In water infrastructure, most discussions still focus on pipes, valves, and pumps. And while these are foundational, they’re just the beginning. The bigger story today is happening behind the scenes— through engineering that’s tailored to local realities, technologies that optimise performance across the network, and partnerships that make these innovations scalable across the Kingdom.

Drawing on decades of regional experience, it’s clear that water management success depends not only on engineering solutions tailored to local conditions, but on a shared commitment between policymakers, utilities, and manufacturers to integrate data, resilience, and sustainability into every stage of infrastructure planning.

R&D isn't just innovation—it’s localisation.

Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf face some of the most pressing water challenges globally: arid conditions, heavy reliance on desalination, rapid population growth, and high per capita water consumption. The Kingdom consumes over 263 litres of water per person per day—among the highest in the world according to Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture.

Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is also a looming threat. In Riyadh alone, recent estimates put Non-Revenue Water (NRW) at 34%, with most of it lost through leaks and inaccurate metering. In a country where every litre is costly to produce, this kind of loss is simply not sustainable.

Solving this isn’t just about replacing pipes. It requires pressure management, real-time monitoring, and smarter control valves. These are solutions developed through long-term R&D and in-market testing.

This means we can’t rely on off-the-shelf infrastructure. It’s not enough to build robust systems—they must also be smart, efficient, and tailored to the region.

Made in Saudi, built for Saudi

Local testing and development have helped ensure that water infrastructure can perform reliably under Saudi Arabia’s extreme temperatures and varying demand. Temperatures often surpass 45°C in extreme conditions according to Saudi Ministry of Environment Water & Agriculture.  Over the years, public and private stakeholders have worked together to strengthen network components that can withstand the region’s heat, pressure fluctuations, and changing consumption patterns.

These engineering refinements are now being applied in district cooling and mixed-use developments, where efficient flow control is essential for long-term performance.

Continuous innovation has also led to improved pressure-reducing valves and automatic air valves to perform reliably in harsh desert environments,. These technologies are increasingly being worked with district cooling networks across the GCC to optimise flow control in mixed-use developments.

As these environments grow more complex, our solutions must evolve as well, but complexity doesn’t have to mean complication.

Smart doesn’t have to mean complex

Digital water systems are increasingly combining sensor data, real-time monitoring, and predictive analytics to keep pressure levels stable, reduce burst risk, and lower energy use.

These tools connect with SCADA and digital-twin platforms to give operators a clearer view of network performance throughout the day.  For example, our Smart Water solution offer sensor-integrated valves, to capture live pressure and flow data, helping utilities manage pressure and detect leaks before they escalate.  

Across the GCC, these systems are now being deployed in pilot projects including within Saudi Arabia’s National Water Strategy framework, allowing Utilities to see what is happening across their network in real time—enabling proactive maintenance and reducing water loss. Studies show smart systems can reduce leakage by up to 25% and energy use by 20% in pressure-managed zones according to International Water Association.

Partnerships make innovation scalable

With roots in Denmark, we draw on the country’s globally recognised leadership in water efficiency. In fact, Danish utilities lose less than 8% of their water to leakage, compared to a global average of 30% according to Danish Water and Wastewater Association, DANVA. However,  we know that the Middle East is a different place, with its own unique challenges when it comes to water but we have an opportunity to use the Danish-Saudi partnerships to bring the best solutions to Saudi.

 Through platforms like the Water Efficiency Middle East Alliance (WEMA), an alliance where Danish companies with leading knowledge and technologies within the water sector connects Danish water expertise with Saudi experience—co-creating solutions that combine Danish innovation with local insight and implementation.

These collaborations matter because the future of water depends on selecting solutions that meet the scale and urgency of the challenge. Addressing challenges such as water scarcity, infrastructure resilience and sustainability can’t be met by hardware alone, they require smart, technically sound solutions that factor in the needs from local utilities and field engineers.

The author, Mads Helge, is General Manager, AVK Saudi Valve Manufacturing.