Dubai: The UAE is developing three water desalination plants in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Umm Al Quwain with a combined capacity of 420 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) that will raise the country’s total water capacity to 1,590 MIGD when completed by 2023. This was announced by Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, during the opening of the three-day fifth Arab Water Forum (AWF5) in Dubai on today.
The three-day AWF5 focuses on water scarcity in the Arab world and the depleting water resources while coming up with innovative solutions to generate water from sustainable sources, in line with the Forum theme — Arab Water Security for Peace and Sustainable Development.
“We need cooperation and collaboration to support the water sector and strengthen efforts to address challenges related to water scarcity. Water is an essential pillar of sustainability, which makes it a strategic priority of the UAE,” noted Al Mazrouei during his keynote speech.
The UAE minister also called to accelerate efforts to address the water challenges “as it is of vital importance to sustainable development, and a factor central to achieving the social, economic and environmental goals and objectives associated with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals”.
Water development assistance from UAE
Al Mazrouei pointed out that the UAE has made robust contributions in the field of international cooperation by providing water development assistance and sanitation projects to countries in need. “Based on the vision and wisdom of the wise leadership of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has adopted the National Programme for Demand-Side Management for Energy and Water, with the aim of rationalising consumption to ensure sustainable consumption of energy, water, mining and infrastructure for the happiness and prosperity of society,” Al Mazrouei added.
He also noted that based on the United Nations 2020 report on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UAE has achieved 100 per cent in the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and sanitation services. The UAE has also achieved a score of 79 per cent in integrated water resources management.