UAE pushing for more investment in global water infrastructure
Despite attacks by Iran on desalination plants this year, the UAE hasn’t experienced a single day of water supply cuts.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is urging governments and private financial institutions to significantly increase investment in global water infrastructure, as reported by a senior government official to Semafor. While the official did not disclose a specific fundraising target, Abdulla Balalaa, the assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, stated that a key objective of a major United Nations-backed water summit scheduled for December in Abu Dhabi is to reduce a nearly $7 billion shortfall in global water security finance.
Despite recent attacks by Iran on desalination plants, the UAE has not faced any water supply disruptions during the year, according to Balalaa. This resilience can be attributed, in part, to investments made in AI-enabled water efficiency systems. However, water investment remains limited by a lack of supportive regulation, particularly in developing countries.
Balalaa emphasized that water has historically been under-prioritized, taken for granted, and held hostage to other priorities, necessitating a significant paradigm shift in approach.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
