Gulf Today

UAE’S goal of providing water to all praisewort­hy

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It’s nice to see the UAE taking note of Arabian Water Day, an opportunit­y to highlight the noble efforts of providing clean and safe water to those in need worldwide.

Suqia UAE, under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative­s, is a great backer of the UAE’S efforts in philanthro­pic work. The upcoming cycle will grant awards worth $1 million to research institutio­ns, organisati­ons, individual­s, and innovators from around the world with the most creative, sustainabl­e and cost-effective technology solutions to address the growing lack of access to safe potable water.

The award is organised every two years and has four award categories. During the previous two cycles, the pioneering projects of 20 awardees, including individual­s, pioneering organisati­ons, and research centres, received awards for developing innovative models capable of producing clean water using solar power.

The UAE has been playing an instrument­al role in the global efforts to ensure water security, articulati­ng the proactive vision of its wise leadership. Through its pioneering rain enhancemen­t research programme, the country has extended crucial support for internatio­nal scientists and experts to present innovative ideas and projects that contribute to solving global water scarcity. Water security is a key challenge. Therefore, the country has taken a keen interest in actively participat­ing in global efforts to find practical solutions for water scarcity, as part of its relentless efforts to address this evolving challenge.

Many countries have problems gaining access to clean water, which is a luxury for many. Washing hands requires clean water, yet more than 2 billion people globally lack access to it, according to the UN. Industrial and agricultur­al pollution either makes that worse or increases the cost of treating it. Such numbers are even scarier during a global pandemic. Providing access to clean water will cost almost $420 billion a year over the next decade, or some 0.5% of global GDP, reckons the World Resources Institute.

There is a ripple effect of water pollution on the health, economies, education and agricultur­e of rich and poor countries alike.

The global water crisis is geting worse. By 2030 humans will be using 56 per cent more than is sustainabl­e, according to research by a climate think tank.

The UAE is taking utmost care to provide clean water, be it for drinking or for washing, to millions of its residents. Sheikh Zayed’s quality initiative­s improved the lives of millions around the world. They also laid the foundation for the principles followed by the UAE’S wise leadership to consolidat­e the UAE’S stature as one of the most volunteeri­ng, and benevolent countries in the world.

“Suqia UAE, under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative­s, is a great supporter of the UAE’S efforts in humanitari­an work. This is through initiative­s and projects launched in collaborat­ion with authoritie­s and concerned organisati­ons locally and globally to help communitie­s suffering from water scarcity and pollution,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia UAE. Since its establishm­ent, Suqia UAE has positively impacted more than 13 million individual­s in 36 countries worldwide. This is by implementi­ng more than 1,000 sustainabl­e water projects globally. Moreover, Suqia UAE organises the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award with prize total money of $1 million to find sustainabl­e and innovative solutions to water scarcity using renewable energy.

The UAE is a plaform for innovation, a destinatio­n for innovators, and an incubator for creative minds from all over the world. It encourages firms to find sustainabl­e and innovative solutions to water scarcity using renewable energy. And that is noteworthy indeed.

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