A Better World - Volume 3: Ensure Access to Water and Sanitation for All

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United Arab Emirates supporting the Kingdom

of Morocco to address water security challenges

H.E. Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, UAE

ocated within the least water-secure region in the

world, the United Arab Emirates is committed to

finding solutions for tackling the global challenges

in water security and management.

As one of the top ten water-scarce countries globally, water

is valued as a precious resource in the UAE.

Recognizing

the importance of sustainable water management practices,

the UAE has adopted long-term strategic measures to ensure

development initiatives are in line with its green growth

plans. This includes implementing policies that reduce

water consumption, encourage innovative water technolo-

gies, and promote conservation. As a result of the country’s

commitment and efforts, the UAE has a well-integrated water

resource management system and is on the path towards

ensuring a water-secure and sustainable future.

To help countries and local communities achieve similar

outcomes, the UAE works with governments, local communi-

ties, and other partners to provide access to clean drinking water

and sanitation in humanitarian and development contexts.

Advocacy for SDG 6 spans the UAE Foreign Assistance

Policy and Strategy that is largely supported through the

Country Partnerships for Development Programme, Transport

and Urban Infrastructure Programme, and Humanitarian

Assistance Programme. Implementation of UAE foreign assis-

tance programmes is carried out through a diverse network

of UAE donor entities consisting of governmental and semi-

governmental institutions and charitable foundations each with

their own areas of focus and specialisations. Understanding

that needs and development levels vary within any country,

the UAE works closely with partner countries to deliver trans-

formative initiatives that are guided by country strategies and

contribute to national development priorities.

The drying beds

Increasing access to potable water

The National Office for Electricity and Potable Water (ONEE) aims

to ensure universal access to safe drinking water for all citizens,

working within the integrated vision of the National Water Strategy to

achieve three key objectives:

•To maintain the progress made in water management through the

maintenance and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure

•To mainstream access to water under the banner “Right to Water”

and focus on accelerating the supply of potable water, particularly

in rural areas

•To improve citizens’ health through protecting resources for the

purification of potable water.

With the UAE grants administered by ADFD, the projects have

supported ONEE in upgrading and building new infrastructure to

increase potable water supply in three locations.

Dakhla City

is built on a narrow peninsula located along the Atlantic

coast in the arid Western Sahara region. US$15.3 million was

provided to increase the supply of potable water to the city. The

funds will be used to build a new desalination plant, as well as a

new treatment plant to purify water from underground sources.

New water storage tanks are also being built inside the new station

to retain fresh water that has been desalinised. Funds will also be

used to upgrade and provide maintenance to the existing water

processing plant. The project is expected to benefit an estimated

97,746 people.

Boujdour

is another town located on the Atlantic coast in the

Western Sahara region. The US$9.5 million grant will support the

US$12.2 million project to improve and modernise the town’s water

supply networks. The funds will be used to build a desalination

plant, a reservoir, four pumping stations, a water treatment plant,

and a 6km transmission pipeline. The project is expected to benefit

an estimated 64,245 people.

Kouribga

is located inland in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region.

The US$24.3 million grant will be used to strengthen and expand

the potable water supply by increasing access to the city and

neighbouring areas through the construction of a pumping station,

a water treatment and processing plant, and a 6km transmission

pipeline. The project is expected to benefit an estimated 550,000

urban residents and 530,000 rural residents in surrounding areas.

Boujdour station, National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water

Image: MoFAIC UAE