IFAT Saudi Arabia opens platform for circular economy talks

IFAT Saudi Arabia will open its doors in Riyadh from 26 to 28 January 2026, positioning the Kingdom as a convening hub for policy and industry debate on waste management, water security and circular economy solutions at a time when infrastructure expansion and environmental targets are accelerating across the region.

The trade fair and conference, organised under the banner of IFAT Saudi Arabia, is anchored by an invite-only summit on 26 January that brings together senior policymakers, sovereign investors, utility executives, technology providers and project developers. The agenda centres on aligning regulation, financing and deployment strategies across waste, wastewater, recycling and resource efficiency, sectors that have become central to national development planning.

Organisers say the summit is designed to move beyond product showcases and into policy-led dialogue, with closed-door sessions examining regulatory reform, bankability of projects and pathways to scale advanced treatment and recovery technologies. Delegations are expected from ministries overseeing environment, water and municipal services, alongside representatives from industrial clusters, special economic zones and large urban developers.

The timing reflects mounting pressure on waste and water systems as population growth, urbanisation and industrial diversification raise demand. Municipal solid waste volumes continue to rise, while non-revenue water remains a challenge in several cities. At the same time, the Kingdom has set ambitious recycling, landfill diversion and water reuse targets as part of broader sustainability commitments, creating demand for proven technologies and integrated operating models.

Across the three-day exhibition, companies are expected to present solutions spanning waste collection and sorting, mechanical and chemical recycling, waste-to-energy, sludge treatment, desalination pre-treatment, advanced membranes, digital monitoring and industrial water reuse. International suppliers are joining local firms that have expanded rapidly through public-private partnerships and long-term operating concessions.

Policy discussions at the summit are set to focus on harmonising standards and procurement frameworks to attract long-term capital. Industry executives involved in preparatory consultations point to a growing preference for performance-based contracts and bundled services that link waste reduction, energy recovery and water efficiency outcomes. Such models are viewed as essential to improving project economics and accelerating adoption of circular practices.

Financing remains a central theme. While public funding has underpinned large-scale facilities, private capital is increasingly active through infrastructure funds, green financing instruments and export credit support. Participants are expected to examine risk-sharing structures, tariff design and revenue certainty, particularly for recycling and waste-to-energy projects where feedstock security and offtake agreements are critical.

Water security discussions are expected to span desalination efficiency, brine management and the expansion of treated wastewater reuse for industry and landscaping. Experts note that reducing freshwater demand through reuse and loss reduction offers one of the fastest routes to resilience, especially as climate variability places pressure on existing resources.

The event also reflects the Kingdom’s strategy to localise value chains. Several sessions are expected to address technology transfer, local manufacturing and workforce development, with an emphasis on building domestic capabilities in equipment production, operations and maintenance. This aligns with broader industrial policies aimed at boosting local content and export potential.

Regional participation is another focus. Delegations from neighbouring Gulf states and wider Middle East markets are expected, underlining Riyadh’s ambition to position the event as a regional reference point for environmental technologies. Organisers say cross-border collaboration on standards and data sharing could help create scale for suppliers and improve outcomes for municipalities facing similar challenges.