UAEU Explores Pathways from Water Scarcity to Global Prosperity

Under the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lectures Series

In the presence of H.E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to His Highness the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, delivered a lecture titled “Water in a Changing World: From Scarcity to Security and Prosperity” as part of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lectures Series.

The lecture, held at the UAEU Library Auditorium in Al Ain, addressed the strategic and economic dimensions of water and its growing role in supporting stability, sustainable development, and global prosperity.

Water at the Center of Energy and Food Security

H.E. Abdulla Balalaa highlighted a shift in the way water is perceived from a scarce resource to be managed to a strategic asset closely linked to national security, economic growth, supply chains, food security, and climate change adaptation.

He also discussed the strong interconnection between water, energy, and food, emphasizing the importance of adopting integrated policies that maintain a balance among these three sectors and ensure that the development of one does not come at the expense of the others.

The lecture highlighted the falaj system in Al Ain as a historical example of sustainable water resource management. The system contributed to the sustainability of life, supported the flourishing of oases, and enabled the growth of local communities. This experience was linked to the need to develop modern models that combine traditional knowledge with technology, alongside flexible policies that protect natural resources and ensure their sustainability for future generations.

From an economic perspective, H.E. Abdulla Balalaa discussed the importance of shifting the focus from the cost of water to understanding its broader economic and strategic value as an enabling resource for agriculture, industry, energy, and urban development. He also highlighted the role of the circular economy and the reuse of treated water in reducing dependence on traditional water resources and creating new opportunities for economic value.

He noted that advancing water infrastructure requires diverse financing models, including public-private partnerships and innovative construction and operation models, as well as funding mechanisms and guarantees that can attract private investment, accelerate the implementation of water desalination, treatment, and reuse projects, and enhance the economic viability of water-related innovations.

UAE Strengthens Its Presence on the Global Water Agenda

During the lecture, H.E. Abdulla Balalaa highlighted the UAE’s leading role in advancing water diplomacy, forging partnerships, and transforming shared water-resource challenges from potential sources of competition into opportunities for cooperation and stability.

He also highlighted the UAE’s investments in water desalination and reuse, as well as efforts to improve water-use efficiency. He emphasized that while technology is essential, it alone is not sufficient to address global water challenges. Sustainable water security requires a combination of emerging technological solutions, effective regulatory frameworks, innovative financing, responsible social practices, and international cooperation.

H.E. Abdulla Balalaa also discussed the important role of youth, universities, and research institutions in shaping the future of water through participation in international dialogue, advancing research and technological solutions, supporting start-ups, and developing the skills of a new generation of specialists and leaders capable of bridging scientific knowledge and diplomatic practice.