Organizing Committee reviews preparations for global desalination conference

The five-day congress, organized under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, will be held at Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah, from November 7 to 12, 2009 under the slogan 'Desalination for a Better World'.

The organizing committee comprises officials from different government and social organizations, which includes Dubai Police; Department of Naturalization & Residency; Dubai Health Authority; Dubai Convention Bureau; Dubai International Airport, and media organizations, as well as officials from TechnoPark and Economic Zones World.

The committee was briefed on the arrangements made for the international event by the event organizing company and discussions went on to outline the best ways of collaboration to make this event a success by affording world class services. Responsibilities of each member of the organizing committee were also established.

The committee also discussed arrangements for the opening ceremony of the event, to be held at Madinat Jumeirah.

Ibrahim Al Janahi, Chief Commercial Officer of Economic Zones World, the parent company of TechnoPark, said:

"This IDA conference will tackle a number of vital and strategic issues at a time when water resources are becoming critical worldwide. We have to cement all our efforts in the promotion and exchange of expertise to secure water resources to avert any water crisis around the world."

Al Janahi stressed on the importance of collaboration between all government departments and divisions to ensure that the event is a resounding success, and is truly reflective of the image and stature of the UAE, and specifically Dubai, as a modern technology hub.

Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Dubai Institute of Technology - TechnoPark said, "The goal of TechnoPark is to enable and support scientific research, and contribute to the development of Dubai, the UAE, and region in all walks of life."

He added, "Water is one of our most precious natural resources, and we need to draw up plans and policies to protect it for future generations. We hope this conference will contribute towards our goal of realizing sustainable development of our water resources and foster international cooperation for the development of newer and more efficient water desalination and treatment technologies for the benefit of all."

The conference will be attended by more than 1,800 representatives of desalination technology end-users, manufacturers and suppliers, governments, consultants, researchers, investors and academic institutions.

The congress will feature five days of technical sessions, lectures, roundtable discussions, 27 interactive sessions and workshops that will discuss some 350 scientific papers. A concurrent exhibition will showcase 70 companies from 20 countries displaying the latest water desalination equipment and technology.

The UAE is the world's second largest producer of desalinated water, processing 8.4 million cubic meters of seawater into potable water per day, 95% of which is consumed locally.

Although the Middle East is home to more than 5% of the world's population, it has only 1% of the global renewable fresh water resources and depends on desalination as its most important source of fresh water.