ABU DHABI, 5th June, 2026 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) hosted the third edition of the Water and Energy Majlis under the theme “From National Readiness to Smart Resilience”.
The Majlis is a flagship Department of Energy initiative that supports sustainable and impactful growth across the water and energy sectors. This year’s edition was held under the umbrella of Abu Dhabi Water & Power Week, scheduled for the final quarter of the year.
The event also marked the official launch of the Abu Dhabi Water and Energy Resilience Framework, developed by the Department of Energy.
The newly introduced framework was the focus of a high-level discussion between Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organisation and Director-General of the National Centre of Meteorology. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy.
The session convened national leaders, policymakers, and key industry stakeholders to share insights and experiences that can help strengthen the new framework and support its strategic objectives.
The framework is structured around three core pillars: infrastructure, human capital and governance; and technology and innovation. It sets out 15 strategic measures to strengthen the resilience, reliability, and efficiency of the national water and energy system.
The measures encompass supply security, emergency preparedness, capacity planning, diversification of energy and water resources, integrated sector management, and support for the system through centralised assets that can be deployed, transferred, and distributed in line with demand.
The Majlis, which forms part of the “Our Foundation is Strong” campaign launched by the Department this year, was attended by ministers and senior officials from more than 30 countries, alongside representatives of public and private entities.
Discussions focused on regional developments, as well as national efforts to strengthen the resilience of water and energy systems. Participants also explored opportunities to enhance strategic coordination at the local and regional levels, advance emergency preparedness, leverage digital and emerging technologies in crisis response, and build on the UAE’s experience to develop a shared framework and roadmap for strengthening water and energy resilience across the region.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Al Jarwan underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation among national and regional entities and highlighted the need to establish a shared regulatory foundation built on smart resilience and system integration.
He also pointed to the opportunities presented by connecting national systems within a unified regional framework capable of enhancing the security of shared resources, safeguarding transmission and distribution networks, and ensuring the efficient, resilient, and responsible delivery of services.
He stated, “The water and energy sectors are vital pillars of the national security system, and safeguarding them is the responsibility of every official and decision-maker. What we have witnessed recently has been a practical demonstration of the efficiency and resilience of our infrastructure and a test of our ability to protect our national resources.
“The efforts we are advancing today reflect Abu Dhabi’s ambitions and the vision of its wise leadership to ensure the prosperity of our communities, protect the future of our children, enable economic growth, and safeguard the stability of our nations.”
Participants also highlighted the importance of coordinated and strategic collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the highest levels of security and sustainability for national water and energy resources.
Dr. Al Dahak stated, “In the UAE, we view water, energy, and food security as an interconnected resilience system. Our national strategies integrate these sectors into a single developmental pathway, aligned with our ambitious target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Within this framework, we are enhancing local food production by deploying climate-smart agricultural technologies that maximise water and energy efficiency while minimising our carbon footprint. We are equally committed to transforming the entire food value chain to be more efficient and sustainable.
She added, “To secure our water future, we are pursuing the ambitious goals of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. This includes optimising water and energy demand through sustainable desalination, particularly through the widespread adoption of advanced reverse osmosis systems. On the global stage, the UAE is fostering international cooperation to address water scarcity, as demonstrated by the launch of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZI).
“This December, we will convene global players at the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, which we are hosting in partnership with Senegal. We aim to transform global water challenges into collaborative opportunities, treating water as a shared global resource.”
She stated, “Our resilience model extends beyond infrastructure; its strategic core is rooted in the community. Empowering individuals as active partners is essential to fostering a conscious, responsible approach to environmental challenges. In parallel, we are accelerating our transition towards a circular economy driven by innovation. By powering water production with clean energy, optimising its use in agriculture, and scaling up water recycling, we are building a sustainable development model that protects our environment, strengthens national resilience, and ensures prosperity for generations to come.”
Dr. Al Mandous emphasised that water and energy security for any nation depend entirely on its ability to monitor the atmosphere with precision and clarity. He noted that the UAE has developed an advanced meteorological observation and early warning system under the wise guidance of the UAE leadership, headed by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Through global data sharing and the regional integration of radar networks, the UAE has made a significant contribution to protecting critical infrastructure from extreme weather events.
He further highlighted the UAE’s support for cooperation between the World Meteorological Organisation and the International Renewable Energy Agency, as well as its contribution to the global coordination of water-related data. These efforts help integrate climate risks into water and energy policies and strengthen crisis response capabilities.
In technology and innovation, the National Centre of Meteorology has integrated AI technologies into weather forecasting, while the UAE has developed cloud seeding technologies to enhance its water resources.
Looking ahead, opportunities lie in expanding observation, seismic monitoring, and early warning networks; strengthening regional data sharing and training; and promoting the exchange of technology and expertise through the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science.
Through its various sessions and meetings, the Majlis explored the shared responsibilities of sector leaders, regional crisis preparedness, regulatory standards and policies, and the role of technology and AI during emergencies. Discussions underscored the importance of strengthening communication and dialogue, while establishing specialised task forces to lead coordinated local and regional efforts aimed at enhancing operational resilience, supply security, efficiency, and service reliability.
Source: Emirates News Agency