Middle East

All the countries in the Middle East have unique characteristics, cultures, and geopolitical circumstances. However, in terms of water, there are many shared challenges. Droughts and limited freshwater resources, as well as large quantities of water being used for agriculture, are some of the urgent issues the whole region needs to deal with. Wastewater and sanitation, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and urban planning are some of the other challenges at hand.

NWP has a vast network in the Middle East region which has been nurtured through years of close collaboration. Countries where NWP is intensifying its activities include Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Strengthening regional partnerships

NWP runs the Secretariat of the Oman Strategic Task Force on Water since its inception in 2017. In addition, it chairs the Dutch side of the Task Force and supports the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in maintaining bilateral relations with the Sultanate of Oman when it comes to water. High-level meetings, thematic working group sessions and the development of the Oman-Netherlands Water Roadmap are core activities of the Task Force.

After years of collaboration, NWP has established a large network in the country which continues to create opportunities for the Dutch water sector, also outside of the Task Force. More recently, NWP has often coordinated bespoke programmes for delegations and supported Dutch participation at Omani’s key events: Oman Water Week and Oman Sustainability Week.

Moreover, NWP works on strengthening cross-sectoral activities in Saudi Arabia under the Water-Food-Agriculture nexus. One way of doing so is by coordinating the participation of Dutch exhibitors at Saudi Agriculture together with our partners. This has become a recurring activity in the past few years. In addition, NWP often plays an active role in panel sessions and knowledge exchanges taking place at the event.

Other efforts under the same nexus relate to the establishment of new partnerships. NWP’s participation in the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance is one of the most recent developments in this area. This involvement allows us to share Dutch water expertise and innovation with Saudi counterparts and promote sustainable, water-smart solutions that align with Saudi Arabia’s Technology Adoption Roadmap, a key component of Saudi Vision 2030.