logo
Saudi Arabia sets two new Guinness World Records for water projects

Saudi Arabia sets two new Guinness World Records for water projects

Filipino Times18-06-2025
The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) has secured two new Guinness World Records, strengthening Saudi Arabia's position as a leader in modern water solutions.
One record was for the world's largest seawater desalination plant, utilizing reverse osmosis —a system that converts seawater into drinking water. This plant, part of the Al-Khobar Production System Phase II, can produce over 670,000 cubic meters daily on the smallest land area for its size.
The second record went to SWA's Technical Affairs and Projects Sector for having the lowest energy use ever recorded for a plant using the same technology. The Shuaibah Plant Phase V uses just 1.7 kWh to remove salt and a total of 2.34 kWh per cubic meter.
This new figure breaks the Kingdom's previous record of 2.27 kWh per cubic meter and has been praised by the World Bank.
During a ceremony in Riyadh, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley and representatives from Guinness World Records awarded the certificates, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
With these two new awards, SWA now holds 11 Guinness World Records.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saudi Arabia to unveil national media strategy soon, says minister
Saudi Arabia to unveil national media strategy soon, says minister

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Zawya

Saudi Arabia to unveil national media strategy soon, says minister

RIYADH — Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari confirmed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has not yet launched its official media sector strategy, stating that the national media strategy remains under review and will be formally announced in due course. Speaking during the government press conference in Riyadh, Al-Dosari said the Saudi media landscape is evolving from merely relaying news to creating impact, emphasizing that the sector is moving "from medium to message." He also announced that the upcoming edition of the Saudi Media Forum will be held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, positioning it as a national platform aligned with global media momentum and future-focused tools. '2030 is no longer a date in the future, it symbolizes limitless ambition. In Saudi Arabia, dreams aren't told, they're built. Tomorrow doesn't wait; it's accomplished today,' Al-Dosari added. Highlighting the Kingdom's humanitarian role, the minister noted that Saudi Arabia is transforming its aid initiatives into a sustainable humanitarian system. Since its inception, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has delivered more than SR30 billion in aid to 108 countries through over 3,500 development and relief programs. Al-Dosari also revealed that around 230,000 surgeries have been performed under Saudi Arabia's overseas voluntary medical campaigns. Meanwhile, the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen has provided over SR4.27 billion in funding for more than 265 projects across key sectors including roads, water, health, and education. Turning to technology and innovation, Al-Dosari said Saudi Arabia sees sustainable development as a transnational responsibility. 'We are crafting the algorithms of the future, turning data into decisions and artificial intelligence into development,' he noted. Saudi Arabia's digital economy reached SR495 billion in 2024, accounting for 15% of GDP and growing at an annual rate of nearly 7%. The number of tech companies listed on the Saudi stock exchange has also surged to 23 in 2024, up from just two in 2020. 'Today, we don't just consume technology, we contribute to building it with a value-driven and human-centered vision,' Al-Dosari said. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

Saudi Arabia to build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with 4 million m³ annual capacity
Saudi Arabia to build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with 4 million m³ annual capacity

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Zawya

Saudi Arabia to build 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with 4 million m³ annual capacity

