المملكة: "today" It highlights the largest water oasis in the world… areas dedicated to innovation

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to consolidate its global position in the water sector through qualitative research and innovation projects, led by the Saudi Water Authority, that translate the goals of Vision 2030 in sustainability and the circular economy.

The Executive Director of the Watira Institute, the research arm of the Saudi Water Authority, Engineer Ali Al-Sahari, revealed that he spoke to… "today" About the launch of one of the research innovations last week in the city of Jubail, which is the production of “sodium hypochlorite” as a sterilizing substance, which can be used in the water sector, in addition to the possibility of using it in other sectors, as a highly efficient secondary sterilizer.

He explained that the importance of this innovation is not limited to the sterilization aspect only, but extends to opening broad horizons in the field of the circular economy, by exploiting water waste and transforming it into value-added products. This came on the sidelines of the Innovation Conference. In Water Sustainability (IDWS 2025), which was recently hosted by the city of Jeddah.

Repurposing water waste

Al-Sahari pointed out that innovation depends on repurposing water waste, so that it is converted into a sterilizer, and at the same time producing hydrogen gas, which can be used as an alternative energy source within the water operation and production chain.

He added: “Today we are in an actual production phase, and we are working to connect investors and those interested in investing in the water sector, to enable them to exploit water waste and produce sodium hypochlorite, whether to serve the water sector or other sectors.”

He stressed that this step represents a practical model of how to transform environmental challenges into investment and economic opportunities, contributing to enhancing sustainability and reducing waste, in line with global trends in managing water resources and clean energy.

The largest water oasis in the world

In a related context, Al-Sahari talked about the “Water Oasis – Rabigh”, which is considered The largest water oasis in the world, which aims to support research and innovation in the water system in an integrated manner.

He explained that the oasis has been recognized by the Encyclopedia «Guinness” as the largest water oasis in the world, which is an achievement of which the Saudi Water Authority is proud, and reflects the extent of national ambition in this vital sector.

He said: “Our ambition for the water oasis is much higher than we imagine, as we believe that research and innovation exist in all parts of the world, but the real challenge lies in the lack of integration between sectors, and transforming the idea from mere theoretical research to a practical application that serves the industry.”

He added that the main goal of the oasis is to link the entire chain of innovation, starting from the idea, through the stages of development and testing, all the way to industrial and commercial application.

He stated that the water oasis in Rabigh provides an integrated infrastructure to support research and innovation, including more than 20 laboratories of various specializations, considered one of the largest in the region, and serving various ideas and solutions related to the challenges of the water sector, not only at the level of the Kingdom, but also at the global level. The oasis also includes multiple experimental stations and research platforms, providing comprehensive services including water, sanitation, and electricity, allowing various technologies to be tested in environments that simulate practical reality.

Al-Sahari explained that these stations aim to develop technologies for water production, transportation, distribution, and reuse, within an integrated system that seeks to raise the sector’s efficiency and improve its sustainability. The oasis also provides a dedicated environment for researchers and thinkers, through which the existing challenges in the water sector are presented, and it supports them to conduct applied research that contributes to finding practical and implementable solutions.

The role of the Water Oasis was not limited to researchers and scientists only, but also extended to include investors and entities directly related to the water sector. Al-Sahari explained that the oasis gives investors the opportunity to learn about the solutions resulting from innovations and research, and enables them to enter the market by linking them with stakeholders and licensed entities working in the water sector, whether in the areas of production, operation, or support services.

Spaces dedicated to research and innovation

The oasis also includes spaces dedicated to indirectly supporting the research and innovation system, including spaces designed for graduate students and universities, whether local or international. This allows students to be present in Rabigh, obtain access to laboratories and experimental stations, learn about existing challenges, and submit research proposals that contribute to addressing them. These proposals are supported and their owners are enabled to access the research infrastructure, in addition to linking them to the commercial and industrial level.

Al-Sahari concluded his speech by emphasizing that the Water Oasis supports all stages of research and innovation, starting from the initial levels of technology readiness, all the way to full industrial application, indicating that the goal is to provide all the necessary needs of the researcher, innovator, or scientist, and to transform ideas into realistic solutions that serve the water sector, and enhance the Kingdom’s position as a global center for water innovation.

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