As we mark World Water Day, the staggering scale and complexity of our planet's water crisis comes into sharp focus. Today, more than two billion do not have safe drinking water services, and nearly 703 million have no access to clean water. If current trends continue, by 2030 water scarcity could displace more than 700 million people worldwide.
Climate change is exacerbating these challenges, accelerating the melting of glaciers at an alarming rate. In the past 25 years, glaciers have lost more than 6.5 trillion metric tonnes of ice – about 5 per cent of their total volume. The speed at which they are melting has increased by more than a third in the past decade, with 2023 seeing a record loss of 548 billion metric tonnes. The implications of this rapid glacial retreat are profound. It threatens water supplies for millions, particularly in regions dependent on glacier-fed rivers.
Adding insult to injury, melting glaciers release long-trapped pollutants, including heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic. The contamination poses a serious threat to drinking water quality in affected regions.
It is hard to overstate the consequences of growing water scarcity. It threatens food security, economic stability and public health on a global scale. Here in the Middle East, the World Bank estimates that by 2050 climate-related water scarcity could reduce GDP in Arab states by as much as 14 per cent.
Addressing the challenge requires the utilisation of all available technologies. The good news is that as we develop and refine our approaches, we can start to apply them in the decades ahead to solve more than one problem at once. That is what we have been finding in our work in recent years at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Water Research Centre.
One of our key areas of focus is the development of advanced membrane technologies for reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. Reverse osmosis is a method of desalination – a way of getting clean, drinkable water from seawater by forcing it through a membrane, allowing water molecules to pass while blocking salts and impurities. This method uses a fifth of the energy compared to the traditional thermal desalination method commonly used in this region, which involves boiling seawater to produce steam.
Our research has focused on improving the membrane design to reduce the amount of energy required and the amount of carbon emissions that come out of the process. We are also working on heavy metal removal from wastewater and brine, a critical issue as desalination becomes increasingly important in water-scarce regions. We’ve also manufactured the first UAE-made membrane, tailored to the specific water properties of the Arabian Gulf. This achievement marks a crucial step towards localising water treatment technologies and reducing dependence on imported solutions that may not be optimised for regional conditions. These innovations have the potential to not only better treat seawater that is contaminated with recalcitrant pollutants – that is, pollutants that do not biodegrade easily (or at all) – but to do so at an industrial scale from our university lab, which is totally unique in our field.
By 2050 climate-related water scarcity could reduce GDP in Arab states by 14 per cent
New membrane materials and designs can be harnessed for many other uses, and consequently the advancements being made right now in the Gulf can help solve water scarcity-related problems even in the Arctic region. We’re currently adapting the technologies discussed above to effectively treat contaminants released by melting glaciers; this could be hugely important to ensuring access to clean drinking water around the world. And bearing in mind that 70 per cent of our species’ global water usage goes to agriculture and a further 20 per cent to industry, we are also using membrane technology to reclaim wastewater for use in these industries, offering a sustainable solution to water scarcity in arid regions like the UAE.
Today, more than half of all desalinated water in the world is produced in the Middle East and North Africa region, and an additional 25 billion cubic metres of water per year will be needed to meet the region’s needs by 2050. Scientific advancements alone are not enough to meet this demand. The true impact depends on being reinforced by awareness, regulations and policies.
But through programmes like the Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative, which is driving innovation in sustainable water solutions, as well as the UAE’s Water Security Strategy 2036, our region is uniquely positioned to lead the way in addressing our own needs and the wider global crisis. By using this expertise in desalination and investing in cutting-edge research and development, the UAE and the Gulf as a whole can pioneer new approaches to water management that could benefit water-stressed regions worldwide.
As well as further advances in desalination and membrane technology, initiatives like atmospheric water generation and cloud seeding could all provide exciting future solutions. By sharing this knowledge and resources, Gulf countries can play a crucial role in ensuring water security for future generations, both in the Middle East and around the world.
This is a fight we must win. Consider that all the water on Earth today is the same water that has been cycling through our planet’s systems for millions of years. The challenge is immense, but with continued research, innovation and collaboration, we can develop sustainable solutions to make every drop of that precious resource count.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The%20specs
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C600rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C500-4%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.9L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh119%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
