Water Regulation Forum 2026
About the event
The Water Regulation Forum is a specialised international gathering on the regulation of the water sector, hosted in Riyadh for one day on 1 November 2026 at the King Faisal Conference Hall in the InterContinental Riyadh, alongside the IDRA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse held in the same city from 1 to 5 November. This preparatory edition paves the way for the first full edition in Riyadh in 2027.
The programme rests on six themes: policies, legislation and sustainable regulation of the water sector; operational efficiency and service reliability; integrated water resources governance and management; environmental sustainability and reduced environmental impact; successful international practices in water regulation; and innovation and digital transformation. It brings together 28 international speakers, 25 participating entities and four international organisations across sessions that review regulatory models in the Americas, in Europe and the Pacific, and across the GCC countries, and that examine integration between government, the private sector and finance.
The forum addresses regulators and government bodies responsible for water, utility and infrastructure operators and the private sector, decision-makers and experts, knowledge centres and research institutes, and international and regional organisations. It runs for a single day, opening with welcome remarks and closing with the launch of the Water Regulation Exchange identity, and attendance is registered through the IDRA World Congress portal.
Agenda
8- 09:15–09:30Welcome and Opening Remarks
- 09:30–10:30Session 1: Foundation Panel — The Changing Role of Water RegulationWater regulation is at a turning point. Frameworks built for an era of steady supply now have to adapt to scarcity, climate uncertainty, new technologies, and increasingly diverse water portfolios.
- 10:30–11:30Session 2: North and South America — From Established Regulation to Integrated Water SystemsThe Americas showcase a wide spread of regulatory models — from mature utility regulation to fast-evolving frameworks addressing water scarcity, climate pressure, and growing reliance on desalination and reuse.
- 10:50–12:00Session 3: Europe and Pacific — Regulatory Compliance and Performance Monitoring in the Water SectorA keynote followed by a moderated discussion, drawing on Europe's deep experience moving beyond building regulatory frameworks to measuring performance, ensuring compliance, and demonstrating regulatory impact.
- 12:30–13:30Session 4: Regulating for Water Security and Rapid Transformation Across the GCC CountriesOpening remarks, presentations, and a moderated discussion. The GCC region is leading a fundamental shift in how water regulation is designed and applied.
- 13:30–14:30Session 5: Integration Between Government, the Private Sector and Finance (PPP)Opening remarks followed by a moderated discussion bringing together leaders from three sides: government regulators and policymakers, private-sector operators and developers, and finance of water sector projects.
- 15:30–16:30Session 6: Closing Session — From Global Lessons to a Regulatory Agenda for Water-Scarce SystemsA closing dialogue drawing out where the day's discussions converged and diverged, and exploring how growing reliance on non-conventional water sources will shape regulatory frameworks worldwide.
- 16:30–16:50Launch of the Water Regulation ExchangeThe official launch of the Water Regulation Exchange (WREx) identity and logo, with the first edition to be held in Riyadh in 2027.