Environment minister highlights mega investments in water, says SAR 145 bln projects approved

Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture

Saudi Arabia has mega investments in the water sector, as the value of approved projects reached SAR 145 billion, Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, told Budget Forum 2023.

He added that the ministry's under-construction projects are valued at SAR 90 billion, and the ministry completed projects worth approximately SAR 40 billion in various Saudi regions and governorates this year.

The quantity of water in the Kingdom's networks currently amounts to 12 million cubic meters, 65% of which are desalinated, the minister said.

He pointed out that demand for water is expected to rise to 18 million cubic meters in 2030, and desalinated water will constitute 90% of it.

Water production in the Kingdom reached a maximum of 5.5 million cubic meters in 2015, while production currently stands at 9.4 million and will reach 11 million cubic meters in 2023, Al-Fadley concluded.