Corporate social responsibility at Acwa

Creating opportunity and progress within our communities.

At Acwa, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is integral to the way we create lasting value for people, communities, and the planet.

Guided by our values of Ingenuity, Integrity, and Impact, our CSR approach strengthens the communities we serve while advancing global sustainability goals.

Our guiding principles

Every initiative we undertake is grounded in four principles that ensure our efforts are meaningful, transparent, and future-focused:

Social impact

Delivering tangible benefits that improve lives and strengthen communities.

01
Stakeholder engagement

Shaping programs in consultation with employees, communities, governments, NGOs, investors, and customers.

02
Flexibility

Adapting to evolving community needs while staying aligned with Acwa's long-term strategy.

03
Transparency and accountability

Ensuring all actions are measurable, reported clearly, and rooted in responsibility.

04
Our CSR focus areas

Our CSR strategy is designed to align with Saudi Vision 2030 and broader sustainability goals. We focus on three priorities where we can make the greatest difference:

CSR highlights

Through corporate social responsibility, Acwa turns principles into action. From empowering local entrepreneurs to advancing climate initiatives, each project reflects our purpose to create value and drive progress for people and the planet.

EWA Academy

Founded with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, EWA trains over 800 students annually and has graduated more than 15,000 professionals across 13 specializations, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, water desalination, and treatment. The academy has earned multiple national and international recognitions, such as first place in 2022 KPIs from the National Center for Strategic Partnerships and “Best Place to Work” in the public sector. It also proudly graduated its first female cohort and is expanding to include new facilities for women.

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Shirin College

This initiative supports the advancement of technical education through financial aid, upgraded facilities, and teacher training. More than 700 students have studied or graduated from Shirin College, with a strong focus on empowering women through technical education and supporting local employment opportunities.

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Al Madinah regional development

Through Namaa AlMunawara, we help build a thriving SME ecosystem by supporting women entrepreneurs, creative industries, and small businesses with retail platforms, manufacturing labs, and a one-stop shop for government and consultancy services.

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Social Development Bank

The Social Development Bank (SDB) partnership is a cornerstone of Acwa’s CSR strategy under the Future Generation pillar. It focuses on empowering Saudi SMEs in the energy and water sectors through:

•    Business incubation: Training, office spaces, logistical support, and networking.
•    Financial support: Small loans and financing agreements (initial SAR 2M, later enhanced by SAR 3M).
•    Hackathon – “Energy of Tomorrow”: Over 100 applications, 35 shortlisted projects, and 5 winners receiving funding and mentorship.

Impact and achievements of our SDB partnership 
•    5 SMEs funded post-hackathon, focusing on solar and clean energy solutions.
•    Enhanced CSR fund by SAR 3M to scale support for SMEs.
•    Strengthened Acwa’s role as a thought leader and preferred partner in sustainability.

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Tree plantation program

Acwa has collaborated with Net-zero to plant 60,000 mangrove trees in the Rabigh region, in addition to other tree plantation projects across Saudi Arabia.

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CORDAP

Acwa, through its conservation efforts in collaboration with CORDAP, is helping coral conservation. Our initiatives and scope of work include:

Establishing a Coral Academy: We supported the launch of the Coral Academy, a global initiative designed to build a skilled community of practitioners capable of restoring and protecting coral reefs at scale. By hosting the pilot in Saudi Arabia, the programme will anchor a worldwide training network that empowers local communities, strengthens global reef restoration capacity, and engages cross-sector stakeholders such as tourism groups, divers, fishers, and government entities. The successful delivery of the pilot will help shape a broader international rollout, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in coral conservation and livelihood-linked ocean stewardship.

Research: Through the Clean Reefs project, Acwa is helping advance a dynamic pollution mapping and risk-assessment tool that uses open-source, real-time data to identify coral reefs most at risk. By combining global pollution models, dynamic exposure maps, and an interactive web platform, the initiative equips conservation planners with the insights needed to guide targeted action. Additionally, the creation of a Cryopreservation Network helps safeguard coral genetic diversity by storing coral sperm, embryos, and larvae in cryogenic biobanks. Operating across hubs in the USA, Curacao, Australia, and Mexico, the initiative has cryopreserved endangered coral species.

Scope Study: The Emergency Response Technical Roadmap will develop a global, science-based framework to guide rapid action when coral reefs face bleaching or damage from storms. Acwa will support in the creation of regional response plans and best-practice protocols, supported by tools for intervention, restoration, and resilience. The work will focus on priority regions including Latin America, the Caribbean, and MENA, with outcomes published and shared through international platforms.

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Sekaya Project - Al Rumaidah Water Access

In Saudi Arabia, Acwa’s Sekaya Project, has been designed to ensure sustainable access to water in a water-stressed area for 200 households with +1500 people in Alrumada Town in Qilwah governorate. Acwa is collaborating with the Sekaya Foundation, an entity enabling local communities to contribute to water-supply projects in villages, rural areas and remote regions, strengthening and promoting community participation. The aim is to implement a water network in Al-Rumaidah Center serving 5 villages, in cooperation with the Al-Rumaidah Humanitarian Services Association. Around 15 water tanks have been installed with total capacity exceeding 500 tons, distributed across households.

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COVID 19 field hospital

Constructed in just 57 days, this 100-bed hospital supported the Ministry of Health’s efforts to combat the pandemic, reflecting our agility, expertise, and sense of responsibility to the nation’s well-being. Nujood Medical Center - has been named in honor of Saudi nurse Nujood Al-Khaibari. She died in June after contracting the novel coronavirus while working at a medical center in the city on the front line of the battle against the pandemic. 

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Through corporate social responsibility, Acwa transforms principles into action, driving social impact, advancing climate goals, and empowering future generations.