The Global Water Sustainability Conference

The 4th edition of the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference has concluded in Jeddah under the esteemed patronage of HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region.

IDWS 2025 brought together global leaders, innovators and researchers across the full water cycle, driving progress in investment, policy and technology. The conference also hosted the 3rd edition of the Global Prize for Innovation in Water.

FROM SAUDI ARABIA TO THE WORLD

Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS) is where global water strategy, technology and policy take shape. Guided by the vision of His Excellency Abdullah Ibrahim Al Abdul Karim, President of the Saudi Water Authority, IDWS brings together experts, innovators and decision-makers to advance solutions for a secure and sustainable water future.

Rooted in Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in water management, the conference unites international perspectives to drive progress across innovation, governance and long-term resource resilience.

Globally, venture capital investment in the water sector accounts for less than 0.5%. When compared to other sectors such as telecommunications and digitalization, which attract around 35%, and renewable energy at about 18%, this shows the vast opportunities that lie ahead for the future of the water sector.
 

H.E. Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim

Partnerships are critical to accelerating global solutions and investments. 
 

Bryan Harvey (Vice President, Jacobs)

Data intelligence enabled Mumbai to turn pollution hotspots into measurable progress. 
 

Asim Bhalerao (CEO, Fluid Analytics)

Literally 50% of the world’s water is being wasted while it is being delivered. I don’t know how many of us would allow a bank to lose 40% of our money and say, ‘Hey, let’s get more jobs and more money back into the bank’. 
 

Krishna Prashanth (Global Product Line Manager-EMF, ABB)

The water sector can no longer afford to move slowly – generative AI has become secure, powerful and an essential part of advancing how we model and operate water systems.
 

Gigi Karmous-Edwards (CEO & President of Karmous Edwards Consulting)

The global digital water market is projected to reach $54B by 2023’. 
 

Lie Zhang (Vice President, Shenzhen Water & Environment Group & Chairman, Shenzhen Water Co.)

Regional water solutions require cross-border cooperation, innovation and scaled finance, which is why our strategy focuses on innovative funding and technology in the Arab region. 
 

Dr. Adel Samei Felfel (Economic Advisor, Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development)

Climate change is turning water innovation into one of the most investable sectors of our era. 
 

Tom Ferguson (Managing Partner, Burnt Island Ventures)

We need water innovations to be scaled as quickly as possible, nationally and globally. 
 

Jaehyang So (Chair, TEC at Global Water Partnership)

We see the GCC emerging as a powerful centre for innovation in water technologies – solutions specifically designed for water-scarce environments and increasingly transferable to other countries. 
 

Laura Vecvagare (Regional Head of Industry, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, International Finance Corporation)