IDWS 2025 to unveil the region’s largest Global Prize for Innovation in Water
As the world faces unprecedented water scarcity, with more than 2bn people lacking access to safe drinking water and global demand expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, Saudi Arabia will host one of the world’s most influential gatherings dedicated to water innovation and sustainability.
The Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS 2025) will take place 8–10 December 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton, 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.
Organized by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), IDWS 2025 will convene global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and industry pioneers to address the planet’s most pressing water challenges and accelerate the transition toward a secure and sustainable water future.
Breakthrough solutions
A centerpiece of the conference, the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) will recognize and fund breakthrough solutions that reimagine how the world produces, treats, and reuses water.
The GPIW stands as the largest water innovation prize in the region and among the most significant globally. The prize bridges science, entrepreneurship, and impact; connecting innovators with investors, implementers, and networks to transform ideas into real-world applications.
Returning for its second edition, Miyahthon (The Water Innovation Hackathon) invites young innovators, startups, technologists, and entrepreneurs to co-create scalable solutions spanning the entire water cycle, from production and reuse to digital transformation and efficient management.
Workshops
IDWS 2025 will host specialized technical workshops focusing on emerging technologies, regulatory frameworks, financing models, and sustainability strategies. The program will also feature the presentation of peer-reviewed scientific papers, highlighting the latest academic and practical advancements in water resource management.
A major highlight of the conference is the international exhibition, which will feature cutting-edge technologies and newly launched products across water treatment, desalination, and resource management. Several new solutions will be unveiled for the first time in the region.
Participating organizations include Siemens, ABB, Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works (SSEM), Saudi Investment Bank, ACWA Power, KSB, the Local Content & Government Procurement Authority, and Toray, underscoring their collective commitment to advancing a sustainable water future for the Kingdom.
Keynote sessions
The core conference will convene panels, keynote sessions, and networking forums addressing critical water priorities. IDWS 2025 will showcase a stellar global lineup of thought leaders, including:
HE Vera Eiro, President of WAREG (European Water Regulators), who is advocating for sustainable water governance across 27 European states.
HE Dr. Mansoor Al Hinai, Chairman of the Authority for Public Services Regulation in Oman, a regional leader in integrated utility and sustainability regulation.
Ben Tarbell, Co-Founder & CEO, Ebb Carbon, a pioneer of carbon removal through ocean based alkalinity technology.
Gustavo Saltiel, Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist of World Bank, a global authority on sustainable water access and sanitation policy.
Michael Toh, Managing Director of Singapore Water Association, who is an architect of Singapore’s global water innovation ecosystem and NEWater strategy.
“By convening the world’s brightest minds and honoring breakthrough solutions through the Global Prize for Innovation in Water, we are creating a legacy of impact that extends well beyond our borders,” concluded Mehaideb Saleh Al Mehaideb, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference.
