Prince Sultan Water Prize: 275 international candidates compete

The Secretary-General of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water and Supervisor of the Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research at King Saud University, Dr. Abdulmalik bin Abdulrahman Al-Sheikh, announced remarkable statistics reflecting the international standing the prize has achieved. He revealed that 275 scientists and researchers representing 69 countries worldwide have applied for the current cycle of the prize, competing for its five awards with a total value of 3 million Saudi riyals.

Growing global standing and high-level scientific competition

Dr. Al-Sheikh emphasized that the increasing number of nominees and the diversity of their nationalities clearly demonstrate the remarkable progress achieved by the award and the prestigious reputation it has earned in international scientific circles. The award has become one of the most prominent global platforms celebrating scientists and innovators in the water sector, reflecting international confidence in its standards, impartiality, and its active role in stimulating scientific research.

Strategic objectives to address water challenges

The Riyadh-based prize seeks to achieve a number of strategic objectives that extend beyond mere monetary recognition. Its primary aim is to acknowledge the efforts of scientists who have made outstanding contributions and developed innovative solutions to global water challenges. The prize focuses particularly on:

• Finding scientific and technical solutions to provide water suitable for human and agricultural use.
• Reducing water scarcity, especially in arid and semi-arid regions that suffer from resource scarcity.
• Enhancing the sustainability of water resources and preserving them for future generations.
• Supporting innovations that contribute to reducing the costs of water desalination and treatment.

The Kingdom's humanitarian message to the world

The Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water is one of the noble messages of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to all of humanity. Since its inception, the Prize has undertaken the responsibility of contributing to global water security, based on the Kingdom's belief that providing water is a fundamental pillar of stability and development, and an effective means of reducing international conflicts that may arise due to competition over water resources.

These efforts are consistent with global trends and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as the Kingdom plays a leading role in supporting research that ensures a secure water future for current and future generations, by encouraging the innovation of new technologies to secure water at the lowest possible costs and highest quality standards.

Call for nominations for the thirteenth session

In closing, the Secretary-General of the Prize extended an open invitation to scientists, researchers, and scientific institutions at the local, regional, and international levels to participate in the thirteenth cycle of the Prize. He explained that nominations are open for submitting pioneering scientific research to the Prize Secretariat via its official website, noting that the deadline for receiving nominations is before the end of December 2027, thus allowing researchers ample time to prepare and submit their studies, which could potentially transform the future of water resources worldwide.