Bilateral cooperation to enhance water security
In a move reflecting the depth of growing regional cooperation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia received a high-level delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Energy to learn about Saudi Arabia's world-leading experience in the water industry and management. The Syrian delegation was headed by Engineer Osama Abu Zeid, Assistant Minister of Energy for Water Resources, and was received by Engineer Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of the Saudi Water Authority.
The meeting served as a strategic platform to explore ways to transfer advanced Saudi expertise to Syria, which is striving to rebuild and modernize its vital infrastructure. During the meeting, the Kingdom's integrated system for water production, transportation, and storage was reviewed, along with human capacity-building programs that ensure the sector's sustainability and efficiency.
Historical background: Saudi leadership and Syrian need
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's experience in the water sector is a unique model globally. Due to its desert environment and limited natural water resources, the Kingdom has invested for decades in seawater desalination technologies, becoming the world's largest producer of desalinated water. It has developed a sophisticated legislative and regulatory framework aimed at increasing operational efficiency, promoting sustainability, and encouraging innovation with active participation from the private sector, all of which aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to achieve water security.
On the other hand, Syria’s water sector faces immense challenges stemming from years of conflict that have severely damaged infrastructure, compounded by climate challenges affecting the entire region. Therefore, this visit comes at a crucial time, as leveraging Saudi expertise represents a lifeline for accelerating reconstruction and ensuring the provision of safe drinking water and sustainable sanitation services for the population.
Memorandum of Understanding and field visits to deepen cooperation
The visit culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Syrian Ministry of Energy and Amiantit Saudi Arabia, a leading national company in this field. The memorandum aims to support the Syrian government's plans to develop and modernize the water and sanitation infrastructure, and to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the networks.
The visit was not limited to official talks, but also included extensive field tours during which the Syrian delegation praised the technological and administrative advancements they witnessed. These tours included a visit to the seawater production system in Shu'aiba, an overview of the advanced transportation systems, and a visit to the Water Academy, which focuses on training national personnel. The delegation also met with private sector companies to learn about the latest technologies and innovative operational solutions.
This cooperation is expected to have a direct positive impact at the local level in Syria by improving basic services, and at the regional level it strengthens bilateral relations and provides a model for Arab cooperation in facing common challenges.
