Abu Dhabi eyes long-term water supply plan

Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital and largest sheikdom, aims to develop a plan to secure long-term water supply, the head of the government-run renewable energy company said.

The emirate is pursuing several programmes to study water conservation and cut domestic use, which may lead to a “comprehensive and holistic approach” to water security in the next year or two, Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive officer of Masdar, as the renewable energy company is known, said today.

Abu Dhabi, which holds most of the UAE’s oil reserves, is largely desert. The emirate has already developed a food storage site in a neighboring emirate to guard against shortages.

Al Jaber was speaking at the annual World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi where he announced the formation of a new water summit to start next year.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan mandated the water initiative at a press conference in the capital on Wednesday.