The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) will launch the inaugural edition of the Water Regulation Forum in Riyadh on November 1. Established as an annual global platform for advancing regulatory excellence and international cooperation across the water sector, the forum is being organized in strategic partnership with the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA). A statement from SWA on Sunday said the forum will bring together water regulators, policymakers, experts, and sector leaders from around the world, with the participation of 28 speakers from 24 countries, four international organizations, and 25 government entities that are counterparts to the authority. The diverse participation reflects the range of regulatory experiences and models represented and provides an opportunity to showcase regulatory practices and exchange expertise on developing regulatory frameworks and governance across the water sector. The forum comes amid rapid developments across the global water sector that require regulatory frameworks capable of keeping pace with changes in resources, services, technologies, and investment models. Approaches to these developments vary from one country to another according to the nature of their water resources and their institutional and regulatory frameworks. The forum will address key issues shaping water-sector regulation worldwide, including governance, scarcity management, compliance, utility performance, private-sector partnerships and financing, water reuse, and regulatory integration, drawing on a diverse range of international experiences. The forum will be held alongside the IDRA World Congress 2026, hosted by the Kingdom in Riyadh from November 1-5, under the patronage of Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley. The forum is expected to announce the launch of its first edition in 2027, serving as a platform for knowledge and expertise exchange and for strengthening cooperation among regulatory authorities worldwide.
