Al-Mikhaizim: Developing the Water System to Ensure Sustainability
Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, Dr. Subaih Al-Makhzoum, affirmed that water security is no longer merely an issue tied to securing a basic life resource, but has become a direct element of food security, energy, economic development, health, social stability, and addressing the impacts of climate change. He stressed that dealing with water challenges requires regional and international cooperation, as well as feasible technical and financial solutions.
This came during the high-level dialogue “A Secure Water Future for All,” hosted by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences on Wednesday morning. The event brought together representatives of governments, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, financial and research institutions, and experts and specialists in the water sector, as part of preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference to be held in the United Arab Emirates in December next year, in partnership with Senegal.
Al-Makhzoum said that Kuwait recognizes the specific nature of water security challenges given its geographical and climatic conditions and the limited availability of its natural resources. Therefore, it has accorded the water sector strategic importance by developing production, transmission, storage, and distribution systems, leveraging modern technology, and enhancing operational efficiency to ensure supply sustainability and meet current and future needs.
He clarified that the proportion of people benefiting from safely managed drinking water services in Kuwait exceeds 99 percent, according to data from the Joint Monitoring Programme of the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
She noted that none of the water-related Sustainable Development Goals under Goal 6 are on track, explaining that achieving universal access to safely managed drinking water by 2030 requires accelerating progress sixfold for water, fivefold for sanitation, and threefold for basic hygiene.
Al-Taher added that approximately 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water, while around 4 billion people face severe water scarcity for at least one month annually. She commended Kuwait’s role, as one of the most water-scarce countries in the world with practically no renewable freshwater sources, in relying on desalination, alongside its contribution over more than six decades to financing water infrastructure projects in developing countries.
For his part, the UAE Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Matar Al-Nuaimi, affirmed that the dialogue represents an opportunity to exchange expertise and formulate practical recommendations ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference in the UAE.
He pointed out that approximately 3.4 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services, while around 4 billion people face high levels of water stress. He emphasized that achieving Goal 6 requires accelerating the pace of progress by a factor of 6 to 8.
Al-Nuaimi outlined UAE initiatives in this field, including the Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform, which aims to mobilize $2 billion in financing, and the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. He stressed that the ambition is to translate international commitments into sustainable investments, projects, and partnerships that expand access to water and support economic growth and community prosperity.
The dialogue aims to link global water priorities with tangible action by strengthening partnerships, identifying investment and innovation opportunities, and encouraging practical commitments that could contribute to the work of the upcoming UN Water Conference, scheduled for December 8–10 next year.
