Dead Sea, May 4 (Petra) – On behalf of Her Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society, Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud inaugurated the Arab Water Week conference on Sunday, with the participation of countries from across the globe, funding agencies, donor institutions, and stakeholders in the water sector.

Held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center - Dead Sea, the conference is convened under the theme "Towards Efficiency and Sustainability in Utilities through the Water, Energy, Environment, and Food Nexus." It is organized by the Arab Water Utilities Association (AQUWA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Arab Ministerial Water Council of the Arab League.

In his opening remarks, Abu Saud said Jordan remains among the world’s most water-scarce nations and continues to face mounting challenges in water security and groundwater preservation. He highlighted the National Red Sea Desalination Project in Aqaba as a strategic initiative to meet national water needs, ensure a sustainable supply-demand balance, and uphold equitable water rights for all stakeholders.

He noted that the Ministry, in collaboration with relevant institutions, is intensifying efforts to curb water loss and prevent resource encroachments. The National Water Carrier Project, he said, aims to help restore groundwater reserves and reduce overextraction, while ongoing efforts are expanding the use of non-conventional water sources, enhancing public-private partnerships, and adopting modern technologies to maximize efficiency and sustainability.

Abu Saud underlined the importance of bolstering regional and international cooperation to achieve sustainable development, ensure food and water security, exchange expertise, build technical capacity, and support innovation. He also stressed the need for local community involvement in integrated water management and protection efforts.

Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilam stated that the conference reflects a growing recognition that regional challenges are interlinked and must be addressed through a nexus approach that integrates water, energy, environment, and food key pillars of Arab national security.

Sweilam pointed to alarming water scarcity across the Arab region, with 19 out of 22 countries classified as water-stressed and most falling below the severe water poverty threshold of 500 cubic meters per capita annually. He cited a March 2023 United Nations report indicating that over 90 percent of the Arab population suffers from critical water shortages and that 21 countries rely on transboundary water sources, such as the Nile, Euphrates, and Jordan Rivers. This, he noted, adds geopolitical complexity and necessitates regional cooperation under international legal frameworks.

Yemeni Minister of Water and Environment Tawfiq Sharbaji commended the Jordanian and Egyptian experiences in water management and expressed Yemen’s interest in drawing on these models to develop its own water and irrigation systems.

Secretary-General of the Arab Water Utilities Association (AQUWA), Khaldoun Khashman, said the conference has become a vital platform for experts, policymakers, and private-sector actors to exchange insights, address common regional challenges, and enhance cross-border partnerships.

The event features 35 dialogue sessions involving 160 international experts in water and sanitation, tackling smart technologies, climate resilience, institutional development, capacity building, financial and strategic planning, and progress toward sustainable development goals.

On the sidelines of the opening, Minister Abu Saud and German Ambassador to Jordan Bertram von Moltke launched the Ministry of Water and Irrigation’s new e-library.

//Petra// AJ

04/05/2025 15:48:47