In February 2018, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) was about to seek bids for mobile desalination units. The units were meant to serve the Jazan and Asir regions and could be relocated where needed. King Salman bin Abdulaziz granted 175 million Saudi riyals (US$46.7 million) per year for this purpose. The mobile capacity was intended as a bridge until planned large plants came on stream.
The report showed Saudi Arabia planning to cover the gap before new large plants were ready with movable capacity backed by a fixed annual budget.