TASHKENT: As the Middle East embraces transformation under the banner of sustainability and economic diversification, water security stands as one of the most critical obstacles and opportunities of our time.

At the helm of addressing this challenge in Saudi Arabia is Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies, also known as AWPT. This company has not only solidified its market leadership but is now actively expanding its international footprint.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Rami Moussilli — CEO of AWPT since 2014 — shared key insights into the company’s strong performance in 2024, its alignment with Vision 2030, and its ambitions beyond Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Moussilli told Arab News that AWPT is supporting Uzbekistan’s Sustainable Development Vision.

Uzbekistan is a key international focus for AWPT as the country undergoes significant transformation through infrastructure modernization and sustainable development. 

Moussilli noted that AWPT has held high-level discussions with multiple ministries, which culminated in a meeting with the president of Uzbekistan.

“There is strong alignment between our core strengths and Uzbekistan’s national development priorities,” said Moussilli. 

As Uzbekistan ramps up investment in urban expansion and essential services, AWPT is offering support across the entire water infrastructure lifecycle— from system rehabilitation and advanced wastewater treatment to non-revenue water reduction and energy-efficient technologies.

AWPT’s approach in Uzbekistan is built on three foundational pillars: strengthening public-private partnership frameworks, delivering engineering excellence, and promoting environmental and economic sustainability

With a focus on knowledge transfer and local capacity building, AWPT is not just exporting services; it is building lasting partnerships.

A model for the future of water

AWPT sets itself apart from others in the sector with its integrated delivery model. 

By operating across all stages of the water asset lifecycle — from design and construction to operation and rehabilitation — AWPT achieves efficiencies that traditional players often miss. 

This holistic approach allows the company to offer clients and investors a unique value proposition: resilient profitability and proven risk management.

AWPT closed 2024 with what Moussilli described as “a year of exceptional performance and strategic progress.” 

The financial numbers support this assertion. Net income surged by an impressive 64 percent over the previous year, while revenues rose by 16 percent, underscoring both strong demand and operational excellence.

Profit margins also improved significantly, growing from 8.2 percent to 12 percent, and earnings per share followed suit with over 64 percent growth. 

The company’s shareholder equity expanded by 44 percent, further bolstered by a return on equity of 38 percent and a return on assets of 35 percent, clear indicators of efficient capital and resource management. Notably, AWPT ended the year with a 300 percent increase in free cash flow, a critical marker of financial health in a capital-intensive sector.

Powering Vision 2030 through water privatization

At the heart of AWPT’s strategy lies a firm alignment with the Saudi National Water Strategy 2030, which outlines the privatization of key infrastructure sectors, including water treatment, wastewater management, and the reuse of treated effluents.

Moussilli emphasizes the instrumental role water infrastructure plays in national development, saying: “Water is no longer just a utility — it is a strategic pillar for economic resilience and public health.”

AWPT’s integrated services span the entire water and wastewater value chain — from engineering, procurement, and construction to operation and maintenance, public-private partnerships, and city management contracts. 

This depth of capability positions the company to benefit from the estimated $200 billion in upcoming water infrastructure investments under Vision 2030.

Sustainability at the core

With increasing global attention to environmental conservation, AWPT has integrated sustainability into its operational DNA. Serving over 26 million people across the Kingdom, the company advocates resource optimization, water quality, and long-term resilience.

“Our sustainable water practices are rooted in prevention, remediation, and efficiency,” said Moussilli. This includes proactive leak detection and repair of water lines, maintenance of sewage lines to prevent environmental contamination, and advanced treatment of sludge to enable its reuse in agriculture or other sectors.

“Every drop we save is a step toward decarbonizing our sector,” he added, noting that AWPT’s treatment of wastewater not only protects the environment but also allows for the reuse of treated effluent for irrigation, reducing reliance on freshwater sources.

Strategic objectives: local strength, global reach

With its commanding position in the Saudi market, AWPT is setting its sights on international expansion. 

Moussilli outlined a three-pillar strategy for the future, including a focus on sustaining market leadership in Saudi Arabia by capturing new value pools across water and wastewater infrastructure. 

Expanding into global markets and leveraging AWPT’s superior operating capabilities and integrated model as competitive advantages is another part of the vision, with diversifying into new environmental services and creating synergies around its water-centric core competencies the final pillar.

This strategy is underpinned by AWPT’s unique ability to grow both top-line and bottom-line performance simultaneously while preserving a strong balance sheet, enabling resilience even amid inflation and rising interest rates.

RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council has reaffirmed its commitment to implement strong climate action efforts to tackle environmental issues faced by coastal communities. 

Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC, said that the council is undertaking various efforts to safeguard the marine environment, particularly the Arabian Gulf, through policies and initiatives that are already yielding visible results.

Al-Budaiwi was speaking at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, which is being held in Nice, France, from June 9-13 and hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Despite being oil-dependent nations, countries in the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, are taking significant steps to combat climate change, with the Kingdom setting its net-zero target for 2060. 

In his speech, Al-Budaiwi reviewed the GCC’s collective efforts in working in marine protected areas, combating marine pollution, sustainable fisheries management, marine research and innovations.

“The GCC countries are investing in modern technologies to reduce the risk of spills and protect the marine environment in the Gulf. These efforts embody a strong commitment from the GCC to achieve the goals of (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 14, amidst numerous environmental challenges,” he said according to a statement issued by the organization, adding that the GCC seeks to unify policies, exchange data, and collaborate on early warning systems to address marine and climate risks.

Al-Budaiwi went on to say that the coastal zones of GCC nations are environmentally vulnerable, and protecting them is crucial for sustainable development and prosperity in the region. 

“Over 40,000 ships are navigating in the Arabian Gulf annually, including many oil tankers that support the global economy and enhance the region’s status as a business and energy hub. It is not just an environmental asset for our nations but a fundamental pillar for our food security, economic growth, and cultural heritage,” he said.

Al-Budaiwi also used his speech to underscore the importance of adopting ambitious, actionable strategies rooted in local and international expertise to address growing environmental challenges.

He also called for urgent and collective action to transform climate pledges into measurable outcomes, particularly in vulnerable coastal regions. 

“Everyone must work together globally through innovation and shared responsibility to confront environmental degradation affecting ocean health,” he added.

During the 43rd meeting on “Future Climate Change Management and Economic Development in the Gulf States” in Muscat in February, Gulf nations announced plans to invest $100 billion in renewable energy by 2030 to cut emissions by up to 20 percent as part of their transition to sustainable energy.

The Kingdom, in particular, is also making significant efforts to ensure a green future and protect marine resources. 

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has emerged as a world-class partner in marine science, collaborating with multiple entities to inform data-driven conservation efforts. 

KAUST is also partnering with Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city, NEOM, to ensure coral reef restoration and coastal habitat mapping using advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. 

As part of its broader sustainability efforts, the Kingdom has also launched the Saudi Green Initiative to advance its environmental goals.

Under SGI, the nation aims to plant 10 billion trees, rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 278 million tons per year. 

In April, Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife signed an agreement with the UK’s National Oceanography Center to collaborate on marine biodiversity projects. 

Under the deal, studies will be conducted to assess the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems, and the use of advanced technologies will be explored to mitigate their potential harm.