MENA holds <1% of the world’s renewable water resources while supporting 6% of its population. The country set a plan to shift toward higher-value crops that could raise water’s economic value from JD 0.40/m³ to JD 1.10/m³. GCC — Arthur D. Little (ADL) has released new findings demonstrating that water must be recognized not only as a natural resource but as a key driver of economic activity and national resilience. International case studies illustrate the practical impact of using economic valuation of water in making policy decisions. Of particular relevance to the Gulf is Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive national water valuation model, which incorporates both use and non-use values across all water sources; groundwater, surface water, desalinated water, and treated wastewater.