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Saudi deputy minister for international multilateral affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi called for intensified international collaboration to address water scarcity during a ministerial event held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly high-level week. The session titled United for Water: A Call for Collective Action focused on turning political pledges into practical outcomes that bolster public health, food security, economic development and resilience against climate change. Al-Rassi stressed that safe, accessible and secure water is fundamental to human well-being and the resilience of communities while urging recognition of water as a core matter of international security.
Al-Rassi highlighted Saudi Arabia’s progress in water management noting that the Kingdom has become the world’s largest producer of desalinated water according to his remarks at the gathering. The National Water Strategy 2030 places governance at the center of national transformation with sustained investments in technology and innovation yielding new solutions he added. Saudi Arabia’s experience illustrates how water diplomacy can transform shared challenges into opportunities for dialogue and partnership the deputy minister stated.
A United Nations synthesis report on sustainable development goal six shows that while 961 million people have gained access to safely managed drinking water services since 2015 more than two billion people worldwide still lack them. The World Bank’s recent Global Water Monitoring Report warns that freshwater reserves have declined by around 3 percent annually over the past two decades with losses accelerating in arid regions and disrupting food production along with economic stability. These trends according to the assessment underscore the pressing need for the coordinated global response Saudi officials advocated in New York.
The ministerial meeting co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and Senegal in cooperation with the Global Water Organization convened ministers government representatives from development banks UN agencies and water sector leaders. Discussions centered on three axes including bolstering water security for stability shifting from dialogue to scalable implementation and enhancing collective coordination with sustainable financing. Dr. Fahd Balghunaim chair of the founding team of the World Water Organization explained that the session examined mechanisms to convert commitments into measurable actions that help countries tackle resource pressures.
Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027 an initiative the Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture has described as a platform to advance international dialogue and deliver practical solutions for water security. The Global Water Organization established in Riyadh with Saudi support seeks to promote cooperation knowledge exchange and innovative approaches to sustainability across borders. Earlier ministry statements have emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to integrated water resources management and partnerships that align with Vision 2030 objectives.
Al-Rassi delivered his address on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan underscoring the Kingdom’s role in global water diplomacy built on domestic reforms and international aid. The deputy minister’s intervention aligns with Saudi contributions that include substantial funding for water and sanitation projects in vulnerable countries through agencies such as KSrelief. Officials at the event reiterated that collective action remains essential to mobilize resources and address the interconnected risks posed by water insecurity worldwide.
