DUBAI, 24 May 2007 — Arab states would face a water deficit of 100 to 133 billion cubic meters per year by 2030 and it is going to be the biggest economic, social and environmental challenge facing the Arab nations, warned Dr. Saeed Al-Kindi, UAE minister of environment and water, while addressing the opening session of a workshop titled “Integrated Water Resources Management” at Dusit Dubai yesterday.
“Water resources management has always been on top of the government’s strategic plan, and the government has recently declared water as a basic element of its infrastructure development policy” he added. “A study on the underground water reserve, construction of damns to enhance and nourish ground water reserve, rationalization of water use in agriculture by using modern irrigation methods, construction of desalination plants and sewage treatment plants and using treated water in city landscaping projects and educating the public on the significance of water conservation are some of the steps taken by the government in this regard,” he explained.
The workshop, which was organized by Environment Center for Arab Towns (ECAT), Dubai Municipality and the United Nations Environment Program-Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP-ROWA), was also addressed by Hussain Nasser Lootah, acting director general of Dubai Municipality, Dr. Habib Al-Hebar, director and regional representative of UNEP-ROWA, Ghassan Samaan of the Arab Towns Organization.
During the ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the ECAT and UNEP-ROWA as part of the GEO-Cities initiative of the UNEP which will provide the center with advanced concepts in environment management that are suitable for Arab cities.
The MOU was signed on behalf of the ECAT by Hussain Nasser Lootah, who chairs its board of trustees, and Dr. Habib Al Hebar, director and regional representative of UNEP-ROWA.
The workshop will end today.