Acwa appointed coordinator of the Intersectoral Collaboration Program for the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh

• The 11th World Water Forum Secretariat, on behalf of co-host the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has appointed Acwa to coordinate the Intersectoral Collaboration Program with the Ministry, the Secretariat, and the World Water Council.
• Introduced for the first time at the World Water Forum, the program connects the water sector with seven economic clusters: Energy & Hydrogen; Industry & Petrochemicals; Digital & Artificial Intelligence; Mining & Metals; Agriculture & Food; Urban Development, Construction & Tourism; and Greening, Environment & Drought.
• The Forum will take place in Riyadh from March 21 to 25, 2027, under the theme “Action for a Better Tomorrow”, with the program designed to generate practical initiatives, publications, high-level sessions, technical workshops, and case studies with impact beyond the Forum.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 3 November 2026: Saudi-listed Acwa, the world’s largest private water desalination company, a leader in the energy transition, and a first mover into green hydrogen at scale, has been appointed program coordinator of the Intersectoral Collaboration Program for the 11th World Water Forum, taking place in Riyadh from March 21 to 25, 2027. 

The Forum Secretariat appointed Acwa to develop the program for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, which is co-hosting the Forum with the World Water Council.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture stated: “The Intersectoral Collaboration Program represents a key initiative of the 11th World Water Forum and reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the water sector and other economic sectors, recognizing water as a fundamental enabler of sustainable development. The Program aims to bring together national and international stakeholders across industries to exchange expertise and develop practical solutions and initiatives that improve water-use efficiency and enhance the sustainability of water resources. 

Acwa’s appointment as Coordinator recognizes its extensive expertise in the water and energy sectors and its ability to foster partnerships and collaboration across industries. Through this cooperation, we look forward to achieving tangible outcomes that extend beyond the Forum in Riyadh in March 2027, in line with the Forum’s overarching theme, ‘Action for a Better Tomorrow.”

Held every three years, the World Water Forum is the largest international gathering on water policy, finance, and technology. It was last held in Bali, Indonesia in 2024. The Intersectoral Collaboration Program is being introduced in Riyadh to bring water considerations more directly into the sectors that shape demand, consumption and investment.

Through seven economic clusters, the program will bring together leaders from water, energy, industry, agriculture, technology, mining, urban development, and the environment to advance practical approaches to water efficiency, reuse, reliability, and resilience. Each cluster will develop a program of discussions, case studies, workshops, publications, and initiatives aimed at producing actionable outcomes that extend beyond the Forum.

Omar AL Hassan, KSA CEO of Acwa, said: “Water security has become a national priority in every country in which we operate, yet many of the decisions that determine it are made beyond the water sector by the power plants, refineries, mines, data centers, and farms that consume the supply. The 11th World Water Forum provides an opportunity to bring these decisionmakers together with the water community at scale. We are honored to coordinate this program and will draw on our experience developing and operating water and energy infrastructure across 16 countries. Ultimately, success will be measured not only by the discussions in Riyadh, but by the initiatives and partnerships that continue long after the Forum concludes.”

Dr. Tariq Nada, Executive Vice President, Global Water Technology at Acwa, said: “Each cluster represents a sector where water is a critical production input, and where efficiency, reuse, and reliability are increasingly important to long-term growth. Our focus over the coming months is to help each cluster arrive in Riyadh with concrete cases, financeable proposals, and partners prepared to take them forward. That is how the program can translate dialogue into tangible outcomes beyond the Forum.”

As coordinator, Acwa will lead the development of the seven clusters, mobilize participants and stakeholders, coordinate contributors and cluster leads, develop program content, and support delivery of the program’s key outputs. Preparations are now moving into program development, with cluster programs being consolidated and recommendations for the Forum agenda being prepared.

The Forum Secretariat and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture will review and approve program plans, content, and outputs, while managing formal engagement with ministers and senior government officials.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the Forum to bring together governments, businesses, research institutions, and technology organizations to address global water challenges. Acwa’s cross-sector presence across power, water, green hydrogen, and infrastructure, together with its operations across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, will support participation across the seven clusters and help connect Saudi priorities with international expertise.

Acwa supplies 30 per cent of the Kingdom’s desalinated water capacity, giving the company direct experience of delivering water infrastructure at scale in one of the world’s most water-stressed environments.

The World Water Council has expressed support for the intersectoral approach and proposed an enhanced advisory role as the program develops. Organizations across the seven economic sectors, alongside water companies, technology providers, investors, industry associations, universities, and research institutions in Saudi Arabia and internationally, are being invited to participate as speakers, program partners, and knowledge partners.

The program is intended to establish collaborations that extend beyond the Forum and strengthen the integration of water considerations into future energy, industrial, agricultural, and urban development.