Water award receives 137 applications
DUBAI — The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has received 137 applications to participate in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. The $1 million award aims to find solutions to the global problem of water scarcity.
Suqia announced that registration for the award is now closed and it gained interest from leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from around the world.
“The UAE Water Aid Foundation works to achieve the directives of his Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to build a knowledge-based economy, with a focus on technology, research, development and innovation. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award has gained local, regional and international attention throughout the various campaigns we have organised, especially in the Netherlands, India, Germany, UK, Italy and China. This has added to the coverage of the award with international events such as COP21 in Paris, the Solar Decathlon in California, the Carbon Ambassadors Programme in Dubai and other activities that coincide with the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, in addition to a number of universities in the UAE,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.
“Suqia is committed to achieve the objectives set by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. The award motivates Suqia to continue its efforts in humanitarian aid development, and enhance its international humanitarian mission to strengthen local, regional and international cooperation. Suqia is a beacon of the UAE’s attempts to help the planet, by providing sustainable solutions for water scarcity to reduce contamination of drinking water throughout the world. Suqia also participates in international efforts to supply clean water, and eliminate water-related life-threatening diseases, while protecting clean water from being polluted,” added Al Tayer.
A majority of the applications for the award were put forward by 26 UAE-based applicants. This reflects the commitment of all government and private organisations to achieve the vision of the wise leadership. Suqia also received 14 applications from Egypt and 10 from India, five each from Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands and South Korea, four applications each from the United Kingdom, Kuwait, and Italy, three applications each from Bahrain, South Africa, France, Brazil, Qatar, Japan, Greece, and the United States of America, and 36 applications from other multinational organisations.
The names of the winners will be announced during the first quarter of 2017. The criteria for the evaluation includes technology, design, environmental alignment, creativity, innovation, health and safety, and sustainability,” said Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, acting Executive Director of Suqia.