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The United Arab Emirates University was awarded a
3 star rating
by the Global Star Rating System for Services on 25/03/2021
Promote Conscious Water Usage in the Wider Community
UAEU actively promotes conscious water usage in the wider community through targeted
outreach and public-engagement initiatives. A key example is as part of the year of
sustainability UAEU hosted a community awareness session titled “Empowering Community
Members to Achieve Water Security.” This event connected experts with residents to
highlight practical conservation behaviors and strengthen public understanding of
water-security challenges. Through its National Water and Energy Center (NWEC), UAEU
also drives research and innovation in water-resource sustainability, conservation,
and efficient water and energy use, further reinforcing its role in advancing community
and national water awareness.
Alongside community-focused sessions, UAEU supports national and regional water-security
efforts by organizing major scientific and policy conferences such as “Water Resources
Management & Sustainability: Solutions for Arid Regions.” These gatherings bring together
researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to address water scarcity in arid
environments and to share innovative solutions tailored to the UAE’s conditions. Through
this combination of community outreach, applied research, and high-level knowledge
exchange, UAEU demonstrates a strong, multi-dimensional commitment to promoting sustainable
water practices across society.
Researchers from the United Arab Emirates University, Dr. Dalal Alshamsi and Dr. Khalid
ElHaj, participated in the 15th Gulf Water Conference held in Doha from 28–30 April
2024. Dr. ElHaj presented his research titled “Artificial Intelligence Application
in Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management,” while Dr. Alshamsi took part as a panelist
in the UNESCO special session SS5: “Frontiers in Water Science and Technology Research:
UNESCO and the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development,” organized
by the UNESCO Cairo Office.
Promote conscious water usage and water reuse in the campus
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) does actively promote conscious water usage
and water reuse on campus, and its institutional structure, including facility management
and sustainability governance, strongly supports this role. The National Water and
Energy Center (NWEC), part of UAEU, leads research and innovation focused on water
resource sustainability, water and energy conservation, and the efficient use of natural
resources. On the operational side, UAEU, through its facilities management partner
Khadamat Facilities Management, regularly implements campus wide sustainability initiatives.
For example, in December 2023 UAEU and Khadamat jointly held a workshop on “Best Practices
to Achieve Sustainability at UAEU Campus,” addressing water and energy efficiency
measures across academic buildings, housing, and student facilities. Additionally,
UAEU’s Sustainability Club, alongside the university’s commitment to the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), plays a key role in embedding water conservation
awareness and responsible resource use into campus culture.
UAEU also implements practical water management systems to reduce consumption and
enhance efficiency. Every campus building is individually metered, allowing continuous
monitoring of water usage and the production of detailed monthly reports to track
performance and identify opportunities to save water. The university further promotes
sustainability through an established water reuse policy, in which treated wastewater
is reused for both agricultural purposes and landscaping irrigation, significantly
reducing reliance on potable water. In addition, UAEU operates a dedicated grey water
line for irrigating campus grounds in coordination with municipal wastewater services.
These integrated practices reflect UAEU’s strong operational, research, and governance
commitment to responsible water management across the entire campus. UAEU and Khadamat
have also co-funded SDG Research Program, designed to support research addressing
sustainability challenges in water, energy, food, health, and safety.
Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All
The university provides free drinking water for all students, faculty, and employees.The
university provides free bottled water to all staff in all offices on campus. In addition,
there are 19 drink fountains distributed throughout the campus with instructions on
safe and appropriate water usage. These are all regularly tested for micro biologicals
to reduce risk to human health and each machine is also checked regularly for proper
functioning. Refill bottles are readily available and replaced by our facilities team.
UAEU works closely with the municipality on wastewater treatment. The university base
water and faucets are each connected to the municipality network and all wastewater
treatment is undertaken in the municipality domain. We then use one specific line
of recycled ‘grey’ water for irrigation on campus.
UAEU is extremely careful about water conservation as we have a hot desert climate
with limited rainfall. We use the company Khadamat for services including water supply.
We have metering from the main pumping station and additional meters in each building
on campus. These are used for measuring, auditing, and comparing water consumption
and the figures are compiled into a monthly report for each building and for the whole
university
UAEU hosts the National Water and Energy Centre as an integral part of the university.
Our scientists provide lectures at regional and international conferences to the academic
community, for example the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Society Chapter
in Kuwait. We also provide regular talks to local bodies involved in water management
such as the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, and to local schools.
UAEU provides a series of customized workshops to students in Years 10, 11, and 12
from all the Emirates in the country. The workshops formed part of a summer camp and
originally involved UAEU experts going out and visiting schools to provide the sessions.
The workshops covered an introduction to geology, aquifers, different types of pollution
along with methods to prevent pollution and monitor water quality. UAEU faculty taught
the school pupils and encourages children to teach their parents as an example of
inter-generational cooperation for the good of the whole community. Within the university,
UAEU offers a course on sustainability of which almost half the course is devoted
to water sustainability. We also take our students to visit the Sheikh Zayed Desert
Learning Centre, a 5-Pearl rated sustainable building. As the recent movement restrictions
have stopped the visits, our students have made a video to enable current students
to hold virtual visits.
NWEC's Mobile Water Laboratory is an effective surveillance of domestic water quality,
groundwater quality, groundwater level data, sewage treated water quality, industrial
wastewater quality in desert and urban area of UAE.
Water is one of the United Arab Emirates University’s core research areas. The university
offers world leading research, training and innovation in different disciplines related
to water resources, including
Hydrology
Hydrogeology
Wastewater treatment technologies
Water resource management
Water desalination technology Simulation of surface and groundwater resources
Contaminant transport
Biogeochemistry
Coastal zone management
Researchers in the UAEU’s National Water and Energy Center have granted patent for
innovative desalination system that dramatically reduces energy consumption during
the desalination process.
Promote Conscious Water Usage in the Wider Community
The university provides free drinking water for all students, faculty, and employees.The
university provides free bottled water to all staff in all offices on campus. In addition,
there are 19 drink fountains distributed throughout the campus with instructions on
safe and appropriate water usage. These are all regularly tested for micro biologicals
to reduce risk to human health and each machine is also checked regularly for proper
functioning. Refill bottles are readily available and replaced by our facilities team.
NWEC's Mobile Water Laboratory is an effective surveillance of domestic water quality,
groundwater quality, groundwater level data, sewage treated water quality, industrial
wastewater quality in desert and urban area of UAE.