TRENDS Research & Advisory has announced that its fifth annual conference on sustainable water security – Sustainable Water Security: Shaping a Water-Secure Future Through Innovation and Knowledge – will be held from September 2-3, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi.

The conference will feature 33 officials, researchers, and international experts from various countries, representatives of regional and international organizations, an active youth presence, and an accompanying exhibition. The conference aims to shed light on the growing challenges related to water security and to examine innovative solutions and policies to ensure the sustainability of water resources, considering global climate change, as well as economic and social pressures.

A Strategic Issue

Chaired and attended by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, the conference’s organizing committee held an extensive preparatory meeting to review the latest updates on logistical, technical, and scientific arrangements and to confirm the readiness of all working teams to ensure the event’s success. The meeting also discussed organizational plans, media coverage, and session programs aligning with the conference’s goals, reaffirming its status as a leading intellectual platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Following the meeting, Dr. Al-Ali emphasized that the conference is part of TRENDS’s commitment to supporting international and regional efforts to address water challenges. He stressed that water security is an existential issue that transcends geography and politics, affecting the present and future of humanity. He explained that through this conference, TRENDS aims to provide a serious platform and strengthen partnerships among think tanks, stakeholders, and international organizations, generating visions and practical solutions to transform water challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.

He added that the convening of the conference complements the UAE’s preparations to host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, noting that the TRENDS conference serves as an essential preliminary knowledge platform that enriches the global discussion agenda and supports international efforts to establish a comprehensive strategic framework for sustainable water security, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while enhancing community resilience in the face of future risks.

Activities: Day One

Dr. Al-Ali announced that the conference will open with an inaugural session featuring the launch of the Arabic edition of H.E. Sir Liam Fox’s book The Coming Storm: Why Water Will Write the 21st Century, the announcement of the TRENDS Water Security Research Competition, and the launch of the TRENDS Water Security Youth Council.

The CEO of TRENDS explained that the first day of the conference will feature three main sessions: Shaping the Future of Water Security, Transboundary Water Geopolitics—Between Conflict and Cooperation, and Multilateralism and Knowledge in the Global Water Dialogue: the UN and the Role of Think Tanks in Promoting SDG 6.

Activities: Day Two

Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali stated that the conference’s second day will have three key sessions. The first is The Role of Finance and Investment in Transforming Water Systems, the second is Technology and AI-Driven Approaches to Future Water Sustainability & Security, and the third is Resilience and Adaptive Capacity in National Water Systems: Global Case Studies on Mitigating Water Risk. The day will also feature youth activities and an accompanying exhibition showcasing the latest initiatives and research in water security.

The press release was attended by Engineer Marwan Shayeh, Deputy General Manager of Facilities and Maintenance at SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, who said:”Our participation in the 5th TRENDS Annual Conference on Sustainable Water Security reflects this commitment. At SEHA, we recognize that water security is deeply linked to public health and community well-being.”” By joining this global dialogue, we aim to showcase innovative solutions, exchange knowledge, and support national and international efforts to ensure a water-secure and sustainable future” .Together, with partners and stakeholders, we believe every drop of water can make a difference – for our health, our environment, and for future generations.

Strategic and Media Support and Sponsorship

The conference will receive strategic sponsorship from the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Center and diamond sponsorship from SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company) and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority.

It also benefits from extensive media support and sponsorship from leading media institutions in the UAE. The National is the strategic media partner and prominent media supporters, including the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Ittihad News, and the UAE Journalists Association, representing the media community’s voice. Viory Media Platform, in addition to Aneco Middle East and Sabha Advertising & Exhibitions, adds an innovative digital dimension to coverage.

Accompanying Exhibition

The conference will accompany an interactive exhibition combining knowledge and practical experience. Ten government and private entities will participate, showcasing their most notable projects, initiatives, and technologies related to the conference theme—reflecting the depth of institutional and national commitment to the issue under discussion.

The exhibition will allow visitors to explore participating institutions’ latest solutions and innovative ideas and closely engage with pioneering models and experiences in the field.

The participating entities include: Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Aneco Company, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority, Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Center – Abu Dhabi, Hwana Company, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi University, SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company), and Youth Councils.

The exhibition will also feature a TRENDS Research & Advisory pavilion, highlighting a selection of the center’s most significant publications, specialized studies, and research related to the conference themes. This pavilion will underscore TRENDS’ leading role in knowledge production and analyzing global and regional issues while allowing attendees to engage and interact directly.

Speakers

In addition to Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, the conference will feature H.E. Abdullah Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability; Rt. Hon. Sir Liam Fox, former UK Secretary of State for Defence, Chair of the UK Abraham Accords Group, and author of The Coming Storm – UK; H.E. Prof. Ahmed Ali Murad, Acting Vice Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University; Ayesha Al-Ateeqi, Executive Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative; Prof. Ashok Swain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research and UNESCO Chair on International Water Cooperation at Uppsala University, Sweden; Dr. Henrietta Toivanen, Advisor at the CMI Foundation, Finland; Prof. Cecilia Tortajada, Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow, UK; Daniele Iacoboni, Co-Founder and CEO of Research & Development at ANECO Middle East, Italy; Christoph Hodur, United Nations Climate Security and Environmental Advisor to Somalia, Kenya; Laura Berkman, Director of the Climate, Water and Food Security Program at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Netherlands; and Dhesigen Naidoo, Climate Adaptation Advisor to the South African Presidential Climate Commission; Prof. Asit Biswas, Director of Water Management International Pte Ltd, Singapore; and Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Glasgow (Singapore/UK); Dr. Ayman Ayad, Water & Social Infrastructure Program Manager, Delegation of the European Union to Egypt; Dr. Hazim El-Naser, Former Minister of Water and Irrigation, and former Minister of Agriculture, Jordan; and Mouza Hasan Almarzooqi, Head of the Economic Studies Department at TRENDS, and co-author of a book on water in the Middle East and North Africa.