UAE Water Aid Foundation provides drinking water to over 8m people in 19 countries

The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) has announced that over 8 million people have benefitted from its projects to provide clean drinking water to the needy in 19 countries around the world.

Suqia, under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is primarily engaged in research and development to find solutions to water scarcity around the world and to promote investment in sustainable and innovative solutions using solar energy to provide clean drinking water by building effective and sustainable partnerships in accordance with the best global standards.

Suqia also oversees the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, worth $1 million.

The Award was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to find permanent solutions to water scarcity around the world, using solar powered water desalination and purification.

The award has three categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative Research and Development Award, and Innovative Youth Award.

Suqia was launched in June 2014 as a campaign by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to provide drinking water to 5 million people around the world.

It concluded successfully after collecting Dh180 million in 18 days, enough to complete projects to provide drinking water to the needy around the world.

In March 2015, His Highness issued a law establishing the UAE Water Aid (Suqia) as a non-profit organisation. Suqia works to combat poverty and disease, one of the objectives set by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

This is done by finding solutions to water scarcity, in addition to serving areas suffering from drought or lack of clean water and the provision of clean water using modern technologies, and purification and desalination of water using solar energy.

"The UAE plays a leading role worldwide in addressing the challenges facing humanity, as well as providing necessary support and humanitarian assistance. According to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to improve the living conditions of poor and afflicted communities, and support the sustainable development, Suqia supports international efforts to combat poverty and diseases. Suqia works mainly to provide clean water to the needy around the world, in collaboration with several UAE charitable organisations. It also works to find sustainable and innovative solutions to water scarcity around the world through studies, research, and projects using solar energy to provide clean water. This confirms the UAE's commitment to actively participate in finding solutions to the challenges facing humanity," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation.

Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of the UAE Water Aid Foundation, noted that Suqia cooperates with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to provide potable water to the needy, the disadvantaged, and those who are in distress around the world.

Suqia also conducts research and development in water desalination and purification using solar energy in cooperation with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

These projects include reverse osmosis of seawater by a photovoltaic desalination plant, and water purification using solar technology with a capacity of 7.7 cubic metres per day, in addition to research and development in the field of desalination and purification of water using solar energy through a desalination plant at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, with a capacity of producing 50 cubic metres per day along with electricity storage.

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