Secure water access and sustainable infrastructure represent critical strategic challenges for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Because natural freshwater resources are severely limited, desalinated water has become a critical and highly produced resource, generating large volumes of hypersaline wastewater (reject brine) that present persistent disposal challenges. Simultaneously, Portland cement concrete remains the most heavily produced material in the construction sector. This review provides a systematic assessment of reusing desalination brine as a direct replacement for potable mixing water in concrete production. It synthesizes the chemical interactions governing cement hydration in high-salinity environments, focusing on the crystallization of Friedel’s salt, Kuzel’s salt, and early-stage ettringite. The paper critically analyzes how brine affects fresh workability, setting kinetics, long-term mechanical properties, and durability under chemical attacks. Because high internal chloride concentrations present severe corrosion risks, this sustainable reuse framework is strictly limited to non-reinforced concrete and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced structures. Ultimately, this study establishes a localized circular economy framework that improves the environmental declaration of industrial desalination and conserves critical potable water resources in line with national sustainability goals.

Keywords

Concrete, Brine, Chloride, Durability and Cement.