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The Saudi Water Authority will hold the inaugural Water Regulation Exchange in Riyadh on November 1, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The gathering will bring together representatives from four international organizations and 25 global regulatory bodies along with industry experts and decision-makers. Discussions will focus on regulatory frameworks capable of matching the pace of transformation within the water sector.
Organizers have partnered strategically with the International Desalination and Reuse Association to strengthen regulatory approaches that improve efficiency and sustainability of water services. The event is designed to build readiness for future sector demands while creating a platform for exchanging regulatory expertise across borders. Saudi Water Authority officials stated that the forum will help align practices with emerging challenges in water management.
Participants will examine regulatory models drawn from the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific region, the authority’s announcement said. Panel sessions are scheduled to address evolving practices in compliance and performance monitoring. Additional talks will explore the respective roles of public entities, private operators and financing mechanisms in building agile and integrated regulatory systems that bolster water security, raise service standards and promote investment together with innovation.
The forum will feature 28 speakers from 24 countries in addition to the four international organizations and 25 counterpart government entities, a Saudi Water Authority release confirmed. Sessions will cover governance, scarcity management, utility performance, public-private partnerships, financing, water reuse and regulatory integration by drawing on varied international experiences. This structure positions the event as an annual platform dedicated to regulatory excellence and cooperation.
The Water Regulation Exchange will run alongside the IDRA World Congress 2026, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from November 1 to 5 under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture. The congress will take place at the King Faisal Convention Center, according to details released by the authority. Organizers intend to use the occasion to unveil the identity and strategic direction of the Water Regulation Exchange ahead of its first full edition planned for 2027.
Saudi Arabia is also preparing to host the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in March 2027 under the theme “Action for a Better Tomorrow,” local media reports indicated. That larger event is projected to draw more than 20,000 participants from over 150 countries to accelerate practical solutions for global water security. The upcoming regulation forum forms part of this broader trajectory of international leadership on water issues by the Kingdom.