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has made major strides in environmental conservation, water sustainability, and food security as part of its Vision 2030 goals, according to Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley. In a press briefing on Wednesday, Al-Fadley highlighted the implementation progress of the National Environment Strategy, including the establishment of five specialized environmental centers and the region's largest environmental fund to support green initiatives. The Kingdom has introduced new regulatory frameworks for environmental protection, meteorology, and waste management, two of which are being implemented for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Under the Saudi Green Initiative, over 500,000 hectares of degraded land have been rehabilitated and 151 million trees planted. The target is to restore 2.5 million hectares and plant over 215 million trees by 2030. Ultimately, the Kingdom aims to plant 10 billion trees across 40 million hectares. The number of national parks has surged from 18 to 500, while protected terrestrial areas now cover 18% of the Kingdom's territory, a fourfold increase. Marine protected areas have grown by 260% since 2016. Over 8,000 endangered species have been reintroduced into their natural habitats. In enforcement, more than 40,000 environmental permits have been issued, a 660% increase since the creation of the National Center for Environmental Compliance. More than 173,000 inspections were carried out, and 456 licenses were granted to environmental service providers. Air quality monitoring has also expanded, with 240 stations operating across the Kingdom. The ministry launched a national marine monitoring program and bolstered its capacity to respond to oil spills. Meteorological services now cover 100% of Saudi Arabia, aided by advanced sensing and prediction systems. The cloud-seeding program, led by skilled Saudi pilots using cutting-edge aircraft, has conducted over 711 sorties, increasing rainfall by 6.4 million cubic meters to support water resources and vegetation. The Kingdom also launched two pioneering centers, the Regional Center for Climate Change Studies, the first of its kind in the Middle East, and the Regional Center for Sand and Dust Storms, one of only four worldwide. Saudi Arabia has developed 21 strategic city-level waste management plans and identified more than 330 investment opportunities worth SR450 billion. The goal is to divert 90% of waste from landfills by 2040. A suite of incentives, grants, and a new environmental fund has been launched to support private sector innovation and academic partnerships. Al-Fadley announced that the UN Water Conference has named Saudi Arabia a global model for sustainable water practices, with significant progress under Sustainable Development Goal 6. Completed water projects now exceed SR230 billion in value, including SR10 billion in public infrastructure and over SR45 billion through private sector collaboration. The developments cover water production, transport pipelines, storage facilities, and wastewater treatment. Since 2016, water production has doubled to 16.6 million cubic meters per day — 75% of which is desalinated seawater — making the Kingdom the world's top producer of desalinated water. Strategic water storage capacity has increased by 600%, with the average supply coverage rising from one to three days in most cities. Efforts to reduce energy use have halved electricity consumption in the sector compared to 2016. The Kingdom now delivers water to more than 22,000 population centers, reaching elevations up to 3,000 meters through an 18,000-kilometer pipeline network. Reused water volume has risen from 251 million to 550 million cubic meters, now representing 32% of total usage. Saudi Arabia is building 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with an annual capacity of 4 million cubic meters. With over 65% local content in the water sector and 97% of engineering roles held by Saudi nationals, the Kingdom is increasingly self-reliant. The National Center for Water Efficiency and Conservation has saved 120,000 cubic meters daily and aims to reach 300,000 soon. Agricultural GDP reached SR118 billion, up 8% from last year and 39% from 2020. Food production rose to 12 million tons due to supportive policies and Saudi Agricultural Development Fund initiatives. The Kingdom has achieved full self-sufficiency in dates, milk, and eggs, and between 70%–100% in various vegetables and over 70% in poultry. Exports of fish and shrimp have expanded, along with global competitiveness in select agricultural sectors. Saudi Arabia remains the world's top date exporter. The General Food Security Authority ensures the availability of 11 key staples, with an early warning system for essential goods to be launched soon. Al-Fadley also praised the role of the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC), which supplies 30% of the Kingdom's wheat imports through overseas projects. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

University of Baghdad to establish AI-focused college
University of Baghdad to establish AI-focused college

The National

time6 days ago

  • The National

University of Baghdad to establish AI-focused college

The University of Baghdad in Iraq will establish a college dedicated to artificial intelligence, according to a ministerial order issued on Monday. It comes as countries throughout the Middle East seek to become major players in the booming AI sector, which is at the centre of unprecedented investment and interest. Naeem Al Aboudi, Iraq's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said the decision to have a specific college at the University of Baghdad dedicated to AI was part of a larger 'strategic vision to develop the Iraqi academic system and keep pace with global digital and knowledge transformations'. According to the news release, the AI-focused portion of the University will begin in the upcoming academic year, and will focus on AI as it applies to 'engineering, biomedical applications and big data'. Estimates indicate that between 60,000 and 70,000 students are enrolled in the University of Baghdad. In common with other countries in the Middle East, Iraq sees AI as an opportunity to diversify its economy away from oil. Experts warn, however, that AI could disrupt labour in the short term. Emphasising AI in universities is seen as a way to blunt the impact of labour disruption, helping to prepare students for a new economy. The University of Baghdad is not alone in its endeavour to formally incorporate AI into higher education. In 2019, before AI was dominating headlines, the UAE announced plans to establish of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world's first higher learning institution dedicated to AI. MBZUAI opened the following year. AI projects and programmes throughout the Middle East have helped to place a greater emphasis on the inclusion of Arabic and other cultural aspects that might have otherwise been left out of the technology development, which initially focused on English and Western data.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store