Suqia Plays Key Role In Enhancing UAE’s Global Efforts To Address Water Challenges
The UAE has established its role in supporting the international efforts to address the challenges facing humanity. Under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, MBRGI, the UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia, is playing a key role in promoting the UAE's global efforts to address the challenges of water scarcity, by providing safe drinking water to vulnerable communities suffering from water scarcity and pollution, stressed Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia, in his statement for Arab Water Day 2018. "Water is one of the basic needs of humanity and is a reason to achieve sustainable development. Arab Water Day, which is celebrated annually by the Arab world on 3rd March, is a public invitation to communities, governments and responsible entities in the Arab region to work together to ensure the sustainability of water resources in the region. It also aims to combine the region’s efforts to effectively manage these resources and maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of water in Arab countries, as well as to raise awareness about key water issues and the challenges facing the region," Al Tayer said.
"Suqia’s vision supports the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 of the United Nations, UN, that has set the priorities and goals of global development, most notably the sixth objective, which is to ensure the availability of water and sanitation services for all. At Suqia, we are committed to achieving this objective through joint work and ongoing co-operation with responsible local and international organisations. During the past three years, over eight million people have benefitted from Suqia’s projects in 25 countries," he added.
Al Tayer noted that as well as providing safe drinking water to the needy, Suqia aims to find innovative and sustainable solutions to the issues of water scarcity and desalination through research and development, to support the UAE's efforts to transform itself into a knowledge-based economy that focusses on modern technology and innovation. Suqia also oversees the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, which is worth U$1 million and was launched by the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to encourage research institutions, individuals and innovators from around the world to find sustainable and innovative solutions to water scarcity issues and promote the use of solar energy, he further added.
"We aspire to help create a world where clean water is available to all, and where problems turn into possibilities and opportunities. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to continue our humanitarian and volunteer work and the cultural and social legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan during the Year of Zayed, and to help secure the availability of clean water for the people of the world," he said in conclusion.
