Egypt and Saudi Arabia held high-level bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 8th Cairo Water Week (October 12–16, 2025), focusing on significantly expanding cooperation in water resource management and sustainability. Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilam, met with Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti, in a meeting that underscored the strength of the two nations’ ties in this strategic sector.
The discussions centered on joint efforts to address shared challenges related to water scarcity and climate change adaptation. Key areas of focus under an existing bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) include the utilization of advanced technologies, such as wastewater treatment and reuse, and the implementation of seawater desalination for intensive food production. The move reflects a broader regional pivot toward sustainable water solutions amid escalating environmental challenges.Minister Sweilam offered Egypt’s full technical and institutional expertise to assist Saudi Arabia in preparing to host the 11th World Water Forum in 2027. Furthermore, the meeting launched practical cooperation initiatives, including a planned visit by an Egyptian delegation to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahsa desalination facility and a reciprocal visit by a Saudi team to collaborate on flood-risk protection and rainwater harvesting projects in Egypt.
