Prime Highlights
- Riyadh will host the IDRA World Congress on Desalination for the first time, drawing over 2,200 participants from 100 countries.
- The scientific program will feature 25 sessions and more than 240 peer-reviewed papers across four tracks.
Key Facts
- The Saudi Water Authority is organising the congress in cooperation with the International Desalination and Reuse Association.
- The five-day event will be held at the InterContinental Riyadh in the first week of November.
Background
The Saudi Water Authority will host the 21st edition of the IDRA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse in Riyadh in the first week of November, marking the first time the event takes place in the kingdom. The International Desalination and Reuse Association and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture are sponsoring the congress, which has as its theme “Leading Global Water Sustainability Through Innovation.”
The event will bring together water sector leaders and experts from 100 countries, including 400 specialists and more than 2,200 participants, to discuss solutions to global water security challenges. To be held at the InterContinental Riyadh over five days, the congress will see experts explore technical and financing solutions to improve water system efficiency, expand water reuse, cut emissions and strengthen the sector’s resilience against scarcity and rising demand.
The scientific program will feature 25 sessions, over 200 technical presentations, and more than 240 peer-reviewed papers delivered across four concurrent tracks over four days, organisers said. As part of the congress, the Saudi Water Authority, in strategic partnership with the International Desalination and Reuse Association, will lead the Water Regulation Forum, bringing together regulators and sector leaders to advance water policies and frameworks.
The authority said hosting the congress in Riyadh reflects Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the water sector and its expertise in desalination, water reuse and resource management. The program will cover 58 subtopics across six key areas, including research and innovation, circular water economy, digital transformation and artificial intelligence. The congress will also feature three specialised forums, an exhibition, workshops, the second edition of the Global Water Desalination Hackathon, and the IDRA Awards Ceremony.
