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Chairman of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will lead a delegation of prominent UAE government and private sector representatives to the 7th World Water Forum (WWF) in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, South Korea, from April 12-17.
The United Arab Emirates will showcase its adoption of innovative technologies as a means to ensure a water secure future and to address the inter-connected challenges of the energy-water nexus.
According to the United Nations World Water Development Report, the world will face a 40 per cent shortfall in water supplies, by 2030, due to increased urbanisation, rapid population growth and a growing demand for water for food production, energy and industry. The report forecasts global water demand will increase 55 percent by 2050, if current usage trends continue.
The delegation, organised by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, will address how the UAE is innovating to advance global water security. Among the projects which the UAE will highlight are the nation’s 70 desalination plants, its cost-effective wastewater collection and conveyance systems, its advanced hydroponics techniques and a pioneering renewable energy powered desalination pilot project spearheaded by Masdar.
His Excellency Dr. Rashed bin Fahed, Minister of Environment and Water, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar, H.E. Abdulla Khalfan Matar Al Romaithi, UAE Ambassador to South Korea, and other UAE officials will be participating in the delegation.
“Water scarcity has been identified as one of the most pressing issues facing our generation, particularly in the arid Gulf region where water production is a costly and an energy-intensive process,” said His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar.
“In the UAE, the leadership has fostered a culture of sustainability and innovation as fundamental pillars of our country’s development. We have, therefore, taken one of our greatest challenges and turned it into an opportunity through the development and adoption of innovative technology to counter water scarcity. The World Water Forum is an opportunity for us to share our knowledge and best practices in an effort to counter our collective global challenge of water scarcity,” added H.E. Dr. Al Jaber.
Managed by the World Water Council, the World Water Forum is the largest international conference on water. The forum, held every three years since its inception in 1997, brings together decision makers, scientific experts spanning public and private sectors, academia and industry to drive international discussions on global water challenges.
Under the theme of ‘Water for Our Future,’ the 7th World Water Forum convenes at a time when the UN Millennium Development Goals, set in 2000, are due to expire and sustainable development goals are to be established. The 7th World Water Forum will serve as a crucial platform to explore conclusive outcomes for tackling water security issues.
The UAE delegation to the 7th World Water Forum will include representatives from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment & Water, Federal Electricity & Water Authority, Executive Affairs Authority, National Centre of Meteorology & Seismology, Masdar – Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, Masdar Institute of Science & Technology, Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, Regulation and Supervision Bureau, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, and the United Arab Emirates University.
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