The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), is highlighting its efforts to find lasting solutions to water scarcity around the world, while participating at the 19th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2017). WETEX is organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), taking place until 25 October 2017 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Suqia works to develop and utilise innovative technologies for water purification and desalination. Suqia has achieved great success in providing sustainable solutions to water scarcity around the world, and has had a positive impact on the lives of over 8 million people in 19 countries around the world by the end of 2016.
Suqia Projects: A strong boost to R&D efforts
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia, noted that besides its commitment to its humanitarian and charitable responsibilities to provide pure drinking water to the needy around the world, Suqia plays a pivotal and leading role in promoting investments in solar-powered water purification technology. It explores ways to purify water by using solar energy, to meet the ever increasing demand for water and contributing to sustainable development. One of Suqia’s most notable projects is the mobile Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis (PVRO) unit, which has been implemented in cooperation with DEWA. The PVRO unit has a daily production capacity of 7.7 cubic metres, to fulfil the needs of 1,540 people. Another successful pioneering project is the Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis (PVRO) desalination station with storage, with a daily production capacity of 50 cubic meters per day, which is enough to fulfil the needs of around 10,000 people.
USD 1 Million Global Water Award
Suqia, under the umbrella of the MBRGI, oversees the ‘Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, which is worth USD 1 million. It was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to encourage research institutions, individuals and innovators all over the world to find sustainable and innovative solar-energy solutions to address the scarcity of clean water.
The 1st ‘Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award’ attracted great interest from leading companies, research centres, institutions and innovators from around the world. It received 138 participants from 43 countries, reflecting the leading role of the UAE as a platform for innovators from all over the world, becoming an incubator of creativity. The award honoured 10 winners from 8 countries who introduced innovative ideas and solutions for water purification and desalination.
Suqia’s ambitious initiatives and achievements
According to Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of the UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia has a roster of achievements supported by major projects that provided over 8 million people in 19 countries with clean drinking water until the end of 2016. Suqia implements its leading projects in partnership with the Emirates Red Crescent and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, under the umbrella of MBRGI.
As part of ‘The Year of Giving’ initiative, Suqia currently oversees the implementation of over 60 projects across 15 countries. These include the construction and development of water plants, artesian wells and water supply networks, which are expected to serve over 250,000 people. Suqia recently opened artesian wells to provide drinking water to 45,000 people in Tajikistan. It is also implementing two projects to provide drinking water to 90,000 people in Somalia in support of the ‘For Your Sake, Somalia’ initiative, which was launched by the UAE Red Crescent.
Suqia supports partnership efforts with international, regional and local organisations that share common goals and objectives in combating water scarcity, to serve its humanitarian objectives worldwide. Suqia and DEWA have collaborated to launch an awareness programme for school students in Dubai to raise a generation that is aware of water scarcity issues. This programme is being implemented in partnership with Surge, a global non-profit organisation for financing water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. The programme educates future generations about rationalisation of resources, and provides information and tips on steps that can be followed to reduce consumption, preserve natural resources and protect the environment.