Stefan Umiastowski, senior vice president & CEO for India, Middle East and Africa at Ecolab/Image: Supplied
Ecolab and the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating water innovation and advancing sustainability objectives across the Kingdom.
The agreement was formalised at the US–Saudi Water Summit 2025 in Palo Alto, California, which brought together global water leaders to explore partnerships supporting the evolution of Saudi Arabia’s water sector.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration to strengthen sustainable water management as a strategic enabler of Saudi Vision 2030. By optimising water use, the partnership seeks to safeguard resources, improve water quality, reduce energy consumption, cut carbon emissions and lower operational costs. SWA and Ecolab will leverage global expertise to develop advanced water circularity solutions, with a focus on:
- Exchanging insights on water management across sectors including data centres, refineries, petrochemicals, heavy industry, desalination, manufacturing, food and beverage, and hospitality
- Supporting water source selection, regulatory development and performance monitoring, alongside workshops on advanced digital solutions such as smart water systems and predictive maintenance
- Exploring pilot projects in Saudi industrial cities using Ecolab technologies adapted to local operating conditions
- Identifying opportunities to drive innovation through initiatives such as Rabigh Oasis, the Global Water Innovation Prize (GWIP), collaborative R&D roundtables and innovation promotion programmes
Ecolab has operated in Saudi Arabia for more than 45 years through its Nalco Water business, supporting major industrial partners in managing and optimising water use. Today, its solutions are deployed across energy, manufacturing, food and hospitality sectors, helping organisations conserve water, reduce energy consumption and strengthen long-term business resilience.
Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, president of the Saudi Water Authority, said the partnership represents a step toward building a world-class water sector that protects resources, supports national growth and secures water for future generations in line with Vision 2030.
Stefan Umiastowski, senior vice president & CEO for India, Middle East and Africa at Ecolab, said: “This collaboration represents an important step in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 commitment to long-term water sustainability in a region where water is one of the most critical resources. As digitalization and AI reshape economies and create new demand patterns, intelligent water management has become essential for sustainable growth. By combining Ecolab’s global innovation capabilities with the SWA’s vision and local expertise, we’re creating a powerful platform to scale water transformation across the Kingdom’s most strategic industries.”
