Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and the World Economic Forum have signed a two-year partnership to accelerate water innovation and support the wider adoption of practical solutions to global water challenges.

The collaboration will focus on strengthening the pathways that connect emerging water technologies and solutions with the policies, financing, markets and partnerships needed to scale them. Both organisations will work to bring together leaders from government, industry, finance and civil society to support innovation and investment across the global water ecosystem.

His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Vice-Chairman of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, said: “Water is a key pillar of development, prosperity, and resilience. The UAE has established a long-term approach to addressing water scarcity challenges based on strategic planning, innovation, and partnership building.”

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Under the partnership, the organisations will develop resources to exchange knowledge and expertise, encourage investment and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders working on water-related challenges. Major international water conferences and forums will also be used to promote cooperation and advance discussions around innovation, investment and implementation.

Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Chief Executive Officer of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, added: “Water scarcity is a shared global challenge that requires innovators, policymakers, industry, and investors to move together. Through our partnership with the World Economic Forum, The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative aims to strengthen the pathways that connect promising solutions with the capital, policy environments, markets, and partners needed to achieve impact at scale. By combining our respective strengths and networks, we can help accelerate practical action and support a more coordinated international response to water scarcity.”

Larry Fink, Co-Chair, World Economic Forum, contributed: “Water scarcity is a global challenge that will require greater investment, innovation, and partnership. The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative is doing important work to advance practical solutions, and this partnership can draw on the World Economic Forum’s convening power to bring together leaders across business, government, and finance around this critical issue.”

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The partnership recognises that addressing water scarcity requires more than technological development. Supportive policy environments, access to capital, market development and cross-sector cooperation are also important for solutions to move from development to real-world deployment.

The agreement will remain in place through September 2028, with both organisations aiming to strengthen international collaboration and help create conditions for practical water solutions to achieve wider adoption and impact.