RIYADH: The Middle East’s first reverse osmosis membrane plant that is set to come up in Dammam in two years will contribute $1.14 billion to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product by 2030, it was revealed during the plant signing ceremony in Riyadh on Nov. 5. Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to filter out unwanted molecules such as chlorine, salt, and dirt from drinking water. To be developed in joint cooperation between Saudi-based developer Abunayyan Holding and Japanese manufacturer Toray Industries, the project is expected to hire around 135 employees, while creating around 5000 indirect jobs by 2035. “They could start producing in late 2024, and they might have the factory able to produce the full 250,000 components within a year,” Abdullah Al Abdulkarim, head of the Saudi government-run Saline Water Conversion Corporation, told Arab News. He said SWCC will be acting as a facilitator, while the plant will be fully developed and operated by the private sector. The governor expects Saudi Arabia to witness a 6 percent annual growth in RO membrane components demand, amounting to SR1 billion ($375 million) by 2030, compared to SR575 million this year. “There is water scarcity everywhere, and the demand (for RO membrane components) is increasing by 6 percent in Saudi Arabia, and by 5 percent around the world, annually,” Al Abdulkarim said. The project is expected to export 30 percent of its production to regional, and global markets.