UAEU Engaged with Other Entities to Celebrate World Water Day
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) participated with other governmental entities in their celebration of ‘World Water Day’. UAEU was represented by Dr. Ahmed Murad, Associate Professor of Hydrogeology and Associate Dean at the College of Science. Dr. Murad presented a lecture entitled: “Cooperation through Groundwater Governance to Achieve Water Security in the UAE”, at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFAC) as part of their celebrations.
Dr. Murad mentioned during his lecture that this year, the ‘World Water Day’ stresses the importance of cooperation between countries and between different organizations in the country at different levels to tackle the water-related issues. During his lecture he mentioned that the UAE is facing serious problems related to water resources due to rapid population growth, economic development, political stability, and heavy consumption of groundwater for different uses.
Dr. Ahmed Murad, an expert of Hydrogeology in the UAE, summarized the current status of water resources in the UAE as follows: “Groundwater is depleting and deteriorating and desalinated water and treated wastewater productions are increasing to try and meet the deficits of natural water resources in the country.” Also, he commented that there are many challenges facing the sustainability of water resources in the UAE, such as population growth, groundwater depletion and deterioration, human activities such as agricultural practices, data fragmentation and oil spills and red tides. When oil spills and red tides occur, desalination plants may have to stop their operations, as seen recently in the eastern part of the country. Dr. Murad concluded his talk by saying that groundwater governance is one of the solutions to sustain groundwater resources. Groundwater governance is the management of groundwater through responsibility, transparency, custom, regulation, information availability and participation. He also mentioned that, groundwater governance in the UAE exists and has existed from thousands of years ago through the Falaj system.
Dr. Murad also chaired a panel discussion entitled, “Water Resources in the UAE: Challenges and Achievements”, which was organized by Gulf Centre for Studies (Al Khaleej Newspaper) with the participation of experts from different governmental organizations. Dr. Murad mentioned during his opening speech that, “We are gathered here today to celebrate the ‘World Water Day’ and to show the world UAE’s achievements of the past 41 years from the union of the country.” The panelists discussed the current water resources of the UAE and their challenges, achievements towards sustainability of water resources in the country and future water policies. Dr. Murad said, ”There are many achievements to date tackling water related issues such as research through universities and centers, building dams, desalination plants and treated wastewater plants and solar and nuclear energy.” One of the panelist mentioned that UAEU is playing a vital role in providing water-related education in the country and region. As a research intensive University, UAEU is committed to finding solutions to the nation’s problems.
