The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI) is committed to raising the importance of water scarcity on the global agenda, accelerating the development of transformative and sustainable solutions to water scarcity, and facilitating greater international cooperation to address this urgent challenge.

Together with its partners,

it aims to harness the power of:

01

Targeted investment

02

Accelerated innovation

03

Expanded international cooperation

Vision & Mission

We are driven by an optimistic vision of a world in which water is abundant, sustainable and accessible to all.

This need drives our mission to harness the power of increased awareness, targeted investment, accelerated innovation and expanded international cooperation to address the urgent threat of global water scarcity.

We are confident that this is achievable, but getting there will require:

Greater awareness

Increased investment

Accelerated innovation

International cooperation

Why Water Scarcity?

Global water scarcity is a rapidly growing problem that requires a comprehensive and coordinated response from the international community.

According to the UN, current and future drivers of water scarcity could result in a scenario in which by 2025, two-thirds of the global population are living under water stressed conditions.

The causes of water scarcity are varied and include population growth and demographic change, infrastructure and water governance challenges, as well as environmental pollution and climate change, which is making the world’s driest areas even drier.

Up to

4 billion people

worldwide

currently experience water scarcity at least one month per year.

Water Scarcity and the UAE

On 23 September 2023, the UAE Government published a detailed discussion paper on the topic of global water scarcity entitled ‘Ripple Effect: Water Scarcity - the hidden threat to global security and prosperity’.

Published by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the discussion paper is intended to serve as a global call to action and an open invitation to members of the international community to work together in new ways to address this emerging challenge to global security and prosperity.

Click here to download the report

This is a global issue

Middle East and North Africa is the most water-stressed region on earth, but all countries – even those that are not currently facing water stress – will be impacted by the direct and indirect effects of increasing global water scarcity.

Without effective action, the consequences of water scarcity will be immense and far-reaching, including:

Loss Of Life

Humanitarian Crises

Food Insecurity

Mass Migration

Geopolitical Instability

XPRIZE Water Scarcity

XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a $119 million, 5-year global competition made possible by a $150 million investment from The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, that seeks to accelerate the development of transformative desalination solutions that can increase sustainable access to clean water globally.

By making desalination more reliable, affordable, and sustainable, the prize aims to responsibly expand access to the water contained in Earth’s seas and oceans, positively impacting billions of people globally, and creating a world where clean water is more equitably available and sustainably abundant.

Learn more