Abdul Karim Al-Khattab

Saudi Arabian engineer who pioneered modern water management in the Arabian Peninsula

Abdul Karim Al-Khattab (1915-1989) was a Saudi Arabian civil engineer whose innovations transformed water management in arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula. Born in Riyadh, he studied engineering in Egypt before returning to help build Saudi Arabia's first modern water infrastructure. His 1952 discovery of large fossil aquifers in the Najd region enabled irrigation projects that turned desert areas into agricultural hubs.

Al-Khattab designed the Saudi Arabian Desalination System in the 1960s, creating the world's first large-scale solar-powered desalination plants. His book <《Water Management in the Arabian Peninsula》 became a foundational text for arid region engineering. He developed the first groundwater mapping system using early satellite technology in the 1970s.

His lesser-known contributions include the 1965 creation of the National Water Company, which regulated water distribution across regions. His 1972 report exposed unsustainable drilling practices that led to the 1975 Water Conservation Act. The King Abdulaziz Center preserves his engineering blueprints showing early renewable energy applications.

Modern Saudi Arabia's ability to sustain agriculture and urban growth relies on his aquifer management principles. His work inspired current projects like the Red Sea Project's water sustainability initiatives. Al-Khattab's legacy demonstrates how engineering innovation can address existential resource challenges in desert regions.