Vision 2030: How Water Scarcity in Saudi Arabia Persists

Image by Unsplash

A scarcity of water, the most vital resource for human life, remains a daunting challenge for the people of Saudi Arabia. With a current population of 35.95 million, projected to reach 44.9 million by 2040, and a very arid environment, the country is one of the most water-scarce on Earth. In response to the ongoing drought, Saudi Arabia is actively addressing the issue, seeking sustainable solutions to ensure the well-being of its citizens. As the country’s land area is  predominantly desert with minimal rainfall, it relies heavily on underground water supplies. While the cause of this harsh water demand comes down to the crippling heat and lack of rainfall, it also is a result of human activities such as overexploitation of underground resources and inefficient irrigation practices. 

Saudi Arabia, known for its first discovery of oil in 1938, was first made when scouting for fresh water sources in Jeddah. Oil has come to account for approximately 17 percent of the world's proven oil reserves. Saudi Arabia proves one of the largest net exporters of petroleum, supplying the United States, Europe, and Asia with the essential commodity. Oil revenues were soon able to pay for Saudi Arabia’s new roads, schools, and other buildings, making it the leading power of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves amount to over 100 billion barrels, meaning that if they were to stop discovering oil and maintain production to what it is today at 10.8 million barrels a day, they would still have enough oil to last for the next 26 years. However, with current projected oil revenues, the oil business is predicted to peak by 2030. Furthermore, as Saudi Arabia is looking for alternate ways to develop the economy, they are now opening up to globalization in many ways. Vision 2030, is a project started by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salaman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince, and Prime Minister that encapsulates three pillars: a thriving economy, a vital society, and an ambitious nation. According to Vision 2030, their goal is to “Empower citizens and businesses to reach their full potential, diversify our economy, support local content, and create innovative growth opportunities. This will be accomplished by creating a favorable environment for local and foreign investments, and through the development and unlocking of new sectors by the Public Investment Fund.” In addition to Vision 2030s plan to reindustrialize parts of the city, The Ministry of Environment Water & Agriculture, aims to implement a National Water Strategy that “is composed of a vision, strategic objectives, programs, and associated initiative.” The National Water Strategy is further divided into five detailed strategic objectives. In addition, the strategy aims to, “Ensure continuous access to adequate quantities of safe water, under normal operations, and during emergency situations and enhance water demand management across all uses, and deliver cost-effective and high quality water and wastewater services, accounting for affordability.” 

However, as the country continues to grow, their struggle for accessible water does too. Around eight government agencies, including the Ministry of Environment, Water, Agriculture (MEWA), Water & Electricity Regulatory Authority (WERA), and Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) are actively dedicated to pursuing a solution. Given the geographical and climatic limitations posed upon Saudi Arabia, desalination facilities built by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be an addition to Vision 2030 to meet water demands as the population increases. According to the Arab Center, “Approximately 42 percent of the United Arab Emirates’ drinking water comes from desalination plants, while in Kuwait it is 90 percent, in Oman 86 percent, and in Saudi Arabia 70 percent. In terms of quantity of water produced, it is Saudi Arabia that leads; in 2020 it was reported that the country would invest around $80 billion USD into desalination over the next decade and that its desalination capacity is expected to reach 8.5 million cubic meters per day by 2025.” Additionally, Saudi Arabia has created over 133 wastewater treatment facilities and is projected to grow in the following years. As of September 2023, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia announced their implementation of a Global Water Organization headquartered in Riyadh. According to the International Trade Organization, “The organization’s core activities will be to integrate and enhance the efforts made by governments and organizations in securing global water sustainably. The organization will also promote establishment and funding of high-priority projects.” While it is likely that the primary motivation behind this initiative is to bring attention and investments to the water crisis, it also allows for Saudi Arabia to attract foreign investment and expertise and promote high-quality projects. As the organizations focus on promoting the establishment and funding of high-priority projects, it could also include initiatives such as water conservation programs as well as infrastructure development to improve water distribution and efficiency. By prioritizing these projects, Saudi Arabia aims to make tangible progress in solving its water crisis while also contributing to global water sustainability efforts. Furthermore, MEWA intends to meet 90 percent of Saudi Arabia’s water demand using desalinated water and 10 percent using ground and surface water by 2030. Based on existing urban water demand and committed water supply, new urban desalination plants would be required to overcome a water shortage of 4.5 million m3/day. According to previous data, Saudi Arabia’s current and forecasted sewage network covers roughly 50 percent of total wastewater generated and has approximately 5.6 million m3/day of wastewater treatment capacity with 3.2 million m3/day under construction and 0.4 m3/day planned for decommissioning. 

To meet the goals set for Vision 2030, a total of 84 million m3/day of capacity addition is required. To fulfill these goals, Saudi Arabia must ensure sustainable funding throughout the next few years. This may be through attracting private sector participation or foreign investments. Additionally, these goals may pose engineering and technical challenges that require the availability of skilled labor, managing construction projects, and addressing alternate environmental concerns. Lastly, managing water demand is just as crucial as increasing water supply. While increasing water supply through desalination and wastewater treatment is necessary, implementing water conservation measures, promoting efficient water use practices, and incentivizing water recycling can help alleviate pressure on water resources.