Blue Resource Summit UAE 2025

day one main conference

registration and refreshments

welcome address by fortinus events

opening remarks from the chairperson

Salma Bin Breik, Managing Director, Isle Utilities

Keynote Address: Water is the New Oil in the Gulf: Dubai’s Roadmap to Tackle Water Scarcity 

• Aligning national water strategies with sustainable development goals to ensure long-term water security and resilience 
• Discuss how government bodies are accelerating innovations to support critical areas like irrigation, water re-use, and desalination in efforts to make every drop of water count 
• Highlight some of the prominent water projects that are ongoing in the region 

opening welcome speech

Dr. Eng. Aishah Hassan Al Shehhi, Advisor to His Excellency, The Assistant Undersecretary for Federal Infrastructure Projects, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure UAE (MoEI)

Keynote Presentation 

Ambassador Dunston Pereira, Chief Executive Officer to the Royal office of HH sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi 

Initiatives Being Implemented to Address Water-Related Issues by The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy 

Faisal Ali Rashid, Senior Director, The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy

Networking Tea Break

PANEL DISCUSSION: FLOOD DEFENSE PLAN: ENGINEERING A RESILIENT FUTURE

• Discuss the construction goals designed to increase water storage capacity to eight million cubic meters by capturing rain and floodwater.
• Initiatives that highlight the UAE’s commitment to sustainable water management and climate resilience.
• Key aspects to investigate in building of dams and canals to mitigate impact of heavy rainfall

MODERATOR:
Salma Bin Breik, Managing Director, Isle Utilities

panelist 1:
Rashid Mohammad, Hydrological Engineer, Project Planning & Design Department, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Abu Dhabi

panelist 2:
Eng. Asdam Alghezawi, Expert Project Planning & Design Department, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Abu Dhabi

reserved slot for aquafence

BRIDGING GAPS AND BUILDING RESILIENCE: DOE’S VISION FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

• Addressing Water Sector Challenges: Examining current infrastructure gaps, inefficiencies, and the broader challenges of sustainable water management across the UAE.
• DoE’s Strategic Water Vision: Outlining goals for sustainable water use, increased reuse, and reduced reliance on groundwater.
• Rainwater Harvesting Initiative: Providing an overview of Abu Dhabi’s rainwater harvesting initiative and cross-sector efforts to integrate harvesting, urban flood resilience, and reuse.
• Bridging Gaps Across the Water Value Chain: Enhancing policy, operational practices, and stakeholder alignment from abstraction to reuse.
• Positioning DoE as a Regional Leader: Showcasing Abu Dhabi’s leadership in water efficiency and innovation, while supporting R&D, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration.

Maitha Ahmed Al Hallami, Water Distribution & Supply Senior Engineer – Water Regulation Section, Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi

Innovating Drainage and Flooding Solutions for Sustainable Urban Development in the UAE

• Exploring cutting-edge technologies and strategies to mitigate the impact of flooding and enhance drainage systems in urban areas of the UAE.
• Showcasing successful case studies and innovative approaches in sustainable urban planning to address drainage challenges and prevent flooding incidents.

Emil Korsbrekke, CEO, Hydrofence

Rethinking Water Supply in Abu Dhabi to Address Groundwater Depletion

Dr.Edda Kalbus, Integrated Water Resource Senior Specialist, EWEC

networking lunch break

Workshop: Achieving Unmatched Flood Risk Mitigation: Tailored, High-Performance Solutions for Global Safety Standards

• Introduction to Flood Risk Management 
• Proven Success in Over 400 Global Projects 
• Site-Specific, Custom Flood Solutions 
• Designing High-Quality, Top-Performing Solutions 
• Ensuring Safety with Global Certification Standards 
• Risk Mitigation Beyond 60% Solutions 
• Collaborative Approach: From Concept to Implementation 
• Q&A Session and Future Trends in Flood Risk Mitigation 

