Ashraf AboArafe
ON behalf of His Excellency Nabil Fahmy, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattab, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector, delivered an address at the 7th Arab Water Conference in Cairo. Speaking before Dr. Hani Sewilam, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, alongside attending ministers and regional delegates, Ambassador Khattab conveyed the League’s deep appreciation to the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting this critical gathering held under the theme:
“Water in the Arab Region: Partnerships for Peace and Sustainable Development.”
Water, as emphasized in the opening remarks, extends far beyond a technical or sector-specific resource. It stands as an indispensable cornerstone for food security, energy, public health, economic resilience, and long-term geopolitical stability.
Core Pillars of the Arab Water Agenda
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Proactive Management of Scarcity: Recognizing the Arab world as one of the most water-stressed regions globally, the speech urged a decisive transition from reactive crisis management to proactive, sustainable stewardship—focusing on loss reduction, advanced irrigation, non-conventional water resources, and AI-driven monitoring.
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The Water-Food-Energy Nexus: The address stressed that water challenges cannot be isolated. Integrated frameworks must be developed to optimize efficiency and extract maximum socio-economic and environmental benefits across interconnected sectors.
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Transboundary Water Diplomacy: Framing shared rivers and aquifers as opportunities for regional cooperation rather than flashpoints for conflict, the speech called for robust “water diplomacy.” This approach relies on transparent data sharing, trust-building, and strict adherence to international law for equitable resource allocation.
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Actionable Implementation of Strategy: Highlighting the updated Arab Strategy for Water Security, emphasis was placed on translating commitments into measurable, funded projects through the active involvement of the private sector and international climate finance mechanisms.
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Climate Adaptation and Resilience: Addressing the heightened vulnerability of the Arab region to climate impacts, the address outlined the urgent need for comprehensive adaptation systems, early warning infrastructure, and resilient coastal water management.
A Call for Unity and Long-Term Investment
The conference concluded with a call to shift from managing scarcity to shaping a sustainable future—transforming water from a potential source of competition into a shared platform for peace and regional integration. The League of Arab States reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Arab Ministerial Council for Water and expanding cross-border investment to secure water rights for future generations.
