Saudi Arabia has provided 62 water projects and development initiatives across 14 Yemeni governorates to improve distribution, expand access to safe drinking water and strengthen water security in urban and rural areas.
Implemented through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY), the initiatives have helped secure sustainable freshwater supplies, improve the efficiency of water systems, reduce losses and strengthen local communities’ ability to manage their resources.
The projects have met 100% of water needs in the Al-Ghaydah, Al-Mahra Governorate, 50% in Socotra Governorate and part of the demand in Aden Governorate, helping improve the continuity and reliability of water services.
The program combines infrastructure development with modern technology and environmental and operational sustainability. Its work includes building and upgrading water networks, connecting Yemeni communities to water sources and using renewable energy to power wells and pumps.
These measures have also improved production and distribution efficiency, reduced operating costs and extended water services to areas most in need.
Sustainable water resource management
The program has supported agriculture by introducing modern irrigation systems, including drip irrigation, to improve water-use efficiency, reduce waste and promote sustainable agricultural production and food security.
In Socotra, a project to establish an integrated water system for a sustainable freshwater supply illustrates this approach by diversifying water sources, upgrading supply networks and strengthening resource sustainability.
Efforts have also focused on empowering local communities and building technical and institutional capacity through training programs designed to develop the skills of workers and beneficiaries in water resource management, system operation and maintenance.
SDRPY has conducted awareness campaigns to encourage community participation and promote sustainable water consumption and management practices, helping maintain services and improve the long-term operational efficiency of the projects.
Strategic solutions
In January, SDRPY announced a project to establish Yemen’s first desalination plant of its kind in the Aden Governorate, using modern desalination technology to expand freshwater supplies and reduce the depletion of water resources.
The project is intended to strengthen water security and improve living conditions.
It also includes transferring Saudi expertise and training Yemeni personnel in saline water desalination to boost technical and operational capabilities and ensure the sustainability of services in the governorate.
Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemen’s water sector forms part of a broader development effort implemented through SDRPY in coordination with the Yemeni government and local authorities.
The program has undertaken 300 development projects and initiatives across 16 Yemeni governorates, covering eight sectors: education, health, energy, water, transport, agriculture and fisheries, development programs, and capacity building and support for the Yemeni government.
Together, these efforts aim to strengthen coordination among development initiatives and deliver lasting improvements in essential services and living conditions for Yemenis.
