What process is primarily used to desalinate seawater?

Reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a key technology in the field of desalination, making it possible to transform seawater into drinking water. This method uses a semi-permeable membrane to separate and remove dissolved salts and other impurities from the water. The first large-scale desalination plant using reverse osmosis was built in Saudi Arabia in the 1980s, marking a turning point in access to drinking water in arid regions. Today, thanks to technological advancements, reverse osmosis has become a viable and increasingly economical solution to meet the growing demand for fresh water around the world.