The Award highlights pioneering projects and leading practices that have set benchmarks in performance, innovation, and sustainability. In 2026, the Award features nine categories covering the project lifecycle, from financial structuring and project delivery to operational excellence, innovation, sustainability, and wider social impact. Through this expanded scope, the SHARAKAT Award fosters a competitive environment that promotes excellence and encourages entities and project companies across the sector to adopt leading practices that enhance project efficiency, strengthen operational performance, and contribute to the continued development and sustainability of Saudi Arabia’s water sector.
The Award features nine categories covering the project lifecycle, from financial structuring and project delivery to operational excellence
Saudi Arabia’s water sector will gather in Riyadh on 19 October 2026 for SHARAKAT Award, held this year under the theme “Honoring Success Partners in the Water Projects”, an event recognising the project companies and partners behind the Kingdom’s expanding portfolio of public & private developed water infrastructure projects.
Hosted by the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SHARAKAT), a government-owned entity under the Ministry of Finance, the ceremony will honour entities associated with Water Purchase Agreements (WPAs), highlighting achievements in project financing, delivery, operation, innovation and sustainability, while encouraging healthy competition, strengthening partnerships and supporting investment across the sector.
Held under the patronage of H.E. the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of SHARAKAT’s Board of Directors, the award reflects the continued evolution of Saudi Arabia’s water sector. As the Kingdom increases private sector participation in infrastructure development, the event provides a platform to recognise the companies contributing to the delivery of large-scale desalination, water treatment and strategic water projects.
A growing award alongside a changing water sector
The development of SHARAKAT Award mirrors the wider transformation of Saudi Arabia’s water sector. Through Vision 2030, the Kingdom has accelerated investment in infrastructure, expanded private sector participation and introduced new approaches to financing, delivering and operating essential water assets.
The ceremony will honour entities associated with Water Purchase Agreements (WPAs), highlighting achievements in project financing
SHARAKAT Award was launched in 2022 with three categories focused on recognising excellence in PPP projects. Building on the success of its first edition, the Award expanded in 2023 to recognise achievements across both public and private assets, reflecting a broader approach to excellence within the water sector. This evolution continued in 2024 with the introduction of new dimensions, including local content and reliability, further broadening the scope of recognition with six categories. Now, in 2026, SHARAKAT Award continues to evolve under the theme “Honoring Success Partners in Water Projects”, featuring nine categories covering the project lifecycle, from financing and project delivery to operations, innovation, sustainability, and community impact. This expanded framework reflects the Award’s continued growth and evolution over the years, with a broader scope that recognises excellence and achievements across the Kingdom’s water sector.
Nine categories covering the project lifecycle
The categories are:
- Fastest Financial Close Award for Private Sector Projects
- Best Financing Model Award for Private Sector Projects
- Project Delivery Excellence Award for private sector desalination projects
- Project Delivery Excellence Award for private sector water treatment projects
- Operational Excellence Award for public sector desalination projects
- Operational Excellence Award for private sector desalination projects
- Operational Excellence Award for private sector water treatment projects
- Innovation and Sustainability Award
- Social & Community Impact Award
The award is open to project companies and entities associated with SHARAKAT through Water Purchase Agreements. Eligible projects include desalination facilities, wastewater treatment plants, water transmission projects, strategic water storage facilities and public sector water production projects.
Applications are assessed through a rigorous evaluation process carried out by a specialised committee against predefined technical criteria. Winners will be announced during the official ceremony in Riyadh.
Recognising the performance behind infrastructure delivery
SHARAKAT Award reflects a broader shift in the water sector, where successful projects are increasingly measured by more than completion dates and investment volumes.
For large-scale water infrastructure, long-term operational performance, reliability, efficiency and sustainability are becoming central indicators of success. This is particularly relevant in Saudi Arabia, where desalination and water security remain strategic priorities due to the Kingdom’s climate conditions and growing demand.
By recognising achievements across financing, delivery and operations, the award highlights the different elements required to develop resilient water systems. Financial innovation, efficient project execution, advanced technologies and sustainable practices all contribute to the long-term performance of infrastructure assets, with successful projects increasingly serving as reference models that inspire continuous improvement across the sector.
The ceremony also provides an opportunity for companies involved in Saudi Arabia’s PPP water programme to share experience and discuss approaches that can support future projects. Bringing together government stakeholders, developers, engineers, financiers and technology providers creates a forum for exchanging knowledge and strengthening cooperation across the sector.
A platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration
SHARAKAT Award is designed as more than an awards ceremony. Alongside recognising successful projects and organisations, the event aims to encourage knowledge exchange and highlight initiatives that can contribute to the continued development of the water sector.
The programme includes participation from government and industry leaders, discussions around sector achievements and opportunities for networking among stakeholders involved in water infrastructure delivery.
The Kingdom has accelerated investment in infrastructure, expanded private sector participation and introduced new approaches to financing
For participating organisations, recognition through the award provides an opportunity to demonstrate their contribution to Saudi Arabia’s water transformation and showcase their expertise to decision-makers, investors and industry partners, benchmark their performance against professional standards, and strengthen their institutional reputation.
The award also supports the sharing of lessons learned from major infrastructure projects. As countries across the region face increasing pressure on water resources, examples of successful financing models, operational approaches and innovative solutions can provide valuable insights for future developments.
Growing visibility across the sector
The reach of SHARAKAT Award has increased with each edition. The most recent ceremony’s campaign generated more than three million social media views, over 80,000 online news views, more than 50 press features and over 150,000 emails sent.
The event website also recorded more than 2,000 brochure downloads, over 70,000 unique visitors and more than 500,000 total visits.
The Award expanded in 2023 to recognise achievements across both public and private assets, reflecting a broader approach to excellence
These figures demonstrate the growing interest surrounding the award and the wider visibility of Saudi Arabia’s water infrastructure programme. For participating organisations, the event offers an opportunity to highlight their achievements beyond the ceremony itself and communicate their role in delivering projects that support the Kingdom’s water objectives.
As the PPP model continues to expand, recognition programmes such as SHARAKAT Award provide a way to highlight the companies, teams and partnerships contributing to the development of critical infrastructure.
The programme will include the presentation of all nine award categories, sector discussions and opportunities for participants to connect with organisations involved in Saudi Arabia’s water infrastructure development.
With each edition, the SHARAKAT Award has developed alongside the Kingdom’s changing water landscape.
As preparations continue ahead of October, attention will turn to the entities and project companies which will be recognised among the latest group of award recipients, adding another chapter to the development of one of the world’s most active water markets.
