Al-Mikhaimeem: Raise GCC Readiness to Handle Emergencies

Yesterday morning, high-ranking government officials, ambassadors, and representatives of the United Nations and international financial institutions, alongside researchers and water experts, participated in the High-Level Dialogue on “A Safe Water Future for All.” This initiative aims to enhance cooperation, exchange expertise, and drive investment and innovation in the water sector, paving the way for the 2026 UN Water Conference scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10.

The dialogue, hosted by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and organized by the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Kuwait, in collaboration with the embassies of the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal, sought to link global water priorities with tangible action, strengthen partnerships, identify investment and innovation opportunities, and encourage practical commitments that could contribute to the work of the UN Water Conference.

Dr. Subhi Abdulaziz Al-Muhezaim, Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, emphasized that water security represents one of the most prominent developmental challenges facing the world. He noted that water issues are no longer limited to providing a basic life resource but are directly linked to food security, energy, economic development, health, social stability, and the capacity to cope with the impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the opening of the dialogue, Al-Muhezaim stated that Kuwait recognizes the importance of water security challenges, particularly given its geographical and climatic nature and the limited availability of natural water resources. Consequently, the country has accorded strategic importance to the water sector, working to develop systems for water production, transmission, storage, and distribution, while leveraging modern technology and enhancing operational efficiency to support supply sustainability and increase the resilience of the water system to meet current and future needs.

He stressed that enhancing regional water interconnection is a key pathway to supporting supply security and increasing countries’ readiness to handle emergencies, highlighting the importance of continuing work on joint and bilateral projects and completing technical studies to strengthen integration and sustainability in the water sector. He affirmed that the quality and safety of drinking water are among the state’s top priorities, alongside ensuring supply sustainability. He explained that relevant authorities apply an integrated system of monitoring and continuous testing to ensure that produced and distributed water meets approved standards and requirements.

Al-Muhezaim pointed out that Kuwait records a population coverage rate exceeding 99 percent for safely managed drinking water services, according to data from the WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene. He emphasized that challenges posed by conflicts, wars, and humanitarian crises necessitate efforts to provide sustainable, resilient, and safe water sources to ensure the continuity of basic supplies for populations, while enhancing the resilience of water infrastructure and expanding international cooperation to find practical and sustainable solutions for affected communities.

He affirmed that water sector challenges transcend national borders and cannot be addressed individually, calling for enhanced regional and international cooperation, exchange of expertise and experiences, development of partnerships, and utilization of technical, research, and financial solutions capable of transforming promising ideas into executable projects with tangible impact.

On her part, Ghada Taher, Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait, affirmed that the water issue requires cooperation from various stakeholders. She noted that the participation of governments, the diplomatic corps, financial institutions, the private sector, and academia in the dialogue reflects the reality that “no single entity can solve the water issue alone.”

Taher stated that today’s dialogue is not an end in itself but represents an important milestone on the path toward the 2026 UN Water Conference, offering an opportunity to translate discussions into concrete commitments, partnerships, and investments. She added that Kuwait offers an important perspective to this global dialogue, as it is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, closely aware of the reality of water resource shortages, while having contributed for decades to supporting and financing water infrastructure projects and developmental solutions internationally.

“The message today is simple: that each institution represented here should define one commitment, one partnership, one investment, or one idea worth scaling up, and carry this momentum with us to Abu Dhabi next December,” she said.

She explained that the UN World Water Development Report indicates that none of the water-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets under SDG 6 are on track. Achieving universal access to safely managed drinking water by 2030 requires accelerating progress six times the current rate, while the sanitation sector requires a fivefold acceleration, and basic hygiene a threefold acceleration.

She added that approximately 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water, while around four billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month annually. She emphasized that these challenges are directly linked to health, food, livelihoods, dignity, and stability.

Taher noted that Kuwait serves as an important model in addressing water scarcity, as it is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world and practically lacks renewable freshwater sources, yet has succeeded in meeting its needs through desalination. Furthermore, it has contributed for over six decades to financing water infrastructure in developing countries.

From his side, Dr. Matar Hamed Al-Nuaimi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Kuwait, affirmed that the dialogue represents an important opportunity to exchange expertise, discuss common priorities, and formulate practical recommendations and initiatives contributing to preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Al-Nuaimi stated that the path toward the 2026 UN Water Conference relies on translating aspirations into practical steps, noting that the dialogue in Kuwait constitutes a significant contribution to this path by bringing together partners from various sectors to explore ways to leverage innovation, technology, and financing, and enhance cooperation to deliver solutions of the required scale.

He added that the UAE is committed to enhancing practical solutions in the water sector through innovation, international cooperation, and partnerships that combine expertise and investments, thereby supporting progress toward achieving SDG 6 and enhancing prosperity and resilience.

He clarified that the 2026 UN Water Conference, hosted by the UAE in partnership with the Republic of Senegal, will bring together governments and stakeholders from around the world to Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, aiming to accelerate the implementation of SDG 6, which ensures availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

On his part, Hassan Sougou, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Kuwait, representing the partner state in hosting the conference, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the December conference reflects the diversity of experiences and priorities, including those of Africa and Global South countries.

He stated that water is closely linked to development, economies, food systems, and community resilience; therefore, preparations for the December conference must be comprehensive and clearly oriented toward action and implementation.

He added that the dialogue in Kuwait, building on the outcomes of the preparatory high-level meeting held in Dakar, provides another valuable opportunity to bring together diverse perspectives and enhance the collective action necessary to accelerate progress in the water sector.