Riyadh, March 30, 2025 – The Saudi Water Authority successfully implemented its operational plans during Ramadan, ensuring a stable and safe water supply for Umrah performers, visitors, and residents of Makkah and Madinah, amid a significant rise in worshipper numbers.
The authority highlighted the seamless integration of its production, transportation, and distribution sectors, boosting desalination capacity to over 132 million cubic meters during the season. This was made possible by advanced facilities, notably the high-efficiency Shuaiba 5 station, which consumes just 2.34 KW/h per cubic meter—an achievement recognized in the World Bank's water sector report.
At the distribution level, the National Water Company efficiently managed the unprecedented demand surge through a comprehensive operational and technical strategy. Over 45 million cubic meters of water were distributed across Makkah and Madinah, maintaining a daily pumping rate of 21 hours in residential areas and 24-hour continuous supply to the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. These efforts were supported by intelligent monitoring systems, operational teams, and the distribution of over 4 million cubic meters of renewable water for agricultural irrigation.
Additionally, water transmission systems transported more than 171 million cubic meters, ensuring effective supply management throughout Ramadan. The authority emphasized that these efforts align with its long-term operational strategy, which ensures sustainability, service quality, and a safe environment for worshippers.
To meet the increased demand, the water system extended its initiatives across all cities, regions, villages, and centers, implementing flexible operational plans that guaranteed uninterrupted water supply and optimized distribution efficiency. The measures included enhancing operational readiness, strengthening monitoring and control systems, and deploying field teams to ensure high-quality water delivery across the Kingdom, reinforcing the Saudi Water Authority’s commitment to sustainability and service reliability.