IDA World Congress showcases latest technologies from 70 companies and 21 countries

Taking place from November 7 - 12, 2009, at the Atlantis Resort - The Palm under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the event is the biggest of its kind to ever be hosted in the region.

This year's event feature an exhibition that includes 148 spaces covering 2000 square metres, making it the largest exhibition in the IDA World Congress history.

New innovations and ideas to reduce the environmental footprint of desalination will be showcased at the exhibition in addition to new RO technologies.

A key community concern associated with desalination, particularly seawater applications is the energy demand to drive the process and emission of greenhouse gases.

Similarly, plant intakes and concentrate discharges if not checked may adversely affect coastal waters and marine life.

Avista Technologies will launch an array of new products as their laboratories continue formulating a variety of new chemicals.

Danfoss RO Solutions, selling compact and energy-efficient high pressure pumps for Seawater Reverse Osmosis systems today, is planning to introduce an even more breakthrough innovation at the exhibition. Koch Membrane Systems, Inc. (KMS), a pioneer in membrane technology filtration systems, engineering and process expertise for close to half a century, will launch its new solution for large capacity seawater reverse osmosis (RO) projects.

Ibrahim Al Janahi, Chief Commercial Officer of Economic Zones World and a member of the IDA Organizing Committee said:

"The IDA World Congress has grown into a major event in the world over the past few years with the 2009 edition surpassing all expectations. Exhibition space sold out in less than four weeks, 15 months prior to the event, setting a new IDA record. The number of exhibiting companies has increased 19% over the last IDA World Congress. The tremendous global response is a testimony of the spirit of Dubai and its growing relevance and importance on the global desalination stage."

The IDA World Congress 2009 has attracted wide industry support, including platinum sponsors - leading global Water and Power Projects Company, ACWA Power International and Metito, designer and supplier of water treatment and desalination systems. Gold Sponsors include Dow Water and Process Solutions and Belgian conglomerate Besix. EBD Group, Pump Engineering, Palm Water, Victaulic, MWH and Toray Membrane are some of the Blue sponsors of the event.

Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Dubai Institute of Technology - TechnoPark, said: "As the UAE becomes a major force within the industry, it is imperative that local companies keep abreast of global trends and know-how in sustainable desalination practices. The IDA World Congress is an important platform for us to not only demonstrate our progress as a nation, and showcase our companies but also an ideal platform for us to collectively learn from global experts and to forge new partnerships."

TechnoPark, the region's leading technology business incubator was set up to lead innovation in the country's core economic sectors including Energy and Desalination and Water Resources Management to improve existing technologies and enhance production efficiencies in the country.

The International Desalination Association is a non-profit organization comprising over 2,000 members from 60 countries, including scientists, end-users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDA is associated with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).