Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 20, Toray Industries, Inc., based in Tokyo, has announced that its subsidiary Toray Membrane Middle East LLC (TMME) has started production at a new reverse osmosis (RO) membrane plant in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The facility significantly expands TMME’s capacity and makes the company the first in Saudi Arabia to complete the full production process on-site, from membrane element manufacturing to final assembly.

TMME’s New RO Membrane Factory

On November 12, 2025, TMME held an opening ceremony for the new plant and the Middle East Water Treatment Engineering Center (MEWTEC), which began operations in April 2025. Attendees included His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, senior officials from several Saudi ministries and government agencies, the Ambassador of Japan to Saudi Arabia, and representatives of local industry.

The event marked more than ten years of successful cooperation between Toray and partners in Saudi Arabia and highlighted growing demand for advanced water treatment solutions in the Middle East and North Africa region.

In recent years, desalination facilities in the region have increasingly adopted reverse osmosis membrane technology instead of traditional thermal evaporation methods. This shift has substantially lowered energy use while meeting rising water demand driven by population growth and industrial expansion. High-performance, energy-efficient RO membranes are now seen as a key technology for ensuring long-term water security.

The new Dammam plant and MEWTEC will enable Toray to supply advanced membranes more quickly and provide enhanced technical support to customers across the region, helping address ongoing water resource challenges.

Access to safe and reliable water remains a core focus of the Toray Group’s Vision 2030 strategy. Through continued investment in membrane technology, the company aims to support sustainable water management in countries around the world.