I extend my heartfelt thanks to Prince Sultan Bin AbdulAziz for adoption of this valuable prize. I extend my thanks to the prize committee, the Prince Sultan Center for Environment, Water, and Desert, and the King Saud University. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate my colleagues on their receipt of this high honor.
I am truly honored to receive the prize in the area of Alternative (non-traditional) water resources, Economical technologies for seawater desalination.
The desalination experience in the Gulf States and many other locations around the world proved that desalination of brackish or seawater can form a sustainable source of fresh water for households, agriculture, and industry. In the late 1950’s small desalination units were commissioned on industrial scale. Such units were limited to 500 m3/d, sufficient for 2000 inhabitants. Today, the size of a single desalination unit has reached 75,000 m3/d, which is sufficient for approximately 300,000 inhabitants. The desalination industry and associated technologies came a long way; however, more needs to be done. This is to reduce the product cost, achieve sustainability, and protect the environment.
The research work performed by my colleague and I included studies of conventional and non-conventional desalination processes. The studies focused on performance enhancement, energy conservation, and cost reduction. This research has also enriched the desalination education on undergraduate and graduate levels, engineering training, and consultation to the industry.
I would like to express my love and gratitude to my father, mother, brothers, wife, children, my nephew and niece.
Finally, all the best for the Prince Sultan Prize committee for making this possible and for their sincere efforts. 

Thank you.