The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture highlighted the role of the 11th World Water Forum, set to take place in Riyadh in March 2027, during Saudi Arabia's participation in the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The ministry described the Riyadh forum as a potential global milestone for advancing international cooperation on water issues and for translating knowledge, commitments and partnerships into practical, implementable and measurable solutions.
The discussion was held during a session led by the ministry's Water Deputy, bringing together water-sector specialists and experts to examine major global challenges involving water and land resources. Participants also explored ways to build on the international cooperation emphasized at COP17 and strengthen coordination among stakeholders working on water and sustainability issues.
The session addressed mounting pressure on water resources worldwide, land degradation, intensifying droughts and rising levels of water stress. These challenges, participants said, underscore the need for stronger international cooperation and a shift from identifying priorities to developing practical commitments and long-term solutions.
Discussions emphasized that the Riyadh 2027 forum should go beyond serving as a platform for dialogue and the exchange of views. Instead, it should help translate knowledge, commitments and partnerships into measurable actions and outcomes, and strengthening the forum's impact.
Participants also examined the importance of integrating the forum's thematic, regional and political tracks, particularly in moving from defining global priorities toward developing practical commitments.
The session further reviewed the systematic approach being used to shape the forum's themes, with a particular focus on the concept of the “value of water." The approach seeks to translate the broad concept into specific themes and areas of action that can guide coordination groups toward clear and tangible outcomes ahead of the Riyadh forum.