During the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York...

Saudi Arabia Affirms Commitment to Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed its commitment to pursuing Sustainable Development Goal 6 by implementing an integrated water resources management approach, improving service efficiency, enhancing water security, and leveraging modern technologies and innovation in water resources management.

This came during the Kingdom's participation in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the UN headquarters in New York, which saw wide participation from member states, international organizations, and development institutions to discuss progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

During his participation in the session dedicated to reviewing progress on Goal 6, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Shibani, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Water Affairs, reviewed the Kingdom's efforts in developing the water sector and enhancing its sustainability, pointing out that the Kingdom has made tangible progress in water sector management, expanding water and sanitation services, and strengthening institutional governance of the sector, contributing to improved efficiency along the supply chain and long-term sustainability of water resources.

Dr. Al-Shibani highlighted international initiatives launched by the Kingdom to support international cooperation in the water sector, foremost among them the Global Water Organization, which aims to enhance cooperation, exchange expertise, and accelerate sustainable solutions to address water challenges globally, in addition to the International Water Research Center, which will contribute to supporting scientific research, innovation, and capacity building.

Dr. Al-Shibani stressed that the Kingdom's hosting of the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027 represents an important opportunity to enhance international dialogue and transform global commitments and pledges into practical, actionable solutions that contribute to achieving water security and sustainable development.

On the sidelines of the forum, a number of bilateral meetings were held with UN officials, representatives of international organizations, financial and development institutions, and private sector partners, during which ways to enhance international cooperation in water areas, exchange expertise, and support joint efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals were discussed, in addition to discussing ongoing preparations for the 11th World Water Forum scheduled to be held in Riyadh in 2027.

It is worth noting that the High-Level Political Forum is the main UN platform for monitoring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. This year's sessions focused on a number of priority goals, foremost among them Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation services, in addition to strengthening international partnerships and exchanging expertise and best practices to support sustainable development.