Saudi Arabian

The two holiest sites in the Muslim religion, the cities of Mecca and Medina, are located in Saudi Arabia. One of the Five Pillars of Islam (religious duties of every Muslim) is to make the Pilgrimage, or Hajj, to the Holy City of Mecca once in his or her lifetime.

Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. Desalination provides about 70% of the Kingdom’s drinking water. There are 30 desalination plants in the Kingdom which supply water to more than 50 cities and distribution centers. They annually produce nearly 2 million cubic meters of fresh water from the sea. These plants also meet about 20% of the Kingdom’s electricity needs.