In March 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported, citing Asian Review, that several Japanese companies had agreed to bring desalination technology and commercial support to Saudi Arabia. Toyobo was to develop treatment membranes and JFE Engineering desalination systems. Sasakura Engineering and other firms were to help take plants to market. The deals were among 20 memorandums signed by Japanese firms when King Salman visited Japan. Saudi Arabia also planned to advise Sri Lanka, which had tendered a desalination scheme in Jaffna, according to Arab News.
The report showed that desalination was a fixed part of Saudi economic diplomacy, with the kingdom buying in Japanese membrane and plant technology while also passing expertise on to Sri Lanka.