Fred Dahl, Executive Vice President, Aquafence Mobile Flood Protection Solution

End of Lunch & Closing Remarks 

Salma Bin Breik, Managing Director, Isle Utilities

end of day one

day two main conference

WELCOME BACK REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

Salma Bin Breik, Managing Director, Isle Utilities

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Ambassador Dunston Pereira, Chief Executive Officer to the Royal office of HH sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi

Revolutionizing Water Management with IoT and AI

• Smart Monitoring: Using IoT sensors and AI analytics to track water usage, detect leaks, and optimize distribution systems in real time.  
• Predictive Insights: Leveraging AI-driven forecasts to anticipate water demand, improve resource allocation, and mitigate risks related to scarcity or excess.  
• Enhanced Conservation: Integrating digital tools to promote sustainable practices, reduce wastage, and ensure efficient water resource management. 

Dr. Mohamed Dawoud, Senior Water Resources Advisor, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

Decarbonizing the Water Sector: A Comprehensive Approach Navigating the Transition to Net Zero While Ensuring Water Security in the UAE

Asim Khan, Water Production Planning Specialist, EWEC

Water Assurance & Certification 

Alicia Dauth, Water Assurance Technical Lead, Water Security Collective 

networking tea break

Innovations in Water Treatment for Industrial Use 

• Using methods like membrane filtration and UV treatment to improve water quality and reduce consumption.  
• Extracting valuable resources from wastewater to minimize waste and support circular economies. 
• Optimizing water use and recycling in industrial processes to lower overall demand. 

Ropru Rangsivek, Design Manager – Program Governance Planning and Infrastructure,  Department of Municipalities & Transport 

Dialogue Session: ESG in the Water Services Industry: Opportunities and Challenges. 

• Understand the challenges of measuring ESG metrics and performance 
• Explore what ESG are, and its specific relevance to wastewater treatment 
• Discuss both opportunities and challenges in terms of ESG in water service industry 

Tamara Bajic, Associate Director, Strategy and Advisory, AESG

Brine Valorization: Is it the Next Step Toward Sustainable Desalination?

• Explore emerging strategies to transform brine from a waste stream in desalination into a resource
• Highlighting the technical, environmental, and economic potential of valorization approaches to support a more circular and sustainable water future in the MENA region

Ahmed Khaled, Senior Engineer – Planning & Scheduling (O&M), Etihad Water & Electricity

Innovations in Water Management for Sustainable Urban Development

• Effective efficient collection and reuse of rainfall.
• Flood control through green spaces and infrastructure.
• Using water to cool an urban environment.
• AI-powered water system monitoring.
• Design infrastructure for wastewater management.

Dr. Hazem Gouda, Associate Professor of Engineering, University of Wollongong in Dubai

Panel Discussion:  Master Planning Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure in the GCC

• Exclusive insight into stormwater current and future infrastructure development plans 
• Realising the current infrastructure gap and meeting growing demands 
• Addressing response strategies undertaken by governments to ensure public safety 

MODERATOR:
Alicia Dauth, Water Assurance Technical Lead, Water Security Collective

panelist 1:
Shamel Tolomedjian, Sales Development Manager, Egypt & Saudi, Grundfos

panelist 2:
Dr. Mohamed Dawoud, Senior Water Resources Advisor, Egypt & Saudi, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)

real-Time Solutions for Water Supply and Wastewater Reuse

• Implementing real-time systems to address water supply disruptions effectively.
• Transforming treated wastewater into a resource for agriculture and industry.  
• Leveraging smart technologies for reliable supply

Dr. Aamr Al Alalewi, Principal Hazardous Waste Treatment Engineer, Dubai Municipality

Circular Water Economy and Wastewater Management

• Unlocking the Circular Water Economy: Transforming Wastewater into a Valuable Resource.
• Stormwater Reuse: Opportunities for Industrial and Agricultural Applications.
• Policy Innovations to Promote Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture and Industry

Islam Mohamad, Infrastructure Section Manager, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality

Closing Remarks by Chairperson 

Salma Bin Breik, Managing Director, Isle Utilities

Networking Lunch break

end of summit