Saudi Arabia is steadily expanding its desalination capacity to meet rising water demand, while placing equal emphasis on building the skilled workforce required to operate and sustain these assets over the long term. Aligning technical capability with infrastructure investment is essential to ensuring reliable and efficient water production across the Kingdom.
Against this backdrop, the RO Ladies programme, a specialized training and employment initiative developed with industry stakeholders and supported by ENGIE, was created to strengthen local operational capability in reverse osmosis desalination. Since its launch, the programme has evolved into a clearly defined pathway, from training into live operational roles, establishing a direct link between technical learning and practical application.
“Developing local operational capability is a key priority as the Kingdom continues to scale its desalination capacity,” says Turki Al Shehri, Country Manager for Saudi Arabia. The unique reverse osmosis desalination training program designed exclusively for Saudi women, demonstrates how targeted training can translate into tangible operational outcomes – enabling a new generation of skilled operators to contribute directly to plant performance and long-term water security.”
Originally designed to equip Saudi women with the technical and practical skills required to work in desalination, the programme is now delivering visible results as participants move into active operational roles. This transition from training to deployment is increasingly evident across ENGIE-operated facilities in the region, reflecting its growing operational impact.
At Jubail 3B, Asrar Almasradi’s experience reflects this progression – from capability-building into full operational integration. Now a Control Room Operator, Asrar monitors plant performance, manages system alarms, and works closely with field teams to maintain safe, stable, and efficient operations. Over time, her role has expanded to include operational decision-making and technical troubleshooting, marking a clear transition from trainee to a trusted member of the operations team.
The reverse osmosis equipment in a desalination plant.
Asrar’s interest in the sector was shaped by a strong scientific foundation, a personal interest in water sustainability, and early exposure to desalination operations. The programme offered a pivotal opportunity to transform this interest into hands-on experience in a highly complex industrial environment, where theoretical knowledge had to be applied quickly within a complex, real-world Operations environment.
At Yanbu, Ebtehal Alrehaili offers a further example of this transition into operational responsibility. Now a Control Room Operator at Yanbu-4, Ebtehal monitors plant systems, tracks process parameters and alarms, and coordinates with field operators to maintain safe and efficient operations. Within two years of joining the programme, she was promoted to her current role and granted Designated Person Authority, reflecting the level of technical competence and accountability. Her responsibilities have grown to include real-time operational decision-making and crisis management. These capabilities were built progressively through on-the-job training and sustained hands-on exposure to plant environment.
Beyond technical capability, the programme has strengthened confidence, communication, and problem-solving skills- all essential to sustaining reliable plant performance and responding effectively to operational demands. This development is now translating into visible impact, with participants actively contributing to operational continuity and resilience across desalination facilities.
At a sector level, initiatives such as reverse osmosis desalination training for women in Saudi Arabia contribute to strengthening the long-term resilience of the desalination workforce. By enabling greater participation of women in technical and operational roles, the programme expands the available talent pool while supporting national localisation and water security objectives.
The programme offers a clearly defined and structured career pathway within a highly specialized sector, enabling long term professional progression and operational readiness.
As Saudi Arabia advances its water and sustainability agenda, ENGIE continues to align infrastructure development with human capital investment, recognizing that long-term operational performance depends as much on people as on assets.
For desalination operators scaling assets at pace, sustained investment in training and capability development is no longer optional. It is a core requirement for operational resilience, continuity, and long term water security across the Kingdom.
Source: IDRA Global Connections Magazine
