‘Middle East is key to unlocking solutions to global water security’, say top academics

‘Middle East is key to unlocking solutions to global water security’, say top academics

- COP28 will be a platform for Middle Eastern countries to work with the global community to create a scalable model for water secure nations.

Dubai, UAE: Countries in the Middle East have a vital role to play in ensuring a more water secure world and must be at the centre of conversations on water scarcity at COP28 later this year. That’s according to a group of leading academics speaking during a water security workshop hosted by the University of Birmingham Dubai.

During the ‘Water Workshop’ held as part of the University’s activities in the lead up to COP28, academics from the University of Birmingham and Swansea University, as well as representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross, convened to address challenges and opportunities related to water security.

“The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Jordan – these countries all experience water scarcity. But an arid climate doesn’t necessarily equate to water insecurity,” said Dr Arif Anwar, Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham Dubai, during his keynote titled ‘Water Security in the Context of the UAE’.

“You can become water secure even if you are water scarce, depending on how you invest and structure your economy. How these countries tackle water scarcity