Blog Post

World’s largest producer of desalinated water, world record set by The Saudi Water Authority

August 9, 2024

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--The Saudi Water Authority (SWA), formerly the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), a Saudi Arabian government authority responsible for regulating and monitoring water sector business and services, operates and monitors 33 desalination plants and over 139 purification plants in the country; it has a production capacity of 7.5 million cubic meters per day, setting the world record for being the World’s largest producer of desalinated water, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) is a Saudi Arabian government authority responsible for regulating and monitoring water sector business and services to enhance water sustainability across the Kingdom," Wikipedia says.

"The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) was formerly the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) until March 2024, when a session of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, agreed to change the name to the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), officially approving its objectives and roles as the Kingdom’s regulatory authority for the water sector. This was formally announced on 07 May 2024."

"In 2015, the company operationalized the Jubail system phase two with a production capacity of approximately one million m³/day. For several years, it was the largest water desalination system in the world. Later, the Ras Al-Khair plant was inaugurated, securing a Guinness certificate as the world's largest dual-purpose water desalination and power production plant," Wikipedia says.

"In 2021, Saline Water Conversion Corporation set a new Guinness World Record title for the lowest energy consumption for a water desalination plant with 2.27 kW/h per cubic meter of desalinated water. In 2022, SWCC launched the world's largest floating desalination plant. In 2023, SWCC became the largest producer by transferring operating tasks and specializations for 139 dam and well plants, achieving a daily freshwater output of 11.5 million cubic meters.

"In 2024, The Saudi Water Authority (formerly SWCC) held 9 Guinness World Records: Largest water desalination company,Largest network of water pipelines, Largest drinking water storage tank, Largest production capacity of a water desalination network, Lowest energy consumption for a water desalination plant, Largest water desalination plant (capacity), Largest drinking water storage tank network, Largest multi-effect distillation water desalination plant (capacity), and Largest drinking water storage facility."

"60% of the Kingdom’s water comes from desalination, while 30% is sourced from non-renewable groundwater and only 10% from surface water located in the south-west of the country," Wikipedia says.

"The Saudi Water Authority (SWA) has a production capacity of 7.5 million cubic metres per day. It aims to produce 11.5 million cubic meters per day, leveraging seawater and underground water.

It holds the top spot in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest producer of desalinated water, accounting for 22% of the world’s global production. SWA operates and monitors 33 desalination plants and over 139 purification plants in the country. The largest is located on the east coast of Jubail. The company has 14 transmission systems and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) of pipelines."

"The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has recently established nine new Guinness World Records, further cementing its position as the world's largest producer of desalinated water. SWCC produces over 11.5 million cubic meters of water per day and has achieved unprecedented results in various water projects," the zawya.com says.

"during the ceremony sponsored by His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, and attended by His Excellency the Governor of Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, and representatives from Guinness World Records, SWCC received the certificates for the largest desalination plant in the world for its giant system "Ras Al-Khair" with a production capacity approaching 3 million cubic meters, the largest covered Water Reservoir for storing drinking water in the world, with a production capacity of 3 million cubic meters, and the largest drinking water storage facility, represented by the “Briman Strategic Water Reservoir" with a capacity that exceeds 2 million cubic meters."

"SWCC also obtained a certificate for the largest covered drinking water storage facility in the world, (Riyadh's strategic water storage tanks with a capacity of 4.79 million cubic meters), the largest piped water transmission system for water desalination in the world, with a length of 14,217 km and a capacity of 19,429 million cubic meters per day, the largest mobile desalination plant in the world with a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters per day, the largest multi-effect distillation desalination unit in the world for the MED-TVC unit in Shuaiba with a capacity of 91,200 cubic meters per day, and the largest network of water reservoir for drinking water storage with a total capacity of 8,970 million cubic meters.

"It also received the world's lowest desalination energy consumption certificate. reaching less than 2.271 kWh per cubic meter."

"His Excellency Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkareem, Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation, said, "SWCC is proud to have achieved these new records that enhance its pioneering and leading role in the desalination industry, and to continue its journey towards the future, taking deliberate and confident steps," zawya.com says.

"He emphasized the importance of the continuous development and efforts of research and innovation that led to the registration of nine new Guinness World Records. He explained that this achievement is the result of a strategy that aims to improve business efficiency by leveraging technologies, enhancing capabilities, and localizing knowledge.

"He said, "We take pride in our accomplishments which were made possible with the guidance of our wise leadership and their aspirations. We now seek to expand our vision within the desalination industry, aiming to exceed the limits of competition and achieve record-breaking accomplishments that not only make a difference but also promote Saudi leadership on a global scale".

"As the world’s foremost producer of desalinated water, generating over 11.5 million cubic meters daily, SWCC’s recent recognitions underscore its groundbreaking achievements across various water projects," the official website says.

"The ceremony, graced by the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, and SWCC Governor, Eng. Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim, saw SWCC being awarded for achievements including operating the world's largest desalination plant at Ras Al-Khair, with a nearly 3 million cubic meters daily production capacity. It also celebrated having the world's largest covered water reservoir, the world's largest drinking water storage facility at the Briman Strategic Water Reservoir, and the largest covered drinking water storage facility in Riyadh.

"Additionally, SWCC was recognized for operating the largest piped water transmission system for water desalination, the largest mobile desalination plant, the largest multi-effect distillation desalination unit, and the largest network of water reservoirs for drinking water storage. A record for the world's lowest desalination energy consumption, achieving less than 2.271 kWh per cubic meter, was also among the accolades."