WaterWorld Middle East 2013 to capitalise on mounting demand, opportunities and challenges

Hosts of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is expected to spend $10bn on water infrastructure alone over the next decade. In light of this WaterWorld Middle East 2013 conference and exhibition will bring the water sector together at the Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, Qatar, from 4-6 February 2013.

Organised by PennWell in partnership with Qatar's Ministry of Works - Ashghal - as platinum sponsor, WaterWorld Middle East 2013 will showcase Qatar and the region's biggest opportunities.

The strategic and technical conference will feature Mr. Nasser Al Kuwari, Manager of the Drainage Projects Department at Ashghal, delivering a presentation on Qatar's IDRIS (Inner Doha Re-sewerage implementation strategy) Programme.

The IDRIS programme is designed to provide new municipal drainage and wastewater treatment for the Doha South area and is set for completion in 2019.

Other event supporters will include the Arab Countries Water Utility Association (ACWUA) and industry analysts, Frost & Sullivan, as the Knowledge Partner.

The conference and exhibition will see over 50 speakers and eminent chairs and speakers from 20 countries around the world deliver presentations and panel discussions in response to the opportunities and challenges in water supply and sanitation in the MENA region.

Top speakers across two conference tracks will include presentations by Dr Corrado Sommariva, president of the International Desalination Association, Khalil Atasi, chief executive officer of CDM-Arabia, Prof. Thomas Missmer from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Dr Ilham Kadri, general manager MEA, Dow Water and Process Solutions, UAE.

Key conference topics to be discussed at WaterWorld's Middle East will include Utility Management; Water Resource Management; Wastewater Reuse; Industrial Water Treatment; Technology Debate: Wastewater Options.

Not to be missed is the panel debate entitled: "Desalination's Changing Landscape - Thermal to RO". This exciting new session will bring together representatives of thermal, membrane, hybrid and forward osmosis desalination to discuss the latest projects, results and technologies in lively comparative debate.

Tom Freyberg, Conference Director of WaterWorld Middle East, said: "A clear technology shift is being witnessed in the conversion of seawater to potable, drinking water. For decades Qatar and other Middle Eastern nations heavily relied upon giant thermal desalination facilities. Yet increasing water scarcity and lower cost membranes are meaning large scale, plants are coming online."

"As well as a concerted effort on renewing and installing new wastewater capacity in the Middle East, drinking water needs continue to increase. Many countries in the region have renewable freshwater sources less than 1000 cubic meters per person - a level which defines "water scarcity."