Dubai, UAE: On World Water Day, which is observed on the 22nd of March every year, and it is being held this year under the theme  ̒Be The Change You Want to See in The World’, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Foundation (Suqia UAE), affirmed Suqia’s commitment to continue making a positive change in the lives of millions around the world by providing clean water, and turn their dream of access to clean and safe water into a reality.

“We follow in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers to continue the journey of giving which was initiated by the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace and is supported by the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to intensify efforts for benevolence and humanitarian work, to expand its impact in various parts of the world. In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Suqia translates the noble values of Islam, which are based on brotherhood and solidarity, and the authentic values of Emirati society to extend a helping hand to people in need everywhere. In the Year of Sustainability in the UAE, we seek to consolidate the UAE’s position as one of the most generous countries worldwide. We continue our effective contribution to ending the global water crisis by developing innovative solutions to water scarcity, supporting sustainable growth, and achieving economic and social development, by providing water to the needy and afflicted in various parts of the world. This is especially important as the global water crisis is escalating. The United Nations declared that one in three people globally does not have access to safe drinking water. Over two billion people live in countries where the water supply is inadequate,” said Al Tayer.

Al Tayer indicated that Suqia, under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, since its establishment in March 2015 until the end of 2022, has positively impacted the lives of more than 13.6 million people in 37 countries worldwide, through the implementation of more than 1,000 sustainable water projects around the world. The projects implemented by Suqia in 2022 vary from drilling artesian and hand pump wells, extending water distribution networks, and launching the water, sanitation and hygiene programme. Al Tayer highlighted that Suqia’s goals are not limited to securing safe drinking water for those in need, but also works to integrate innovative and sustainable technologies to be part of the solution to the global water crisis. Suqia is supervising the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. With total prizes of USD 1 million, the Award aims to encourage research centres, individuals, and innovators worldwide to find new and innovative technologies to produce, distribute, store, monitor, purify, and desalinate water using renewable energy to counter water scarcity. Suqia has concluded three cycles of the Award to date, and honoured 31 winners from individuals, leading institutions and research centres. It includes four primary categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative R&D Award, Innovative Individual Award, and Innovative Crisis Solutions Award.

During the current year, Suqia provided relief for those affected by earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent. It provided 50,000 cartons of drinking water bottles from Mai Dubai. Suqia also launched its annual Ramadan campaign 2023 for the ninth year in a row to provide water bottles to workers' houses, needy families, mosques and Ramadan tents for fasting people across the UAE, in cooperation with Mai Dubai and 14 local associations and charities in the UAE , during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Suqia intends to expand the scope of its positive impact by working with its strategic partners to implement new projects outside the UAE to help the affected communities suffering from water scarcity.

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For more information, please contact:
Khuloud Al Ali / Ribal Dayekh                                                                                     Afaf Abaza / Mohammed Meshal
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority                                                                         Hattlan Media
Media@dewa.gov.ae / Ribal.Dayekh@dewa.gov.ae                                                  afaf@hattlan.com / mohammed@hattlan.com

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