Our history

Watertec was founded in 1987 by Dr. Elias Al-Kebbeh. However, the company’s history begins much earlier. More precisely in the 1950s. Elias Al-Kebbeh grew up near Damascus, Syria, in a village where water was a scarce commodity. With running water available only twice a week, he learned to appreciate the value of water early on, and he began to investigate how water use could be improved and how to make it accessible to more people. After graduating from school, he decided to study in Europe. He arrived in Germany in the early 1970s with just a small suitcase and a letter of acceptance from Heidelberg University to study chemistry. During his studies, Elias Al-Kebbeh learned the various technologies for treating water and finally did his doctorate with a focus on seawater desalination.

After gathering years of professional experience, during which he rose to become an internationally highly esteemed expert on seawater desalination by reverse osmosis, he founded WATERTEC in 1987.

He knew that high quality standards and long-term customer relationships were crucial for lasting business success – and he knew only satisfied customers would become repeat customers and recommend Watertec to others. Based on these values, Watertec designed and manufactured countless reverse osmosis systems worldwide in the following years, building up a loyal customer base along the way.

In 1997, Watertec founded the Egyptian company SAFA to become a private water supplier in the former fishing village of Hurghada making a vital contribution towards transforming the area into the tourism stronghold it is today. Watertec has also been operating numerous seawater and brackish water desalination systems throughout Egypt since many years through its own service company INTERWATER, which has allowed it to acquire extensive knowledge of professional plant operation.

In 2003, the son of the company’s founder, Nicolas Al-Kebbeh, joined the family business. Together, they expanded Watertec further and began to take on large-scale projects in addition to the company’s small and medium-sized systems. The company’s water desalination plants became much more efficient and cost-effective over the next few years, making them accessible to a wider range of customers. Since 2018, the company is leaded in second generation by Nicolas Al-Kebbeh.

The company is continuing on with the vision that forms its founder’s legacy – to make salt water usable and accessible for as many people as possible. This dream is what inspires us every day. And the values that were so important to Watertec in the beginning are still what guide our work – customer satisfaction, quality, value and sustainability.