The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) and Ecolab have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to speed up the development of sustainable water solutions across Saudi Arabia, according to Gulf Business. The agreement positions water efficiency and innovation as key enablers of Saudi Vision 2030.
The MoU was concluded during the US – Saudi Water Summit 2025 in Palo Alto, California, which gathered international water sector stakeholders to explore partnerships for Saudi Arabia’s evolving water industry, according to Gulf Business. Under the new framework, SWA and Ecolab will cooperate to protect water resources, improve water quality, cut energy use, lower carbon emissions and reduce operational costs.
A central focus of the collaboration is advancing water circularity and digital water management. The two parties plan to exchange insights across sectors such as data centres, refineries, petrochemicals, heavy industry, desalination, manufacturing, food and beverage, and hospitality. They will also work together on water source selection, regulatory development and performance monitoring, including workshops on smart water systems and predictive maintenance.
Pilot projects and innovation initiatives
The MoU also opens the door for pilot projects in Saudi industrial cities using Ecolab technologies tailored to local conditions, according to Gulf Business. In addition, the partners intend to support innovation initiatives such as Rabigh Oasis, the Global Water Innovation Prize (GWIP), joint R&D roundtables and programmes that promote new water technologies.
Ecolab has been active in Saudi Arabia for more than 45 years through its Nalco Water business, supporting major industrial customers with water management and optimisation, according to Gulf Business. Its technologies are used across the energy, manufacturing, food and hospitality sectors to help businesses conserve water, reduce energy consumption and strengthen long-term resilience.
H.E. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, president of the Saudi Water Authority, described the partnership as an important move toward building a world-class water sector that safeguards resources, underpins national development and secures water for future generations in line with Vision 2030.
Stefan Umiastowski, senior vice president and CEO for India, Middle East and Africa at Ecolab, said the collaboration supports Saudi Arabia’s long-term water sustainability goals in a region where water is a critical resource, stressing that digitalisation and artificial intelligence make intelligent water management essential for sustainable growth.
Both sides see the MoU as a platform to scale water transformation across Saudi Arabia’s most strategic industries by combining Ecolab’s global innovation capabilities with SWA’s local vision and expertise.
