The Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) held its 10th meeting chaired by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The meeting was attended by Dr. Arif Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of Khalifa University, Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation at DEWA, Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at DEWA, Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia, and Fahad Abdullah bin Afira Al Falasi, Acting Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.
The Board of Trustees discussed Suqia’s projects, under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, during 2016 and Q1 of 2017. These efforts contribute to finding permanent and sustainable solutions to the problem of clean water scarcity around the world. Suqia has implemented projects to provide clean drinking water for over 8 million people in 19 countries until the end of 2016, in cooperation with a number of leading organisations and charities. These include the Emirates Red Crescent and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, which is part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation.
The meeting also discussed the results of the first Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, which was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to find sustainable and innovative solutions to address the problem of water scarcity, using solar energy. The Award is overseen by Suqia. HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, honoured 10 winners from 8 countries in the first Award. The Board commended the size of participation in the award, and the quality of the innovations from research centres, institutions, and individuals from all over the world. The Award received 138 applications from 43 countries around the world.
“Suqia is doubling its humanitarian efforts this year to support the Year of Giving initiative, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and to carry out the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to implement initiatives for the benefit of UAE society. At Suqia, we are committed to achieving one of the key objectives set by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, which is to combat poverty and disease by contributing to finding permanent and sustainable solutions to water scarcity around the world. We do this by conducting research and studies to develop innovative and affordable technologies to help millions of people around the world who suffer from shortages, scarcity, or pollution of drinking water. We are also committed to providing water to millions of needy people around the world,” said Al Tayer.
At the meeting, Al Shamsi reviewed Suqia’s initiatives for the Holy Month of Ramadan, and the cooperation agreement between Suqia and Dar Al Ber Society, which will provide the necessary support to oversee the distribution of donation boxes and coupons for Suqia. He also highlighted Suqia’s participation in the World Future Energy Summit 2017 and the Global Water Summit 2017 in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD), and the Dubai International Government Achievements Exhibition.