Shu'aiba 5 achievement: Increasing water production for Mecca at zero costs
A unique operational achievement that enhances water security in Makkah
In a move reflecting Saudi Arabia's leadership in the desalination sector, the Saudi Water Authority announced an exceptional operational achievement at the Shu'aiba 5 desalination plant, successfully increasing its production capacity by 11%, from 600,000 to 665,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day. The unique aspect of this achievement lies in its being accomplished at zero cost, without incurring any additional financial expenses for the project budget. This sets a global standard for operational efficiency and the optimal utilization of existing infrastructure.
Historical context: The Kingdom and the challenge of water scarcity
Located in a geographically scarce region with limited natural water resources, Saudi Arabia has made seawater desalination a strategic option for decades to meet the growing demand for water. Over the years, the Kingdom has invested heavily in developing desalination technologies, shifting from traditional, energy-intensive thermal methods to adopting the latest and most efficient technologies, such as reverse osmosis (RO), of which the Shu'aiba 5 plant is a prime example. This achievement is the culmination of a long history of innovation that has made the Kingdom the world's largest producer of desalinated water.
Strategic importance and expected impacts
This development is of paramount importance on several levels. Locally , it directly contributes to enhancing the water security of the Makkah region, which experiences exceptional demand during peak seasons such as Ramadan and Hajj, when millions of Muslims from around the world converge. This increase in production ensures that the needs of the city's residents and pilgrims are met efficiently and reliably. Regionally , this success reinforces the Kingdom's position as a regional hub of expertise and innovation in water resource management, providing an inspiring model for countries in the region facing similar water challenges. Internationally , Shu'aiba 5 demonstrates to the world that sustainable development can be achieved through innovative engineering, with the World Bank commending the Saudi experience and recognizing it as a leading model for improving energy efficiency in the global desalination sector.
Global leadership in energy efficiency and sustainability
This achievement didn't come about by chance. The project, executed with the efficiency of national engineering teams, has already garnered prestigious international recognition. The plant set a Guinness World Record for the lowest energy consumption desalination plant in the world, at 1.7 kilowatt-hours per cubic meter. It also won the 2025 Asian Water Awards and achieved zero carbon emissions, perfectly aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, which aim to reduce carbon emissions by more than 2 million tons annually and solidify the Kingdom's position as a global leader in sustainability and environmentally friendly technologies.
