News DeskRIYADH: Under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Saudi Arabia is set to host the inaugural edition of IFAT Saudi Arabia. The event, scheduled for 26–28 January at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center, marks a strategic milestone in the Kingdom’s journey toward environmental resilience and market readiness.
As Saudi Arabia continues to scale its investment in sustainable infrastructure, IFAT Saudi Arabia serves as a critical platform for knowledge exchange and policy dialogue. The three-day event will feature a dedicated strategic summit and a Continuous Professional Development (CPD)-certified conference programme, focusing on how policy, capital, and technology can converge to strengthen national waste and water systems.
“Strengthening waste management systems is a key priority for supporting environmental protection, operational efficiency and resource recovery,” stated Dr. Abdullah Al Sebaei, CEO of the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN).
High-Level Strategy at the IFAT Summit
The event will kick off on 26 January with the invite-only IFAT Saudi Arabia Summit. This high-level gathering will convene senior government officials, investors, and industry leaders to map out the strategic direction of the Kingdom’s environmental sectors. Key focus areas include:
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Exploring frameworks for scalable infrastructure.
- Water Security: A headline panel led by the Saudi Water Authority will examine governance and national water strategies.
- Leaders Panel: An assessment of market dynamics and investment potential within the evolving waste and water economy.
Eng. Mamdooh Alshuaibi, Vice President of Sustainability at the Saudi Water Authority, emphasized the importance of the gathering, noting that a resilient water sector requires “long-term planning and close coordination across public and private stakeholders.”
A Dual-Stage Technical Exploration
The conference will extend its reach through two thematic stages designed to provide practical, applied solutions:
The Orange Stage: Empowering a Circular Future Dedicated to waste management and recycling, this stage will address the technical side of the circular economy. Highlights include sessions on smart collection systems, routing efficiencies for municipal waste, and the growing role of cybersecurity in digitalized waste infrastructure. A major milestone will be the launch of the World Bank’s latest report on Solid Waste Management in the MENA region.
The Blue Stage: Innovative Solutions in Water Management Focusing on the 27th and 28th of January, this stage will tackle water resilience in arid environments. Key discussions will include:
- Brine Mining: A case study led by NEOM on the commercialization of brine streams.
- Green Finance: Expert panels exploring funding mechanisms for climate-resilient systems.
- International Collaboration: Sessions organized by the German Water Partnership to align Middle Eastern resilience with international best practices.
By bridging the gap between high-level policy and on-the-ground technology, IFAT Saudi Arabia aims to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a regional leader in environmental stewardship and sustainable industrial practices.
