The UAE marked World Water Day on March 22, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening global water security and advancing sustainable resource management.

The country is expanding its international efforts through initiatives such as the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and Suqia UAE, while preparing to co-host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in December alongside Senegal.

The conference comes as global water challenges intensify, with 2.2 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water, 3.5 billion without safely managed sanitation, and 4 billion facing severe water scarcity for at least one month annually.

The UAE’s strategy is supported by financial commitments, including a $150 million pledge for water scarcity solutions announced at COP28, as well as the $60 million “Clean Rivers” program targeting waste and water issues in Indonesia, Philippines, and Brazil.

Through Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, the UAE has installed a 7.5-km water pipeline in Gaza, supplying around 2 million gallons of water daily to more than one million people. Meanwhile, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives has completed water well projects in Chad, benefiting approximately 65,000 Sudanese refugees.

The UAE has also deployed a vessel carrying 14 desalination units to Cyprus, with a combined production capacity of 15,000 cubic meters per day, to support water supply efforts.