Saudi Water Authority (SWA) has announced that one of its major projects - Shuaiba Desalination Plant Project - Phase 5 has successfully boosted its daily output from 600,000 cu m/day to 665,000 cu m/day of desalinated water, thus exceeded its design capacity by 11%.
This milestone was achieved without incurring additional costs, thus reflecting the efficient project management and optimal asset utilisation as well as enhanced supply reliability while supporting water security and sustainability, said a statement from SWA.
The project represents added value for the water system by improving supply dependability and infrastructure investment, while maintaining the highest standards of energy efficiency and approved operational requirements, it stated.
SWA pointed out that the project received certification from Guinness World Records for the world’s lowest energy consumption in reverse osmosis (RO) desalination, at 1.7 kilowatt-hours per cu m.
The achievement spotlights technological progress in the design, implementation, and operation of modern desalination systems powered by national engineering and technical expertise, it stated.
The project also won the Asian Water Awards for 2025 after achieving zero carbon emissions, thus reinforcing the kingdom’s global leadership in energy efficiency within the desalination sector and positioning the plant as an international benchmark for high-efficiency seawater desalination systems.
"These accomplishments have strengthened the kingdom’s global standing in desalination energy efficiency, with the World Bank praising the Shuaiba-5 project as an advanced model for improving energy efficiency in desalination projects," said a spokesman for SWA.
The project’s strong performance directly benefits Makkah Region by enhancing water supply reliability during peak seasons, particularly during the blessed month of Ramadan and the Hajj season.
"The improvements help ensure service sustainability and system readiness to meet rising demand by Umrah performers and worshippers while maintaining energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, supporting a safe and integrated hospitality experience," he noted.
"This achievement aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly efforts to cut carbon emissions, which exceed 2 million tonnes per annum and adopt environmentally-friendly technologies, reinforcing the kingdom’s global leadership in water services," he added.-TradeArabia News Service