His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, inaugurated the One Water Summit today in Riyadh. The event brought together global leaders under the joint chairmanship of HRH the Crown Prince, President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, and World Bank President Ajay Banga, according to Leaders Asia.
The summit commenced with a symbolic group photo featuring HRH the Crown Prince and the leaders of participating delegations, underscoring a unified commitment to addressing global water challenges. In his opening remarks, HRH the Crown Prince welcomed the attendees and stressed the critical need for collective action to tackle water scarcity and drought.
“Your Excellencies, esteemed guests,
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and convey the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. We wish for the utmost success of the One Water Summit, which reflects our shared resolve to confront environmental challenges caused by water scarcity and drought.
As per the Leaders Asia sources, the summit aligns with the Kingdom’s hosting of the 16th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), aimed at mitigating land degradation and ensuring the sustainability of critical freshwater resources. The increasing challenges in the global water sector, such as prolonged drought and desertification, demand a united international response to safeguard human life and society.
Recognizing this urgency, the Kingdom has prioritized water issues on global platforms. During its G20 presidency in 2020, Saudi Arabia included water challenges in the agenda for the first time. The Kingdom has also allocated over $6 billion for more than 200 water development projects across 60 developing nations, reported Leaders Asia.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 11th World Water Forum in 2027 in collaboration with the World Water Council. Additionally, the Kingdom has announced the establishment of a global water organization headquartered in Riyadh. This entity will unify global efforts, foster innovation, and facilitate the sharing of expertise to comprehensively address water-related challenges.
“We urge the member states of the United Nations, international organizations, and the private sector to collaborate with this organization. Together, we can advance our shared aspirations in addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges,” stated HRH the Crown Prince.
The One Water Summit has brought together governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and private-sector leaders to explore solutions for water-related challenges. The initiative responds to the intensifying global water crisis driven by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
The summit aspires to act as an incubator for innovative strategies and actionable solutions ahead of the United Nations Water Conference in 2026. By fostering collaboration, it seeks to ensure a sustainable and secure water future.
