Riyadh: Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley welcomed the Cabinet's decision to designate 2027 as the "Year of Water", saying the designation reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to water and its role in sustainable development.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Minister Alfadley emphasized that this move underscores Saudi Arabia's leadership in the water sector. It highlights the leadership's commitment to strengthening water security and promoting sustainable management of water resources, supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and reinforcing the Kingdom's role in leading regional and international efforts to address water challenges.
The minister noted that the designation of 2027 as the Year of Water coincides with Saudi Arabia's hosting of the World Water Forum 2027, reinforcing the Kingdom's growing international standing in the sector. This decision is expected to further establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub and national platform for advancing priorities in water policies, innovation, investment, and partnerships, while raising awareness about the importance of sustaining water resources.
Minister Alfadley stated that the Year of Water initiative aims to increase public awareness of water's value and the need to preserve and sustain water resources. It also seeks to accelerate the implementation of national water-sector priorities and align related initiatives. The initiative aims to bolster cooperation between government entities and the private sector, improve water-use efficiency and conservation, promote innovation, investment, and strategic partnerships, and reinforce Saudi Arabia's role in addressing water issues at both regional and international levels.
Furthermore, Alfadley highlighted that Saudi Arabia has prioritized the water sector as a strategic resource and a key pillar of sustainable development and environmental sustainability. This is evident in the implementation of flagship projects and the adoption of advanced policies that have strengthened the sector, improved its efficiency, and enhanced its reliability. He also pointed out the significant progress made by the Kingdom's water sector in recent years in managing water resources, expanding water and wastewater services, strengthening institutional governance, and improving the efficiency of water supply systems, all contributing to long-term sustainability and better service quality for beneficiaries.
