MASDAR TO PARTICIPATE IN 6th ANNUAL WORLD WATER FORUM

• UAE delegation to join global discussions for tackling challenges of water security and scarcity
• Forum to provide opportunity to build close ties with key stakeholders in preparation for Abu Dhabi’s inaugural 2013 International Water Summit

Abu Dhabi, March 10, 2012: Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company, today announced that it will be part of the United Arab Emirates delegation participating in the 6^th annual World Water Forum in Marseille, France, from 12-17 March.

The delegation will extend their expertise to tackle the challenges of water security and scarcity.

At the Forum, Masdar will be participating in several ministerial level panels such as “Providing solutions to bridge gaps in water scarcity in the Arab world”, “Contribute in shaping the future of water desalination” and “Help improve water security in the UAE”. 

Water security, and its close connection with energy, is a major focus for Abu Dhabi, with the city aiming to host the inaugural International Water Summit in 2013 and bringing together policy makers and experts to initiate a dialogue to improve management of water resources.

“The issue of water security and water scarcity is already a topic of major global concern, particularly in regions like the Middle East,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar and UAE Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change. “As Abu Dhabi has done in the field of clean energy, we are seeking to drive forward the discussion on the future of water. We are attending the World Water Forum because we are keen to exchange and share knowledge around this vital topic.”

“Furthermore, attending the Forum will enable us to raise awareness about the upcoming International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi – taking place alongside the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in January 2013.”

In a follow-up to his statement earlier in the year: “Water is more crucial than oil in the UAE,” His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, launched the International Water Summit in January 2012 from the sidelines of WFES -- one of the world’s foremost meetings on renewable energy and sustainability. As a continuation of the UAE’s ongoing strategy, this bold and visionary statement brought into focus the important role that water security now plays in the UAE’s long-term economic strategy.

In the UAE, the energy to desalinate, transport, store, and distribute water comprises 70% of the cost of water. At the Forum, Masdar will discuss the strategic importance of water desalination, especially in GCC countries that suffer from water shortage in arid regions. Masdar representatives will discuss recent and anticipated developments in the desalination industry, highlighting its initiatives for using renewable energy for sustainable desalination. The focus will be on the UAE’s expertise in the field of water-energy integration.

“The reality is that both energy and water are critical to human development and are strongly inter-related,” added Dr. Al Jaber. “Under our visionary leadership, we will address these topics simultaneously and this will help the efforts that Masdar is making to provide a brighter future for the UAE.”

“The inaugural International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi next year will serve as a platform for global discussions and highlight the pressing need for practical and commercially viable solutions to address water security,” said Dr. Al Jaber.

Masdar will also leverage on this Forum to highlight the Zayed Future Energy Prize – the world’s pre-eminent award honoring innovation in renewable energy and sustainability. The Prize opened for submissions on March 5, 2012.

Abu Dhabi’s International Water Summit aims to enhance and increase the studies and research necessary, create strategic action plans and find solutions to preserving this invaluable resource for future generations. The summit will draw government officials, policy makers, businesses and NGOS from across the world to focus on and find practical solutions to the water challenge.