This month, the United Nations in Saudi Arabia and the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan co-hosted a seminar at the United Nations House in Riyadh ahead of the Fourth Dushanbe High-Level International Conference on Water for Sustainable Development.

The event brought together distinguished ambassadors, government representatives, United Nations colleagues and partners to discuss the importance of global water cooperation and the continued implementation of the Water Action Decade.

Representing the UNDP Country Office in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Asim Salah, Technical Advisor at UNDP Saudi Arabia, delivered remarks on behalf of Ms. Nahid Hussein, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In his remarks, Mr. Salah highlighted the central role of water in sustainable development, stressing its importance for human health, food security, economic growth and climate resilience. He also noted that water-related challenges are becoming increasingly urgent globally, driven by climate change, population growth, pollution and rising demand.

Mr. Salah underlined the relevance of these challenges to Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab region, where arid conditions and limited freshwater availability continue to shape water management priorities. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to address these challenges through investments in water infrastructure, desalination, efficiency, wastewater reuse, innovation and technology, in line with Vision 2030.

The remarks also emphasized the longstanding partnership between UNDP and Saudi Arabia in the water sector. For more than two decades, UNDP has supported the Kingdom in advancing sustainable water governance in close partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. This cooperation has focused on integrated water resources management, institutional capacity development and evidence-based policymaking, while supporting progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

The seminar also highlighted the importance of the Fourth Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference as a platform to advance the implementation of the Water Action Decade, showcase scalable solutions and partnerships, and strengthen global dialogue on water and sustainable development.

Through its participation, UNDP Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting water cooperation through partnership, innovation and collective action, contributing to more sustainable and resilient development pathways in the Kingdom, the region and beyond.