The volume of production capacity of the desalination stations in 1994 (1414/15 AH) had reached 714,218,000 gallons per day, which enabled the Kingdom, after covering the needs of the cities and villages on its eastern and western coasts for potable water, to introduce desalinated sea water into the heart of the Arabian Peninsula for the first time in its history.
The volume of production capacity of the desalination stations in 1999 enabled the Kingdom, after covering the potable water needs of the cities and villages on its eastern and western coasts, to introduce desalinated water into the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. In 2006, the production capacity reached 743,640,000 gallons per day.
It now feeds Riyadh, the capital, with potable water from the Gulf, 500 kilometers away, and feeds the Holy City of Madinah with potable water from the Red Sea 200 kilometers away. Work is being undertaken to transport desalinated water to the Holy City of Makkah, the summer resort of Taif, and the region of Asir in the south of the Kingdom, which has meant that subterranean water can be allocated to agricultural purposes.
Desalination now forms part of the responsibilities of the Ministry of Water and Electricity.
