Kuwait, Arab League push for AI, digital tech to tackle water scarcity

On Monday, Kuwait reiterated the importance of bolstering Arab and international cooperation and sharing expertise in water resource management to strengthen water security and support sustainable development, according to statements made during regional meetings in Cairo.

Kuwait advocates for regional water partnership

Engineer Sarah Al-Mutairi, Director of Chemical Works at the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, told KUNA on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Arab Ministerial Water Council that Kuwait attaches strategic importance to the water sector as part of its development plans. She said Kuwait continues to develop its infrastructure, improve service efficiency and promote sustainability to support comprehensive development.

Al-Mutairi noted that Kuwait’s participation in the Arab Ministerial Water Council meetings, the 24th meeting of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee held from 24 to 26 October, and the Seventh Arab Water Conference from 26 to 27 October reflects the country’s commitment to keeping up with the latest developments and technologies in the water sector and to expanding regional and international cooperation.

The events, held under the slogan “Water in the Arab Region: Partnerships for Peace and Sustainable Development,” are hosted under the auspices of Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation on the sidelines of the ninth Cairo Water Week 2026. Al-Mutairi described the gatherings as an important opportunity to exchange expertise, discuss challenges related to water scarcity and climate change, and explore solutions to strengthen communities’ capacity to address them.

She called the Seventh Arab Water Conference a strategic platform for harmonising Arab perspectives, aligning technological innovations and building consensus among Arab countries. These efforts, she said, would help develop practical strategies to strengthen Arab water security and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation. Al-Mutairi added that the Kuwaiti delegation reviewed innovative technologies, solutions and pioneering projects in water desalination and reuse, digital transformation, network management and operational efficiency. The delegation also explored the latest global innovations and opportunities to strengthen cooperation among institutions and entities operating in the water sector.

Al-Mutairi affirmed that Kuwait would continue developing its water sector, improving management efficiency and benefiting from regional and international expertise to ensure sustainable water resources and meet development needs. The Kuwaiti delegation also included Engineer Khuloud Al-Hazzaa, a laboratory supervisor at the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy.

Arab League pushes digital transformation

Meanwhile, the Arab League called for expanding the use of non-conventional water resources, harnessing digital technologies and artificial intelligence in water management, and strengthening the water-energy-food nexus to address challenges to Arab water security. In a statement following the opening of the Seventh Arab Water Conference, Arab League Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs Ambassador Dr Ali Al-Maliki said developing the water sector requires reducing disaster risks, improving preparedness for water-related emergencies and exploring financing mechanisms for water projects.

He stressed the need to mobilise funding and strengthen partnerships with regional and international organisations and institutions. Al-Maliki said capacity-building and the exchange of expertise and successful experiences among Arab countries are essential to improving water resource management and achieving sustainability.

According to the statement, the conference is discussing several key issues, including monitoring implementation of the Executive Plan of the Arab Water Security Strategy 2030, following up on water-related Sustainable Development Goals, enhancing cooperation in managing shared water resources and safeguarding Arab water rights.

Conferences address strategic goals

Participants are also examining priority challenges facing the water sector and ways to promote dialogue and exchange expertise. The discussions aim to improve policies and practices for sustainable water resource management and strengthen regional coordination and integration. The conference is also addressing coordination of Arab positions on water-related issues at regional and international levels, alongside preparations for Arab participation in the 2026 United Nations Water Conference and the 11th World Water Forum, scheduled to be held in Riyadh next year.

Cairo is also hosting the 17th session of the Arab Ministerial Water Council and the 19th meeting of the council’s executive bureau alongside the Seventh Arab Water Conference. The meetings form part of broader Arab efforts to unify positions and strengthen cooperation in addressing water scarcity and climate change while promoting sustainable water resource management. The initiatives aim to enhance Arab water security and advance sustainable development across the region. – KUNA