delivering reliable services to its citizens.
Define a decentralised water management system and explain the benefits and the challenges associated with such a system.A decentralised water management system treats and reuses water locally rather than relying solely on centralised plants. These systems are particularly beneficial in industrial zones, remote developments, or residential compounds, offering flexibility and reducing transmission losses.
In the country where over 83% of the population resides in urban areas, yet rural regions continue to expand, decentralisation allows water services to reach growing communities more swiftly and cost-effectively. It supports faster, more cost-effective delivery in areas that may not yet be fully integrated into national networks, while easing pressure on centralised systems.
That said, decentralised systems come with challenges – such as aligning with national regulations, maintaining water quality, and integrating with broader frameworks. Since they often operate outside traditional utility structures, clear governance and accountability are essential. Operationally, involving multiple stakeholders – like municipalities and private developers – can complicate coordination. Without central oversight, performance may vary due to inconsistent standards or unclear maintenance roles.
Fortunately, technology is making decentralisation more practical. Modular units can be installed quickly and scaled as needed, while remote monitoring helps track performance, flag issues early, and manage costs. Together, these tools are helping deliver reliable water access to more communities across the Kingdom.
How easy or difficult is it to implement a decentralised water management system, given the country’s size and ageing infrastructure?Implementing decentralised systems in Saudi Arabia presents both opportunities and challenges. In older cities, existing infrastructure may need to be adapted, which can add complexity. However, newly developed areas – such as economic zones and new urban districts – provide a more flexible environment to incorporate decentralised solutions from the ground up.
Modular and prefabricated systems are increasingly being explored as a way to scale water treatment and reuse infrastructure quickly without relying on large-scale civil works. These approaches can reduce time to deployment and improve accessibility in areas where centralised services are not yet fully established.
As Saudi Arabia continues to diversify its economy and expand into new regions, decentralised infrastructure is likely to play a more prominent role in creating a balanced, resilient water network across both urban and remote settings.
How can Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) support the Kingdom’s water security goals, and what are the key advantages and potential challenges associated with their role in the development and long-term management of water infrastructure?PPPs are integral to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 water goals, combining public-sector planning with private-sector innovation and technical expertise to expedite the rollout of impactful infrastructure.
However, PPPs come with their own set of challenges. Aligning expectations between stakeholders can be complex – especially when navigating regulatory requirements, long contract timelines, or differing priorities around risk-sharing and returns. These complexities are often compounded by capacity gaps in public institutions, which can slow project execution, while unclear governance structures or performance standards may further hinder long-term accountability.
Despite these challenges, well-structured PPPs can offer significant benefits. We’ve witnessed the efficacy of this model in projects like the Jubail stormwater upgrade, where Grundfos contributed advanced flood mitigation pumping systems. Such collaborations ensure speed and efficiency, while embedding knowledge transfer and long-term operational excellence into the infrastructure lifecycle.
For PPPs to be truly effective, clear governance structures, risk-sharing frameworks, and outcome-based evaluation mechanisms are essential. When aligned with national objectives, these partnerships offer a scalable pathway to build a future-ready water sector capable of withstanding climate pressures and serving growing communities across the Kingdom.
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