Water Regulation Forum
idra world congress 2026
Water Regulation Forum
As water security becomes one of the world’s defining challenges, effective regulation has emerged as a critical enabler of resilient and sustainable water systems.
Responding to that need, the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), with the International Desalination and Reuse Association as the strategic partner, has established the Water Regulation Forum, a new annual global platform dedicated to advancing regulatory excellence and international cooperation across the water sector.
The inaugural one-day edition of the Forum will take place on November 1, alongside the IDRA World Congress 2026, hosted by SWA in Riyadh from 1 to 5 November under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA).
The Forum brings together water regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to advance regulatory excellence and foster international collaboration. It serves as a premier venue for the exchange of best practices in policy and legislative development, the promotion of innovative regulatory frameworks, and the strengthening of governance across the global water sector.
“The Kingdom has built one of the world’s most advanced and integrated water systems, and with that comes a responsibility to share what we have learned.
The Water Regulation Forum reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation and bringing together the global regulatory community to exchange knowledge and advance the governance that underpins water security worldwide.”
His Excellency Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkareem
– President, Saudi Water Authority
The Water Regulation Forum focuses
on five integral themes:
International best practice in water regulation
Policy, legislation, and sustainable sector regulation
Innovation and digital transformation
Integrated water resources governance
Operational efficiency and service reliability
Water Regulation Forum Agenda
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Sunday, 01 November: Pre-congress
09:00
09:15
09:30
10:45
10:50
12:00
12:30
13:30
13:45
15:05
16:05
16:30
16:50
Water Regulations Forum
09:15 to 09:30
Welcome and Opening Remarks10:50 to 12:00
Session 2: Regulatory Compliance and Performance Monitoring in the European Water Sector12:00 to 12:30
Networking Break16:30 to 16:50
Launch of the Water Regulation Exchange09:15 to 09:30
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speakers to be confirmed.
09:30 to 10:45
Session 1: North and South America Water Regulation Models
How have countries across North and South America, despite differences in their political systems and water resources, developed different regulatory models to address common challenges, including the distribution of responsibilities between federal and local levels, tariff policies, and water scarcity...
10:50 to 12:00
Session 2: Regulatory Compliance and Performance Monitoring in the European Water Sector
This session moves from the question of "How do we establish regulatory frameworks?" to "How do we ensure compliance and measure their impact?" It explores how European regulatory authorities have developed advanced systems for monitoring the performance of water utilities...
12:00 to 12:30
Networking Break
12:30 to 13:30
Session 3: Integration Between Government, the Private Sector and Finance
An extended dialogue bringing together distinguished leaders representing the three sides of the triangle: government officials from regulatory authorities and policy making entities, private sector executives responsible for operating and developing water reuse and desalination projects, and leaders from development...
13:30 to 13:45
Bilateral Dialogue: Regulatory Framework for Direct Potable Reuse
A dialogue focusing on how the world has moved from hesitation toward drinking reclaimed water to confidence in its use through science based regulatory frameworks that ensure safety and build public trust, as well as the role of regulation in...
13:45 to 15:05
Session 4: How Emerging Economies Are Moving Beyond Traditional Regulatory Models
An in depth dialogue led by the World Bank, bringing together five countries from different regions that have successfully developed innovative regulatory and legislative frameworks beyond traditional models through digitalization and flexible institutional models suited to their national contexts.
15:05 to 16:05
Towards Regulatory Integration of the Water Sector Across the GCC Countries
A regional dialogue led by the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
16:30 to 16:50
Launch of the Water Regulation Exchange
Official launch of the identity and logo of the Water Regulation Exchange (WREx) conference, with the first edition to be held in Riyadh in 2027, followed by the signing of founding documents.