Abu Dhabi events present solutions for challenges facing drainage and stormwater networks in the region

03 May 2018, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:   The Future Drainage & Stormwater Networks Abu Dhabi and the Wet Infrastructure Summit events kicked off yesterday at Sofitel hotel, Abu Dhabi Corniche.

Industry experts and professionals representing government bodies, as well as global and regional private companies gathered to discuss solutions for the natural and infrastructural challenges facing the region.

Organized by Advanced Conferences & Meetings (ACM), the Future Drainage & Stormwater Networks Abu Dhabi is held under the patronage of Abu Dhabi City Municipality and Wet Infrastructure Summit is supported by the UAE Ministry of Infrastructure and the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.

These conferences are shedding the light on projects presenting best practice from across the region.

The events bring together the industry professionals and experts, attracting over USD106 billion worth of projects that are being developed, launched or tendered to suppliers in the region, with spokespeople analysing projects and challenges in depth through a series of discussion panels and keynotes.

 “The events today provide the perfect platform for industry professionals to exchange knowledge and experiences around topics of interest that are shared within the water management industry”, said Mohamed Al Shateri, president of the infra-structure studies and standards department at Abu Dhabi Municipality.

“Today we discussed in depth the studies around water collection lakes and the drilling of wells that address the groundwater levels in the UAE.

Those studies currently entered the trial phase after they were conducted recently by Abu Dhabi municipality in collaboration with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, as well as a number of universities and private sector companies,” he added.

Participating at the event are a number of key government entities and authorities including Abu Dhabi City Municipality; Ministry of Infrastructure Development – UAE; Dubai Municipality and Dubai South – Government of Dubai.

There will also be attendance from Ras Al Khaimah Municipality; Ministry of Works – Bahrain; Ministry of Municipalities & Water Resources – Oman; Ministry of Electricity & Water – Kuwait; Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation – Egypt; National Water Company of Saudi Arabia and Saline Water Conversion Corporation - Saudi Arabia. 

One of the projects discussed at Future Drainage & Stormwater Networks Abu Dhabi was the study around Al Nahdah Pond in Abu Dhabi, situated between Al-Shamkha South and at the Northern East side of Al-Wathba and Al-Nahda Farmlands.

The pond was the topic of an extensive study conducted by Abu Dhabi Municipality consultants covering the hydrogeological, hydrologic and environmental sustainability of the pond, as well as the potential for further development as a recreational facility for investment purposes.

The Future Drainage & Stormwater Networks Abu Dhabi and the Wet Infrastructure Summit events also discussed in depth challenges facing the industry including urbanisation, population growth, climate change and the constraints of existing infrastructure.

The solutions presented included the enablers of the recovery of natural processes of the climate water cycle, the delivery of resilience in the built environment and the multifunctional benefits of a sustainably built environment, that are aligned with national visions such as the UAE vision 2021 and Saudi vision 2030.