The atmosphere has enough water in air that, if produced at a mass scale, could provide enough water for humankind, reduce energy use, expand vegetation, help the environment and reduce carbon footprint, visitors and delegates at the 5th Arab Water Forum held at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai, UAE, witnessed the live demonstration of the process of producing water from air and the opportunity to taste the water as well.

Currently 783 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water – equating to approximately one in 10 people globally – according to the World Health Organisation. With climate change, this number is going to increase drastically. Within a decade from now, it is believed that 50 percent of the world’s population will live in areas without access to clean, fresh, and safe drinking water.

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Abu Zeid, President of the Arab Water Council, thanked the UAE Government, especially the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for hosting and Great Minds Event Management (GM Events), for successfully organising the three-day 5th Arab Water Forum.

“It is the best Arab Water Forum that I have seen and the best managed event, including the panel discussions as well as the exhibition where latest technologies and innovations are displayed, especially the air-to-water technology that can solve the water scarcity problem in the Arab World,” he said.

“I’m sure the government officials of the Arab countries participating at this event will take note of the innovative solutions and implement them in their countries. Arab World will benefit from the deliberations and innovative solutions that have been put forward in this edition. This Arab Water Forum is a landmark event in terms of overall organisation and I am very happy with the overall outcome. This is the most successful Arab Water Forum in all aspects, especially in providing innovative solutions to the water scarcity issue.”

The air-to-water technology comes at the right time to protect life on planet – by offering a cost-effective alternative solution to water scarcity. The atmosphere holds six times more water than the combined water flow in all the rivers in the world – that could provide the cost-effective solution to growing water scarcity.

Five companies that showcased the air-to-water technology and the water producing machines at the Arab Water Forum, said, the technology has the power and capacity to provide enough clean drinking water to serve the needs of the world’s 7.5 billion people – in a sustainable manner.

“With six times more water in the atmosphere than all the world’s rivers combined, our goal is to help solve the world’s water scarcity and security challenges by accessing Earth’s greatest untapped water source – the atmosphere – to sustainably advance humanity and ensure communities have access to safe, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities,” said Roheen Berry, Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Water.

“In the Middle East and Africa region, where water security regularly tops government agendas alongside food security and industrial growth – all of which demand high water usage – we are in a unique position to make real change via scalable anywhere-anytime solutions which can change the lives of countless communities across the region, improve the environment, and foster new employment opportunities in a diverse array of sectors.

“Our renewables-powered technology provides a carbon-negative water source to benefit communities and economies with critical and immediate needs. Beyond Water aims to help change the world by aiding and saving communities, economies and the planet.”

The 5th Arab Water Forum, therefore ended on a high note offering a game-changing solution to a crucial age-old life-threatening problem in front of more than 600 delegates, officials, water experts, policy-makers and government ministers of a number of Arab countries – who have been seeking a cost-effective solution to increasing water scarcity in the Arab World.

The air-to-water technology, which has been under experimentation for more than 20 years, has now been perfected through research and development in many parts of the world from India to the United States. Water produced from the atmosphere now not only costs less than the desalinated or bottled waters, it is now available for home use, office use and industrial use.

Noel Greenway, Managing Partner, Great Minds Event Management, says, “The commercial and industrial-scale availability of drinkable air or air-to-water technology makes the 5th Arab Water Forum a landmark conference in its history and we are happy to see that it happened here in Dubai now that makes the event more significant and historic.

“The 5th Arab Water Forum has provided the answer that the leaders and experts in the Arab World has been looking for – making it the most memorable edition in its history. If the policy-makers undertake the right initiatives to implement this technology at the country level, it will change our future, ensure water security, food security, reduce energy and make life sustainable.”

More than 600 delegates and participants from 22 Arab countries have reiterated their strong commitment to water security for peace and sustainable development in the Arab World at the three-day triennial Arab Water Forum.

Exhibitors and sponsors expressed their happiness with the exposure and attention at the Arab Water Forum.

Rahul Mathur, CEO of International Operations at Airowater, said, “This is our first-time participation at such an event and we are happy with the outcome. The 5th Arab Water Forum was well organised and we are very happy with the exposure we received and the awareness that we created on our products and services at the event.”

Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and supported by the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt (MWRI), in cooperation with national, regional and international partners, the Arab Water Forum hosted 25 Government Ministers and Undersecretaries representing 22 Arab countries, high government officials, businessmen, public and private sector organisations where more than 40 experts and top-notch professionals discussed water scarcity and sustainable development across the region.

The 5th Arab Water Forum was attended by Ministers, Under-Secretaries and high officials with HE Eng. Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, leading the list of the dignitaries that include H.E. Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt; Eng. Wael Bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs, Bahrain; Mr. Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council (WWC); H.E. Mr. Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal; H.E. Prof. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President of the Arab Water Council (AWC); H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General, League of Arab States (LAS); Ahmed bin Abdullah al Shuhi, Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Oman; Dr Khaled Al Fadel, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait; Eng. Raed Abu Soud, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Jordan; Ali Hammam, Ministry of Water Resources, Algeria; Aziz Rebbah, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Environment, Morocco; Samir Taieb, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Tunisia; among other senior officials.

Under the theme, Arab Water Security for Peace and Sustainable Development, the forum addressed three main areas of concern: Arab water security, cross-border cooperation in the field of shared water, and water for sustainable development. The forum will also include many different discussion topics and scientific sessions, as well as dealing with the means and tools related to each axis.

More than 50 exhibitors displayed the latest technology and innovation in water-related aspects, including desalination and production of pure drinking water, as well as utility companies, municipalities and suppliers will showcase their products in the three-day Water Forum Expo.

The 2021 edition of the Arab Water Forum features three days of keynote speeches, plenary and panel sessions, cross-cutting sessions, scientific sessions, and an Arab Water Expo, along with plenty of opportunities for networking.

AWF5 was organised and promoted by GM Events, a Dubai-based multi-faceted event management company of international repute, having organized numerous unique forums and exhibitions that highlight the issues faced by various economic sectors across the Arab region.