By: Unitalities middle east

As of July 2025, MEED’s project database points to a major transformation in desalination across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). Some 69 large-scale projects worth nearly $65bn are under construction, with more than 100 additional schemes in early stages.

Two converging trends are driving this surge: the shift to energy-efficient reverse osmosis (RO) and the integration of solar power with battery storage, enabling near carbon-free water production.

RO now makes up 85% of global operational desalination capacity and 91% of plants under construction, thanks to falling energy consumption, advanced membranes, and modular design. In Saudi Arabia, the Jubail 3A facility combines RO with 45MW of solar PV, while Abu Dhabi’s Taweelah plant is blending renewables with next-gen membranes.

The environmental stakes are high: desalination plants emit about 76 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, a figure set to triple by 2040 without mitigation. Renewables, AI-driven optimisation, and digital twins are helping to cut emissions and improve efficiency.

Saudi Arabia remains the sector’s frontrunner, awarding $20bn in water contracts in 2024 alone. Projects like Shuaibah 3 — the world’s largest solar-powered RO plant — and Ar Rayis IWP showcase how the kingdom is scaling capacity while lowering costs.

Yet developer participation remains concentrated. The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) is encouraging wider involvement through transparent tenders, with plans to procure an additional 3.5 million cubic metres a day by 2028.

With billions of dollars in tenders approaching, the region offers unparalleled opportunities for investors and developers to shape a sustainable water future.