The second edition of the Stormwater & Wastewater Conference 2025 opened today at the Jeddah Hilton, bringing together government representatives, engineers, and technical specialists to explore approaches for resilient and sustainable water infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, in line with the country’s Vision 2030.
The event began with remarks from Great Minds Group, followed by a keynote from Nariba Gittens, associate director at WSP, who highlighted the need for innovation and collaboration in upgrading stormwater and wastewater systems across the region.
Eng. Hazem Ibrahim, vice president of the Saudi Society of Civil Engineering, used his keynote to call for a move away from traditional drainage systems in favour of nature-based solutions. These approaches, he said, are better suited to support urban expansion while also improving climate resilience.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr Imad Abed Alrahim, a consultant for the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing from AECOM, explored how data and sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) can help mitigate flood risks and improve infrastructure planning. “Good progress has been done in infrastructure projects in KSA, where although the events have been more serious, however the damage and losses have been lower due to the great work being done by the different organisations in KSA,” he said. He added, “The integration of green infrastructure is not an option—it is essential to the future of urban development.”
The event includes a technology exhibition with participating firms from across the water and civil engineering sectors.
Fugro is presenting geotechnical and site investigation tools that provide data for planning drainage and flood control in urban areas. Tamimi Group and TCC are sharing their experience in delivering large-scale civil infrastructure works. KSB is exhibiting pumps and valves designed to improve energy efficiency in treatment plants and stormwater systems. Polypipe Middle East is introducing drainage systems with permeable pipes and smart water management features to support water reuse in cities.
Other participants such as Alwasail and IDOM are highlighting pipe systems, engineering services, and design technologies for both urban and industrial wastewater networks. Autodesk is showcasing digital platforms for flood risk modelling, system design, and infrastructure management. Grundfos is displaying pumps designed for wastewater and stormwater that reduce environmental impact through lower energy use.
Companies including Taldeen, Hydrofence, Torishima, Detectronic, BMS Gharbalah, Aravia, and WT Burden are also exhibiting systems for filtration, flood protection, real-time monitoring, and materials suited to local environmental conditions. Henkel and AVR are sharing their technologies in sealing, corrosion protection, and process control for water utilities.
The opening day concluded with presentations on circular water strategies, flood modelling, and integrated planning for urban water systems. Technical sessions and discussions continue on day two.
