Saudi-Chinese Partnership on Joint Use of Water, Environmental Research Facilities

   Riyadh, September 07, 2026, SPA -- The Saudi Water Authority (SWA), through its research arm, the Water Technologies Innovation Institute & Research Advancement (WTIIRA), has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to jointly use the two sides’ laboratories and research facilities. The agreement, the first of its kind in the Middle East, aims to facilitate the exchange of benefits under the joint Belt and Road water and environment laboratory initiative, supporting research and innovation and the development of sustainable water and environmental solutions in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
   Under the agreement, the two sides will share access to their research facilities and laboratories, namely the Water Oasis in Rabigh and RCEES facilities in China. Experts and researchers from both sides will be able to use laboratories, facilities, and field-testing sites to carry out joint projects, conduct advanced studies, and test emerging technologies.
   The partnership builds on the complementary strengths of the two sides, combining Saudi Arabia’s global expertise in water production, quality assurance, and the efficiency of water transmission systems with RCEES’ advanced technological capabilities. The Chinese center is ranked first globally in water quality development. The cooperation also includes exchanges of researchers and experts and expanded joint work at existing centers and laboratories on both sides, helping accelerate knowledge transfer, build capacity, and develop innovative and sustainable water and environmental solutions.
   The two sides will also seek to maximize the value of advanced research outputs from a network of accredited centers and laboratories spanning 13 cities worldwide. They will organize international scientific conferences and events in Saudi Arabia and China to broaden scientific cooperation and strengthen the global presence of joint research.
   The agreement was signed during a visit by an RCEES delegation to SWA. The delegation toured the laboratories and research and experimental facilities at the Water Oasis in Rabigh and reviewed its advanced infrastructure for developing and testing water technologies.
   -- SPA