The DESAL Research Group at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is proud to share the announcement of Prof. Noreddine Ghaffour’s appointment as Chair of the Water Desalination Research Platform — a strategic initiative driving the next generation of sustainable water technologies for Saudi Arabia and the world.

The Platform unites KAUST’s world-class expertise in desalination, water reuse, materials science, and systems engineering to address global water challenges and advance the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. It focuses on three flagship research themes that define its mission:

• Greener Desalination and water reuse: Developing technologies that make desalination and wastewater treatment more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable.
  Water to Resource: Transforming desalination and wastewater byproducts into valuable resources.

• Water Security: Strengthening the sustainability and management of water resources to enhance national resilience.

As Chair, Prof. Ghaffour will lead the Platform’s interdisciplinary research strategy and partnerships with government, academia, and industry — ensuring that cutting-edge desalination science translates into real-world impact.

“It is an honor to take on this role and contribute to such a strategic effort for KAUST and the Kingdom,” said Prof. Noreddine Ghaffour. “This Platform represents an opportunity to bring together the best minds and technologies to make desalination and water reuse more sustainable, more efficient, and more accessible. My vision is to see Saudi Arabia not only as a global leader in desalination and water reuse capacity, but also as a model for innovation and environmental stewardship in the water sector.”

Prof. Ghaffour’s appointment builds on KAUST’s global reputation as a leader in water research, strengthening its commitment to accelerating innovation through collaborative, applied, and impact-driven science.

At the DESAL Research Group, we take pride in seeing this leadership recognized, as it reinforces our shared mission to develop sustainable water solutions that contribute to national progress and global sustainability goals.

For more details please visit https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/research/technical-platforms/water-desalination-research-platform.