Crown Prince: Saudi Arabia provides $6B funding for 200 water projects

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman inaugurated the “One Water Summit” in Riyadh on Tuesday evening in the presence of several presidents and top officials, including the French President.

In his opening speech, the Crown Prince said that this summit is being launched in conjunction with the Kingdom's hosting of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which aims to reduce land degradation and drought.

“The world is facing mounting challenges in the water sector, including rising drought rates that lead to multiple crises represented by a shortage of usable water, the exacerbation of desertification, and the subsequent threat to human life and societies,” said the Crown Prince.

He highlighted that Saudi Arabia provided $6 billion in funding for 200 water-related development projects.

The Crown Prince also confirmed that Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the World Water Forum in 2027, in cooperation with the World Water Council.

He called on UN member states and international private sector organizations to join the World Water Organization that the Kingdom will establish to develop and integrate efforts to address water challenges.

At the end of his speech, the Crown Prince expressed hope that the efforts of the international community to address water challenges will contribute to achieving the goals that all aspire to.