The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has participated in a special session organised by the Arab Water Council, under the theme ‘Water Technology and Sustainable Development in the Arab World.’ The session was organised as part of the International Conference on Sustainable Water Resources Management, organised by the National Water Research Center in Cairo, Egypt.

The session was attended by a group of experts and academic researchers specialised in water technology, in addition to a number of representatives from several national, regional and international organisations and entities.

The session also witnessed the participation of the most important spokespersons in the region, who focused on water related changes, and sustainable development in the Arab region. The session aimed to highlight the importance of modern water technology, and its effect on enhancing sustainable development in the Arab region. Several representatives from national, regional, and international organisations, discussed their experiences and skills in their respective fields.

Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia, gave a presentation on Suqia’s experiences in the Research and Development (R&D) of desalinating and purifying water using solar energy.

Suqia strives to enhance the international role of the wise leadership, to tackle the challenges facing humans, while providing aid and support to people all over the world. In October 2015, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched one of the largest development and community foundations in the Middle East region – the "Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives." The new foundation consolidates the work of 30 organisations focusing on fighting poverty and illness; spreading knowledge and culture; empowering the community; and driving innovation. Suqia works to fight poverty and illness, with a focus on water research until 2025. This supports the long-term vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, about water being one of the challenges that our region will face in the near future," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and Chairman of the board of trustees of Suqia.

"It encourages leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from across the world to compete to find sustainable and innovative solar-energy solutions to the problem of water scarcity. This adheres to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award contributes to achieving the National Innovation Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform the UAE into one of the most innovative countries in the world, and focuses on seven national sectors to stimulate innovation. These include encouraging innovative solutions to the challenge of water scarcity. We are glad to exchange skills and experiences with regional and international organisations, to achieve mutual benefit, and promote the whole Arab region, while limiting water scarcity, to ensure a brighter future for the region, and the world," added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer stressed that the session was an ideal platform to showcase Suqia’s skills, experiences and achievements in R&D, with the attendance of partners and stakeholders in the Arab region. "Suqia is committed towards actively participating in all regional and international events related to water and R&D, to find innovative solutions to face water scarcity around the world. This special session has several lessons to learn, and provides insight into the unique experiences of the most important national and regional organisations in the Arab World. This enriches the content featured in the session, enhances communication and the unity of efforts, and facilitates the exchange of skills and experiences between organisations in the Arab world. The session also included the participation of several researchers and academic experts who enriched the cognitive and scientific content of the session, and highlighted the best practices in water technology," added Al Tayer.

"In cooperation with DEWA, Suqia’s R&D projects include reverse osmosis of sea water and a photovoltaic (PV) desalination plant, in addition to water purification via solar technology with the capacity of storing 7 hours of electricity at 50 cubic meters per day, located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park," said Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia.

Al Shamsi discussed the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The initiative has allocated USD1 million to finding sustainable solutions to help address water shortages internationally. It encourages leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from across the world to compete to find sustainable and innovative solar-energy solutions to the problem of water scarcity.