Saudi Arabia Calls for Collective International Action on Global Water Security

NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia has underscored the importance of collective international action to strengthen global water security and translate international commitments on water into tangible results that support public health, food security, economic development, climate resilience and stability.

The Kingdom stressed the need to align financing with credible water priorities, accelerate high-impact innovation, expand access to reliable data and build the institutional capacity required for implementation, enabling countries to better address water challenges and achieve shared goals.

The call came during a high-level ministerial session titled “United for Water: A Call for Collective Action,” co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and Senegal in cooperation with the Global Water Organization (GWO) on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The session brought together ministers, senior government officials, representatives of international organizations, multilateral development banks and UN agencies, as well as water sector leaders.

Dr. Fahad Balghunaim, head of the founding team of the Global Water Organization, said the session addressed mounting pressures on global water resources and explored practical pathways for translating political commitments into measurable action.

Discussions also highlighted the role of water security in strengthening resilience and stability, accelerating the transition from dialogue to implementation and advancing collective action to mobilize sustainable financing and build partnerships.

Balghunaim emphasized that water security is fundamental to public health, food security, economic development, climate resilience and stability, stressing the need for greater cooperation to address interconnected global challenges.

“Water is the foundation of public health, food security, economic development, climate resilience and stability,” Balghunaim said.

He said the session reflected the importance the international community places on water issues and stressed the need to turn that commitment into tangible results by aligning financing with credible priorities, accelerating high-impact innovation, improving access to reliable data and strengthening institutional capacity for implementation.

Balghunaim added that collective action requires all parties to harness their capabilities toward achieving shared water security objectives.

Participants exchanged national experiences on strengthening resilience through water security, advancing implementation through scalable partnerships and mobilizing sustainable financing for priority water initiatives.

Discussions also emphasized stronger links between governments, international organizations, development institutions and other stakeholders to support effective implementation at scale and identify future partnership opportunities for water security and sustainable development.

The Global Water Organization continues to work with governments and international partners to strengthen cooperation on water security and translate shared priorities into coordinated action.

The organization provides a platform connecting countries with the expertise, financing and partnerships needed to advance their water security goals, while providing a permanent institutional mechanism dedicated to cooperation among member states and key stakeholders.