MUNICH, Germany, September 15, 2026: The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and German Water Partnership have agreed to cooperate on developing and applying technologies aimed at tackling water scarcity.
The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding during the German-Emirati Business Forum in Munich, held as part of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s state visit to Germany.
The agreement brings together the UAE initiative’s focus on accelerating solutions to water scarcity with German Water Partnership’s network of companies, research institutions and specialists across the water sector.
The cooperation will focus on areas including sustainable desalination, water reuse and wastewater treatment, as well as technologies for more efficient water management in agriculture and industry.
The organisations will also explore digital systems for monitoring water resources, improving management and increasing the efficiency of water infrastructure.
The partnership is expected to include knowledge exchange, technical discussions, testing and demonstration of technologies, with the potential for wider deployment of suitable solutions.
“Addressing water scarcity requires more than identifying promising technologies; it requires connecting innovation with the expertise, partnerships and opportunities needed to translate solutions into real-world impact,” said Ayesha Al Ateeqi, chief executive officer of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative.
“Through our partnership with German Water Partnership, we will bring together complementary expertise and networks to explore, test and advance sustainable water solutions that can benefit communities around the world,” she said.
Boris Greifeneder, managing director of German Water Partnership, said water security was one of the world’s major challenges, while significant technology and expertise were already available to address it.
“Through our cooperation with the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, we aim to explore how we can work together to pool our strengths in an even more targeted manner and create new opportunities so that solutions from Germany can make an impact where they are needed,” he said.
The agreement is intended to create opportunities for German water companies and research institutions to connect with projects and markets where their technologies could be applied.
The two organisations will work with stakeholders from different regions and sectors to identify potential projects and applications, with the broader aim of supporting international efforts to improve water security and sustainability.
Water scarcity is affecting communities, agriculture and industry in many parts of the world, increasing demand for technologies that can expand water supplies while reducing consumption and improving the treatment and reuse of available resources.
The memorandum provides a framework for the UAE and German water sectors to collaborate on those challenges through technology development, knowledge sharing and potential deployment of solutions.
