Riyadh is preparing to host the IDRA World Congress 2026 on desalination and water reuse from 1 to 5 November 2026 at the King Faisal Conference Center, an international event held in Saudi Arabia for the first time and bringing together water sector leaders, experts and innovators from around the world.
The congress is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, hosted by the Saudi Water Authority and organized by the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA), under the theme "Leading Global Water Sustainability Through Innovation".
The congress is an international platform for discussing the future of water security and sustainability and the development of desalination and reuse technology, and for presenting solutions that deliver more reliable, efficient and lower-carbon water supplies.
Four Technical Tracks on the Future of Water
The technical program runs over four days in four parallel tracks covering 10 main topics and 58 sub-topics, allowing specialists to discuss a wide range of scientific, technical and regulatory issues.
Key themes include research and innovation, the circular water economy, reaching net zero, energy efficiency, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, along with the regulations and legislation governing water reuse and project success stories from around the world.
The congress is accompanied by a specialized international exhibition where participating companies and bodies can present the latest technologies and solutions in desalination, water treatment and reuse, opening channels of cooperation among government bodies, investors, companies and technology developers.
Riyadh Sees the Launch of the Water Regulation Forum
A highlight of the first day is the launch of the inaugural Water Regulation Forum, a new global platform aimed at developing international cooperation and the exchange of experience in regulating the water sector.
The forum is an initiative of the Saudi Water Authority in strategic partnership with IDRA, focused on developing regulatory frameworks and strengthening the efficiency and sustainability of the water sector worldwide.
The Global Desalination Hackathon Returns for a Second Edition
The event also includes the second Global Desalination Hackathon, a collaboration between ACWA Power and IDRA under the theme "Smart Desalination: Innovate for Impact".
The hackathon focuses on using innovation and modern technology to develop new solutions to the challenges facing the desalination sector, giving innovators and specialists the chance to contribute ideas that can be developed and applied.
