TRENDS Research & Advisory’s fifth Annual Conference on Sustainable Water Security will kick off tomorrow, September 2, at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi, under the theme: Sustainable Water Security: Shaping a Water-Secure Future Through Innovation and Knowledge. The two-day event brings together senior officials, experts, researchers from several countries, representatives of regional and international organizations, and active youth participation.
The conference will begin with the launch of the Arabic edition of H.E. Sir Liam Fox’s book, The Coming Storm: Why Water Will Write the 21st Century, alongside the launch of the TRENDS Water Security Research Competition and the TRENDS Water Security Youth Council. Day one will feature three main sessions addressing the future of water security, transboundary water geopolitics, and the role of multilateralism and think tanks in achieving SDG 6.
Day two will include three sessions discussing financing and investment, technology and artificial intelligence applications, and national resilience in water systems. The conference will accompany a specialized side exhibition featuring government and private entities showcasing the latest initiatives and technologies and a dedicated TRENDS pavilion.
The event is held with the strategic sponsorship of the Emergencies, Crises, and Disasters Management Center Abu Dhabi, diamond sponsorship from SEHA and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority, and wide media support from leading national institutions.
Promising Solutions
As part of its focus on the conference’s theme, TRENDS Research & Advisory has published several related studies. A recent research paper by the Center stressed that artificial intelligence (AI) represents an innovative and essential solution to the growing global challenges surrounding water resources.
The study titled AI and Water: Pioneering Solutions for a Thirsty Planet and authored by Noor Saif Al-Mazrouei, Director of the AI Program at TRENDS, highlights AI’s pivotal role in managing water resources more sustainably and efficiently. The research points out that AI-powered innovative systems help reduce water consumption in buildings and institutions by using advanced algorithms to analyze usage patterns and identify opportunities to cut waste without compromising performance.
The study explains that AI tools drive a true agricultural revolution through smart irrigation systems that factor in weather conditions, soil type, and plants’ specific water needs. This precision ensures every drop of water reaches its target, significantly reducing waste and supporting sustainable farming practices.
The study also underscores how AI is transforming water quality monitoring, with machine learning models able to detect pollutants accurately and in real time. One example cited is IoT-based devices such as Clean Water AI, which continuously monitor water and identify harmful bacteria and particles, ensuring safe drinking water on demand. AI algorithms are also used to process massive amounts of data to detect leaks in water networks, allowing for rapid repairs and sharply reducing losses.
The study concludes that adopting AI technologies in the water sector is not just a technological advancement but a vital strategy to tackle the challenges of climate change and population growth. It emphasizes the importance of investing in AI solutions and strengthening technology integration with water management to build a sustainable future where water is managed wisely, its purity safeguarded, and its availability secured for future generations.
