Suqia UAE approves the candidates for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award

The Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE) has approved the candidates for the 4th cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. The Board of Trustees commended the candidates' focus on the latest biotechnology applications and technological innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), reverse osmosis (RO), membrane systems, and water extraction from air.

They noted that the quality of the participating technologies emphasises the role of the award in encouraging research institutions, individuals and innovators worldwide to develop new and innovative technologies to produce, distribute, desalinate and purify water, driving sustainable development and the search for solutions to address the global water crisis. The fourth cycle of the award received entry applications from 46 countries from around the world.

With total prizes of USD 1 million, the award – which is supervised by Suqia UAE – encourages the development of new and innovative technologies for the purification and desalination of water using renewable energy, including solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric power, osmosis and geothermal energies.

"The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award enhances Dubai's position as a global incubator for innovation and an important influence in improving the quality of life of people everywhere by promoting the role of innovation and technology to provide sustainable solutions to address water scarcity, making a positive and significant societal impact and ensuring clean and safe water for disadvantaged communities around the world. This allows members of these communities to invest their time in realising their aspirations and building their capacities, enabling them to eliminate diseases caused by water scarcity and pollution. Millions around the world have benefited from the award-winning projects, especially in Kenya, Mozambique, India, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Honduras, Indonesia, Laos, Ghana, Chile, Madagascar and others. In addition, under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the number of beneficiaries of Suqia UAE projects worldwide has reached 14.9 million since its establishment in 2015," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of Suqia Board of Trustees.

Over the past three cycles, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award has honoured 31 winners from 22 countries around the world. The award has four main categories: the Innovative Projects Award, which includes the Large Projects Award and the Small Projects Award; the Innovative Research and Development Award, which includes the National Institutions Award and the International Institutions Award; the Innovative Individual Award, which includes the Distinguished Research Award and the Youth Award; and the Innovative Crisis Solutions Award.