Symposium "Water Futures: Innovative Approaches to Water Management in the Arab Region"

The average per capita water availability in the Arab region is less than 500 cubic meters per year, well below the global water scarcity threshold of 1,000 cubic meters. Non-revenue water (water lost before it reaches the customer) in many Arab cities exceeds 30-50%, compared to best-practice levels of under 10%. Also, the agricultural sector consumes over 80% of the region's water resources, often with inefficient irrigation techniques. Finally, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is warming at twice the global average, leading to more frequent and severe droughts, further reducing water availability.

Despite a wealth of knowledge on the region's water challenges, a significant gap remains in the coordinated implementation of integrated solutions. There is a pressing need to:

• i. Bridge the gap between policymakers, researchers, the private sector, and civil society.
• ii. Showcase and scale up successful technological and governance innovations from within and outside the region.
• iii. Foster a new paradigm of water management that views water not just as a resource to be extracted, but as a precious, circular asset to be managed sustainably across all sectors.
• iv. Address transboundary water management as a cornerstone for regional cooperation and stability.
   

The main objective of the Symposium is to foster a collaborative and action-oriented dialogue among key stakeholders to develop a shared vision and practical pathways for achieving sustainable and resilient water security in the Arab region. The specific objectives are:

• a) To assess and showcase innovative technologies, financing models, and policy frameworks for enhancing water efficiency, reuse, and desalination with renewable energy.
• b) To strengthen regional cooperation by identifying best practices and mechanisms for collaborative management of shared water resources and data exchange.
• c) To develop a set of actionable recommendations targeted at national governments, regional bodies, and development partners.
   

The symposium will be structured around key thematic pillars.

1.    Sustainable Use of Aquifers
2.    Handling Water Contaminants
3.    Digital Water: Leveraging Data, AI, and IoT for a Smarter Water Future
4.    Mobilising Public and Private Investment for Water Infrastructure
5.    The Circular Water Economy
6.    Governance and Finance for Resilience: Building Sustainable and Investable Water Systems
7.    Decentralised Water Autonomy: Scaling Up Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWR)
8.    Technological and Nature-Based Solutions
9.    The Future of Desalination: Scaling up Solar-Powered and Brine-Minimising Technologies
10.    Maximising Every Drop: Smart Water Networks, AI for Leak Detection, and Modern Irrigation
11.    Wastewater as a Resource: Expanding the Safe Reuse of Treated Water for Agriculture and Industry
12.    Building Societal Resilience
13.    Innovative Financing Instruments (Green Bonds, Blended Finance)
14.    Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Integrated Planning for Sustainable Development
15.    Engaging Communities, Youth, and Media in Water Conservation Strategies

The Symposium will bring together a diverse group of participants, including:

• Ministries of Water and Environment from Arab countries 
• Senior representatives from regional organisations (League of Arab States, GCC, ACSAD).
• International development partners (World Bank, UNDP, GIZ, etc.)
• Leading academic and research institutions
• Technology providers and innovators from the private sector.
• Representatives from civil society, water user associations, and youth groups.

There are two possibilities for attending the symposium:

1. By only attending the symposium (without a presentation): please register via the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/JrLUS0gbTh 

2. By delivering an oral presentation: Researchers may submit any complete, original, and unpublished research papers, either conceptual or empirical. To participate, participants need to submit an abstract of 200 to 300 words, along with the authors' names and full contact details via the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/rHRPtXSgHg

• Abstract submission 15 July 2026
• Registration deadline: 30 July 2026 
• Full paper submission for the Book (after the symposium): 30th November 2026
   

In order to offset some of the costs of organising the event, a registration fee of Euro 295 (plus taxes) will be charged per delegate. The fee also includes the coffee breaks and lunches during the days of the Symposium.

Papers admitted to the event and presented at it may be submitted to the book "Water Futures: Towards Integrated and Sustainable Water Security in the Arab Region". This will be published by Springer Nature as part of the World Sustainability Series, the leading peer-reviewed book series on sustainability in a higher education context: https://www.springer.com/series/13384. 

Each author will be given a complimentary PDF of their chapters and the book. The submission is not mandatory; it is only suggested. 

The Symposium is organised by the University of Petra, in cooperation with the Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management" at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, together with the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the International Climate Change Information and Research Programme.

The University of Petra, Jordan, is an ideal venue for a water symposium, given its established track record of hosting international events. Additionally, the city is actively engaged in smart urban water management initiatives, demonstrating a commitment to water issues that would resonate with symposium attendees.
 

Enquiries regarding submissions of abstracts and registration should be sent to the Organising Team at FTZ-NK-Events (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de