Saudi Arabia Highlights Water Resource Management Achievements At UN High-Level Political Forum

Saudi Arabia showcased its efforts in enhancing water security and sustainability at the SDG 6 Water Action Agenda Special Event. This event took place alongside the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The Kingdom's participation highlighted its progress in a region with limited natural water resources.

The UN-Water has acknowledged Saudi Arabia for its significant achievements in integrated water resources management, a key indicator for SDG 6. Dr. Abdulaziz AlShaibani, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Water, led the Saudi delegation. He shared insights into the Kingdom's strategies to accelerate progress on SDG 6 during a special event focused on the UN-Water success stories report.

Saudi Arabia was featured as a success story in the report due to its rapid advancements in integrated water resources management. Between 2017 and 2023, the Kingdom's indicator for this management rose from 57% to 83%, one of the fastest increases globally under SDG indicator 6.5.1.

Dr. AlShaibani highlighted that these improvements were achieved through enhanced efficiency, coordination, and service quality. The Kingdom's leadership has provided strong support, facilitating substantial structural and organizational developments aimed at sustainable water management.

The Kingdom has made significant financial investments to expand and modernize its water infrastructure. These efforts have significantly improved Saudi Arabia's "enabling environment" score from 42% in 2017 to 87% in 2023.

This progress underscores the commitment of Saudi Arabia's leadership to advancing water security and sustainability through strategic investments and policy enhancements.

With inputs from SPA