CONFERENCE

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are among the most water-scarce countries in the world, a challenge rooted in their arid climate and extremely limited natural freshwater resources. This inherent challenge is compounded by the rapidly growing water demand due to accelerated socio-economic development and rapid population and urbanization growth and is being exaggerated by inefficient water utilization in the various consuming sectors.

Despite the severity of these challenges, the GCC countries have achieved near-universal access to safe drinking water by heavily relying on desalination, made possible by the countries’ strong economies and substantial financial and energy resources. However, the municipal water supply system’s reliance on desalination is energy-intensive and is associated with substantial financial and environmental costs. Moreover, expansion in desalination to meet the rapid population growth will increase the GCC’s carbon emissions which could constrain their commitments to meet their NDCs emission reduction and carbon-neutrality targets. Furthermore, relatively high levels of non-revenue water – due to physical and commercial losses – undermine the efficiency of already costly desalinated water systems.

Moreover, agricultural water requirements, driven by both food security and socio-economic development policies, are mostly met through extensive extraction of groundwater, primarily from non-renewable fossil aquifers, which are depleting rapidly. The remaining limited, renewable groundwater resources are also being over-exploited beyond their replenishment rates, degrading their quality due to saltwater intrusion. Excessive groundwater withdrawal stems from poor irrigation practices and water-intensive crops. A key contributor is the lack of monitoring and pricing for groundwater use, which removes incentives for conservation. A major concern is the impact of the loss of groundwater resources on water security in terms of the loss of long-term strategic water reserves and the increasing cost of replacement water. Moreover, degradation of the quality of irrigation water leads to reduction in productivity and eventually desertification and loss of agricultural lands. i.e., the loss of groundwater resources will undermine the future sustainability of the agricultural sector itself.

Furthermore, while the GCC countries have provided commendable sanitation services with coverage of more than 90% of the population and modern treatment facilities with tertiary and advanced treatment capabilities, the potential reuse of the generated treated wastewater is not fully developed and most of treated wastewater is not utilized. This is due to inadequate integrated planning between treatment and reuse, gaps in network infrastructure, very low to zero cost recovery for treatment and reuse, and public perception. This represents a major lost opportunity under the GCC scarcity conditions, which is expected to grow with the continuously increasing volumes of wastewater.

The Urgent need for Transformation

While recognizing the GCC countries’ considerable progress and tremendous efforts, effectively tackling the persistent water challenges necessitates major transformation in the sector, in order to ensure long-term efficiency and sustainability. Transformation, i.e., a fundamental shift and systemic change in how water is governed, managed, and used, should be directed not only to increasing water supply to meet the growing demand, but also to establish an enabling environment, align policies, optimize demand, and maximize reuse. This calls for the water sector to move beyond the existing traditional business-as-usual approaches and practices that relies on the “supply-side engineering approach” and make a shift towards a substantial transformation in three key pillars: Integration, Investment, and Cutting-Edge digital technologies.

One of the most important areas that needs transformation in the water sector is the enabling environment for integrated management. Siloed approaches will not result in effective and sustainable solutions. Establishing institutional arrangement to ensure integrated coordination within the water sector itself and among the water sector and other related sectors; ensuring water sector regulation; enacting and enforcing modern water legislation and regulations; developing national institutional and individual capacities; and provision of reliable data and information for decision making support, are all essential to effectively govern all aspects of water management. While water is mainly linked to energy, food, and the environment (WEFE nexus), integration means aligning policies and considering the needs and impacts across these sectors. Having an integrated and coherent governance framework, with clear institutional roles and responsibilities and mechanism of collaboration and coordination, transparent regulations, enhanced public private partnerships, stakeholders’ participation, and public awareness can overcome the fragmented efforts, guaranteeing the enabling environment for responsible management of this vital sector.

The second most critical area that requires transformation is investment, i.e., allocating resources for future benefits that would enhance the sustainability of the water sector. This necessitates three strategic components of investment. The first is human capital to establish skilled water professionals and managers capable of operating advanced and efficient water systems, as well as creating the next generation of water investors, including SMEs and Startups; the second is modernizing infrastructure to increase water efficiency and energy efficiency , implement circular economy, and optimize resource use; and the third are investments towards localizing technology through R&D to develop homegrown solutions, especially for desalination and water treatment to cut their costs and enhance their contribution to the economies of GCC countries. Investment and innovative financial partnership frameworks are essential to driving the transformation of the water sector in the GCC. Addressing growing water challenges and scaling technological and infrastructure solutions requires substantial and sustained financial resources. Blended finance models, public-private partnerships, and impact investment mechanisms can unlock new capital flows, reduce risks, and attract private sector engagement. By aligning financial innovation with strategic water priorities, the GCC can accelerate progress toward a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable water future.

Finally, adopting pioneering AI and cutting-edge technologies, i.e., the most advanced technological currently available and at the forefront of development, is the third crucial pillar that needs major transformation in the water sector. These technologies offer broad and transformative applications across the entire water system, from distribution to consumption, and from monitoring to treatment, including emergency response. .  Tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning for predictive analytics, simulation and modeling, blockchain and smart contracts, smart meters for real-time consumption tracking and leakage detection, IoT in precision agriculture, smart sensors for water quality monitoring, SCADA and IoT systems for real-time operations, cybersecurity, GEOAI, robotics, and drones are powerful enablers. They can significantly enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of water systems across the GCC countries.

However, unlocking their full potential requires strong collaboration between water professionals and digital technology specialists to equip the next generation of water experts with advanced, future-ready skills. In this context, the private sector has a key role to play in accelerating digitalization, scaling innovative solutions, and anchoring these technologies within the region’s water systems.

The WSTA 16^th Gulf Water Conference calls for a major transformation of the water sector in the GCC countries. It advocates for an integrated holistic approach in the management of the water sector, planned strategic investments, and the adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies. Overcoming fragmented efforts through integrated governance, ensuring financial sustainability, and effectively utilizing the power and cutting-edge technologies and the intelligence of machines across the water sector are crucial steps to ensure a secure, efficient, and sustainable water future in the GCC countries.