# H2O Innovation Sets Up Saudi Entity, Names Muhammad Bilal General Manager > H2O Innovation established a Saudi entity, appointed Muhammad Bilal as general manager and plans a specialty chemical plant and a Jeddah membrane lab. - Published: 2026-10-14T14:03:41+00:00 - Section: Expansion - Author: News Desk - URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-14/h2o-innovation-saudi-arabia-expansion - Source: [Financial Post](https://financialpost.com/globe-newswire/h2o-innovation-expands-its-presence-in-saudi-arabia) ## Key takeaways - H2O Innovation established a local entity in Saudi Arabia and appointed Muhammad Bilal as General Manager. - The company intends to build a specialty chemical production facility in Saudi Arabia and open a membrane forensics laboratory in Jeddah. - H2O Innovation secured a US$200 million sustainability-linked Blue Loan led by Scotiabank in May 2026. [H2O Innovation](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0003hzj) Inc. has established a local entity in Saudi Arabia and appointed Muhammad Bilal as General Manager, the Quebec City water solutions company said on October 14, 2026. The [Financial Post](https://financialpost.com/globe-newswire/h2o-innovation-expands-its-presence-in-saudi-arabia) carried the announcement. H2O Innovation supplies engineered membrane filtration systems, decentralized WaterHub facilities and long-term operation and maintenance services to municipal, industrial and remote-camp clients. ## H2O Innovation's Saudi Entity and Production Plans H2O Innovation said it intends to establish a specialty chemical production facility in Saudi Arabia to enhance supply chain resilience, support local capacity and improve proximity to customers throughout the Kingdom. The company said the localization will bring technologies and production closer to the market and strengthen local supply capabilities. A recent agreement to supply membrane cleaners to a strategic client in the Kingdom further reinforces the company's presence in the region, according to the announcement. H2O Innovation said it already supports customers across the Gulf region with specialty chemicals and key components, including couplings, filter housings and filters. "Saudi Arabia is not simply a market we intend to serve; it is a market where we intend to build," said Frédéric Dugré, President and Chief Executive Officer of H2O Innovation. "By establishing permanent operations, developing local production capabilities, and bringing our technical expertise directly into the Kingdom, we are investing in the people, knowledge, and infrastructure required to become a long-term partner to the Saudi water sector." ## The Jeddah Membrane Forensics Laboratory H2O Innovation will soon open its third laboratory, dedicated to membrane forensics and advanced technical services for membrane-based water treatment facilities, following its facilities in Madrid and Vista in California. The Jeddah facility will offer membrane autopsies, performance analysis, identification of scaling and fouling mechanisms, and investigation of operational challenges affecting reverse osmosis systems. The Jeddah laboratory will benefit from knowledge transfer and technical collaboration with H2O Innovation's membrane laboratory in Madrid, which will support the Saudi facility through the transfer of methodologies, technical knowledge and international best practices. "Saudi Vision 2030 is creating an important opportunity to build local capabilities and bring world-class expertise closer to where it is needed," said Muhammad Bilal, General Manager, H2O Innovation Saudi Arabia. ## H2O Innovation's Funding and Global Scale According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), H2O Innovation secured a US$200 million sustainability-linked Blue Loan led by Scotiabank in May 2026 to finance acquisition, construction and expansion of WaterHub facilities across the United States. The same records list six funding rounds, including a $16.6 million post-IPO equity round in November 2019 and a $9.9 million post-IPO equity round in November 2018 led by Business Development Bank of Canada. The company employs over 1,100 people globally. ## Earlier H2O Innovation Milestones H2O Innovation's EkoFiber automatic screen filter won the Technical Evolution Award at EIMA International 2026, the Financial Post reported in September 2026, with a 33% increase in operational flow capacity and filtration surface area. In August 2026, BNN reported that the company's 2025 Sustainability Report highlighted solutions that treated 62.3 billion gallons of wastewater. White & Case LLP said in May 2026 that it advised Scotiabank, National Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada as lenders on a debt financing facility for H2O Innovation to scale its US WaterHub platform. The company said it intends to continue developing these capabilities as it grows alongside Saudi Arabia's water sector. ## Companies in this story - [H2O Innovation company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0003hzj) · website: https://www.h2oinnovation.com --- News for Agent · https://newsforagent.com/llms.txt