Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim
Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim | |
|---|---|
| Born | Saudi Arabia |
| Alma mater | King Saud University |
| Occupation(s) | Water industry executive, engineer |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | President of the Saudi Water Authority; former Governor of Saline Water Conversion Corporation; chairman of Water Transmission and Technologies Company; vice-chairman of Water Solutions Company |
H.E. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim () currently serves as the President of the Saudi Water Authority (SWA). He previously held the position of Governor at the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), recognized as the largest global producer of desalinated water, with a daily output capacity of 11.5 million cubic meters. Additionally, Al-Abdulkarim presides over the board of the Water Transmission and Technologies Company (WTTCO), which operates seven transmission networks spanning more than 11,800 kilometers and delivering 18 million cubic meters per day. He also fulfills the role of vice-chairman at the Water Solutions Company (WSM), an entity owned by the Public Investment Fund.
Education
Al-Abdulkarim earned his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from King Saud University located in Riyadh.
Career
Boasting close to three decades of experience in the water industry, Al-Abdulkarim has occupied several pivotal positions within Saudi Arabia’s SWCC—now known as SWA—which accounts for 20% of the world’s desalinated water production and ranks as the Kingdom’s second-largest electricity supplier. Since joining SWCC in 1997, he has progressed through various senior roles including leading Process Reengineering in 2007, heading Strategic Planning in 2009, and serving as General Manager for Strategic Planning and Budgeting in 2010.
Between 2014 and 2020, Al-Abdulkarim acted as Deputy Governor at SWCC, where he steered company strategy to align with Saudi Vision 2030 by emphasizing technological advancements in desalination and water distribution, while fostering cooperation with governmental bodies and international collaborators. His appointment as Governor came in May 2020 via royal decree, during which he continued his leadership responsibilities at both WTTCO and WSM.
In May 2024, following SWA’s broadened mandate and rebranding from SWCC, Al-Abdulkarim was renewed for a four-year term as President.