The International Water Summit (IWS) 2018 will be held in Abu Dhabi in January, with an aim to promote water sustainability in the Middle East. There will be a special focus on breakthrough smart technologies that are being developed around the world to address pressing water challenges in arid regions. Under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the sixth edition of IWS will take place from January 15-18, 2018 in strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and hosted by Masdar, as a part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
For the first-time ever, IWS 2018 will host the Smart Water Expo, a platform to demonstrate how digitalisation and automation can be leveraged for resource-efficient, flexible and competitive water management. The inaugural Expo will feature experts discussing an ecosystem underpinned by big data analytics, automation and the Internet of Things, which will revolutionize the way water infrastructure is managed in the Gulf region. Such disruptive technologies within the water industry will play a critical role in helping fulfil the US$200 billion water infrastructure requirement needed over the next 10 years in the Arab world, according to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2015[1].
At IWS 2017, ADWEA launched its Demand Side Management (DSM) programme “Tarsheed”, which is aimed at helping and encouraging its customers to use water and electricity more efficiently in line with the directives of the UAE’s visionary leadership for the protection of the environment for the benefit of future generations.
H.E. Abdulla Ali Musleh Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ADWEA, said: “As the world begins to face numerous challenges around the future of water, advancements in technology means we are now strongly placed to truly transform how people access water. In line with our Demand Side Management (DSM) programme ‘Tarsheed’, at IWS 2018 we will showcase solutions for residential and public water use, industrial water use, smart metering and networks, data-driven technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), and cyber security. Through our participation we are keen to discover new partners and solutions with whom we can collaborate to create Smart Water solutions for our future.”
H.E. Al Ahbabi also praised the government support for the UAE’s water and electricity sector, expressing his appreciation for the vision of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the Executive Council. This support has allowed ADWEA to contribute towards national development through a series of water and electricity infrastructure projects. Al Ahbabi also stressed the role of ADWEA and its partners in driving the goals laid out by the Abu Dhabi government for the water and electricity sector, as well as overseeing sustainable expenditure to guarantee the most efficient use of resources.
H.E. Dr. Saif Saleh Asseiari, Acting Director General of ADWEA, said: “ADWEA is dedicated to enhancing cooperation with all strategic partners, and our participation in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week aims to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s global standing in the fields of innovation, efficiency and sustainable investment, in line with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.”
H.E. Dr. Asseiari went on to highlight the importance of their relationship with Masdar, which contributes to realizing ADWEA’s goal of becoming a leading operator in the water and electricity sector by 2020. Al Ahbabi also noted that ADWEA’s model is currently leading the regional sector in terms of privatization and attracting global investments, with 11 companies having been founded in collaboration with the private sector over the past 12 years.
Naji El Haddad, Group Event Director at Reed Exhibitions, the organisers of the International Water Summit, said: “IWS 2018 will bring together policymakers, business leaders and innovators from over 100 countries to demonstrate and discover today’s most innovative solutions for water related challenges of our future. Through the Smart Water Expo and Innovate@IWS, the 2018 edition of the event will act as a vehicle for disruptive technologies, showcasing innovations which will enable positive impact and long-term benefits for the water industry.”