{"version":"1","article":{"id":"saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations","slug":"saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations","language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations?lang=en","title":"Riyadh steps up preparations for 2027 World Water Forum","summary":"Saudi Deputy Minister for Water Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani outlined the agenda for the event Riyadh will host on 21–25 March 2027 during a forum in Rome.","category":"energy","region":"world","topics":[],"published_at":"2026-10-05T02:55:20+03:00","modified_at":"2026-10-05T02:55:20+03:00","publication_basis":"publication-record","event_period":"2026-09-30","event_period_basis":"event-or-reference-period","sources":[{"name":"Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture","url":"https://www.mewa.gov.sa/en/MediaCenter/News/Pages/saudi-world-water-forum-2027.aspx","checkedAt":"2026-10-05","publishedAt":"2026-09-30"}],"translations":[{"language":"tr","url":"https://haberpaper.com/tr/news/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations?lang=tr"},{"language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations?lang=en"},{"language":"ar","url":"https://haberpaper.com/ar/news/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/saudi-world-water-forum-2027-riyadh-preparations?lang=ar"}],"data_types":[],"data":null,"data_compilations":[],"data_downloads":[],"content":{"paragraphs":["Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh from 21 to 25 March 2027. According to a 30 September statement by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), Deputy Minister for Water Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani discussed the preparations during a dialogue session at the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum in Rome. Ministers, senior officials and international water-sector experts attended that session. The ministry presented the Riyadh meeting as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and move from political commitments to implementable programmes with measurable and monitorable results. Saudi Arabia will organise the event in partnership with the World Water Council. Its announced theme is “Action for a Better Tomorrow.” The Rome appearance offered a public update on the forum’s framework, rather than a report on completed infrastructure projects.","Al-Shaibani said the forum will be organised around six main themes and more than 30 topics. MEWA listed water security, water financing, water for people and nature, water governance and diplomacy, innovation, and the value of water. The ministry expects more than 20,000 participants from over 150 countries. These are forward-looking expectations from the organiser, not confirmed attendance figures. The announcement did not include a speaker roster, detailed session programme, registration timetable or event budget. The six themes and more than 30 topics indicate a broad agenda, but do not establish that a particular policy decision or water infrastructure investment will be agreed at the meeting. MEWA’s update focused on the forum’s purpose and international scale, while leaving operational details for later announcements.","The deputy minister called for the outcomes of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference to provide a basis for maintaining international momentum toward Riyadh. MEWA said coordination should involve governments, international organisations, financial institutions, the private sector, the scientific community and civil society. The range of groups reflects the ministry’s view that water challenges involve financing, governance and public participation alongside technical and infrastructure questions. The release did not specify which UN conference commitments would be tracked at the Riyadh forum or how their progress would be measured. Al-Shaibani invited countries and organisations to contribute initiatives, expertise and partnerships that could support practical and sustainable outcomes. The statement did not announce specific projects, signed agreements or investment commitments arising from the Rome session.","The Rome discussion also considered changes in Saudi Arabia’s water sector under Vision 2030 and the National Water Strategy. MEWA presented the Riyadh gathering as a platform for strengthening water diplomacy and turning shared commitments into programmes whose implementation and results can be monitored. The six themes connect this policy agenda with contributions from public authorities, businesses and research organisations."],"key_points":[],"sections":[]},"text":"Saudi Deputy Minister for Water Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani outlined the agenda for the event Riyadh will host on 21–25 March 2027 during a forum in Rome.\n\nSaudi Arabia is preparing to host the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh from 21 to 25 March 2027. According to a 30 September statement by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), Deputy Minister for Water Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani discussed the preparations during a dialogue session at the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum in Rome. Ministers, senior officials and international water-sector experts attended that session. The ministry presented the Riyadh meeting as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and move from political commitments to implementable programmes with measurable and monitorable results. Saudi Arabia will organise the event in partnership with the World Water Council. Its announced theme is “Action for a Better Tomorrow.” The Rome appearance offered a public update on the forum’s framework, rather than a report on completed infrastructure projects.\n\nAl-Shaibani said the forum will be organised around six main themes and more than 30 topics. MEWA listed water security, water financing, water for people and nature, water governance and diplomacy, innovation, and the value of water. The ministry expects more than 20,000 participants from over 150 countries. These are forward-looking expectations from the organiser, not confirmed attendance figures. The announcement did not include a speaker roster, detailed session programme, registration timetable or event budget. The six themes and more than 30 topics indicate a broad agenda, but do not establish that a particular policy decision or water infrastructure investment will be agreed at the meeting. MEWA’s update focused on the forum’s purpose and international scale, while leaving operational details for later announcements.\n\nThe deputy minister called for the outcomes of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference to provide a basis for maintaining international momentum toward Riyadh. MEWA said coordination should involve governments, international organisations, financial institutions, the private sector, the scientific community and civil society. The range of groups reflects the ministry’s view that water challenges involve financing, governance and public participation alongside technical and infrastructure questions. The release did not specify which UN conference commitments would be tracked at the Riyadh forum or how their progress would be measured. Al-Shaibani invited countries and organisations to contribute initiatives, expertise and partnerships that could support practical and sustainable outcomes. The statement did not announce specific projects, signed agreements or investment commitments arising from the Rome session.\n\nThe Rome discussion also considered changes in Saudi Arabia’s water sector under Vision 2030 and the National Water Strategy. MEWA presented the Riyadh gathering as a platform for strengthening water diplomacy and turning shared commitments into programmes whose implementation and results can be monitored. The six themes connect this policy agenda with contributions from public authorities, businesses and research organisations.","corrections":[],"editorial_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"energy","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/energy-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic energy landscape with solar panels, wind turbines and transmission lines.","language":"en"},"section_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"energy","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/energy-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic energy landscape with solar panels, wind turbines and transmission lines.","language":"en"}}}