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WETEX 2026 explores innovative solutions to enhance water security and resource sustainability · DEWA Podcasts

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  Water security is no longer only about producing
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  more water, but about diversifying sources, reusing
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  water, cutting losses and running networks under
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  climate pressure. And the numbers behind that
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  shift are sobering. The World Bank warns that
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  under current policies and projected climate
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  scenarios, urban water availability could decline
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  by up to two -thirds by 2050, compared with 2015
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  levels. That is the backdrop for the 28th Water,
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  Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition,
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  organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
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  at the Dubai World Trade Centre, from 20th to
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  22nd October 2026. It showcases water production,
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  desalination, wastewater treatment and reuse,
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  smart networks, leak detection and advanced resource
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  management. His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al
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  -Tair, Managing Director and Chief Executive
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  Officer of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority,
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  founder and chairman of the Water, Energy, Technology
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  and Environment Exhibition, explained the approach.
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  He said, Enhancing water security requires an
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  integrated approach that diversifies water sources,
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  improves water use efficiency, invests in technologies
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  that reduce the energy required for desalination,
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  minimises losses, expands water reuse and strengthens
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  network resilience. The Water, Energy, Technology
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  and Environment exhibition provides a global
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  platform for technology providers, utilities,
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  investors and decision makers to showcase solutions
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  and connect innovation with investment and implementation.
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  This supports the development of a more efficient,
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  sustainable and resilient water ecosystem that
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  keeps pace with growth and preserves resources
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  for current and future generations. Desalination
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  is the first pillar and the direction is lower
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  energy consumption. Advances in reverse osmosis,
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  high efficiency membranes and pumps and clean
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  energy are transforming the sector. Seawater
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  reverse osmosis generally consumes less energy
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  than multistage flash distillation. The Hacien
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  seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant is
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  among the world's largest, with a planned production
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  capacity of 180 million imperial gallons per
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  day. By 2030, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
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  aims to produce 100 % of its desalinated water
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  from clean energy and waste heat. Water reuse
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  is the second pillar. The World Bank estimates
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  that municipal and industrial water reuse could
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  increase eightfold worldwide by 2040, reaching
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  430 million cubic metres per day, a source far
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  more resilient to climate variability. The third
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  pillar is the network, because water lost never
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  reaches the customer. Dubai Electricity and Water
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  Authority has cut transmission and distribution
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  losses from 42 .5 % in 1989 to 4 .4 % in 2025.
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  Its Hydro Insight system uses artificial intelligence
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  to turn data into actionable insights. So the
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  conclusion is integrated by design. Lower emission
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  desalination, treatment and reuse. and digital
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  networks that cut losses. Water security now
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  means managing every drop across the water cycle,
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  and that is what this exhibition is built to
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  advance.