As the final date for registration in the 3rd cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award draws closer by the end of this April, the UAE Water Aid Foundation Suqia announced that several countries are taking part in the Award, which is a total of USD 1 million in prizes, for the first time. These include Algeria and Kenya; who will join the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, UK, India, Germany, Greece, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Suqia UAE, was contented to witness the growing global participation in the Award, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The global water award focuses on providing drinking water to the underprivileged and disaster-stricken communities worldwide, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, culture or nationality. Al Tayer pointed out that extending the Awards scope to comprise new technologies that produce, distribute, store, monitor, desalinate, and purify water using renewable energy as well as adding the Innovative Crisis Solutions category, have motivated more organisations and individuals to participate and contribute to discover sustainable and innovative solutions to address water scarcity.

The total value of the Innovative Projects Award is USD 540,000 (USD 240,000 for small projects awards and USD 300,000 for large project award), while the total value of the Innovative R&D Award is USD 400,000 (National Institutions Award: USD 200,000 International Institutions Award: USD 200,000). In addition, the Innovative Individual Award gives away USD 40,000 (Youth Award winner: USD 20,000 Distinguished Researcher Award: USD 20,000); while the Innovative Crisis Solutions Award winner will be awarded USD 20,000.

All companies, research centres, R&D institutes, innovators and youth from all over the globe, who have developed innovative technologies capable of addressing the challenge of water scarcity, are invited to register in the 3rd cycle of the Award before April 30, 2021. Applicants must register via the website: www.suqia.ae