As global water challenges grow increasingly urgent, a new summit aims to deepen collaboration between the United States and Saudi Arabia on issues ranging from water scarcity to infrastructure modernization.

The U.S.-Saudi Water Summit, announced jointly by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) and Global Water Intelligence (GWI), is scheduled for October 3, 2025, in Palo Alto, California. Organizers describe the gathering as a high-level, international platform bringing together senior officials, utilities, investors, researchers, and technology providers from both nations.

Set in the heart of Silicon Valley, the summit will showcase Saudi Arabia’s evolving approach to water governance and infrastructure development—a transformation that the Kingdom says blends public investment with private-sector innovation.

The event is being led by Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of the Saudi Water Authority, who will open the day with a keynote exploring Saudi Arabia’s “new model of investment” in the water sector. The summit will also include forums and panels touching on a broad array of topics, including:

• Water governance and regulation
• Desalination and advanced treatment technologies
• Climate resilience and digital innovation
• Privatization and co-investment opportunities
• Academic and research partnerships

Organizers say the goal is to move beyond discussion and toward actionable partnerships—a theme that will be underscored during scheduled signing ceremonies with a range of U.S. entities. These include the California Public Utilities Commission, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Arizona State University Water Institute, and others.

The summit comes as Saudi Arabia continues efforts to modernize its water sector, a critical component of its broader Vision 2030 agenda. For U.S. stakeholders, the event presents potential opportunities not only for technology exchange but also for joint ventures and investment.