Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with International Water Association (IWA), will host the first International Water Summit next year alongside the 'World Future Energy Summit' in January.

The debut water summit will be organised by Masdar and Reed Exhibitions, under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The summit launch is a result of our visionary leadership’s drive towards achieving water security, said the UAE Minister of Environment and Water Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad during a press conference at the summit on Wednesday.

He was joined by Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and IWA president Dr Glen Daigger besides Abdullah Said Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) and Razan Al Mubarak, secretary general of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.

Addressing the media, Dr Fahad said, 'As a result of the increased pressure on this valuable resource due to various factors including over population, agricultural and economic growth and the unsustainable consumption patterns, various countries around the world are currently facing real problems with water resources.'

Moreover, climate change has increased the pressure on this resource as well. Therefore, this water summit launch will shed a real light on the subject, he added.

Dr Al Jaber said the launch reflected the vital role UAE was playing in supporting global efforts in answering the pressing challenges facing the world today.

'It is a testament to the UAE’s role in shedding light on today’s relevant subjects and a clear testimony to thought leadership,' he added.

He emphasized on the interconnection between energy and water – highlighting that more than 70 per cent of overall water production and processing cost resulted from the energy required to desalinate, transport, store, forward and distribute water – as opposed to the energy required to desalinate water in countries that are depleted of fresh water, such as the Arab region.

In his remarks, Dr Daigger said, 'Through Masdar, WFES and other initiatives in Abu Dhabi we have grown accustomed to seeing this young nation take leading steps to address world challenges.”

'IWA is the global network of water professionals, working every day to provide water and sanitation services which create healthy living conditions, fuel the economy, protect the environment, and enhance the living conditions for the citizens of planet earth.'

On its role in the water summit, Dr Daigger said, “This forum provides the opportunity for leading water professionals to share their knowledge and experience with each other, thereby advancing our ability to serve the public and the planet as rapidly as possible.”-TradeArabia News Service