Arab Countries need $200 billion in water-related infrastructure

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) estimates that Arab countries may need to invest up to $200 billion in water-related infrastructure over the next ten years, in order to meet the rapidly growing demand for water and sanitation services. An estimated 50 million people lack access to safe drinking water in the Arab world and 97 million lack access to adequate sanitation.

IDB sees a greater role for the private sector in meeting demand for water and sanitation infrastructure services over the next decade. To date, IDB has provided more than $2.5 billion of assistance in the water sector to its 56 member countries. IDB is a founding member of the Cairo-based Arab Water Council and the Arab Water Academy.

[...] With as much as 80-90 percent of the total water allocation going to irrigation, there is growing competition in the Arab Region amongst the main water using sector: domestic, industrial and irrigation. [...] The IDB Group Vision 2020, a blue print for its long-term objectives, has singled out the provision of water and sanitation as one of its main themes.

IDB co-hosted the 11th meeting of the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) in Riyadh [from 17-19 November 2008] in conjunction with the 1st Arab Water Forum and the Prince Sultan International Prize for Water award ceremony. At the meeting, which was chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands,  IDB and UNSGAB signed a cooperation agreement, which will focus primarily on financing, sanitation services, water operators partnerships and integrated water resources management.