Khalifa University establishes UNESCO Chair on Global Water Resilience, Innovation and Sustainable Solutions
Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi will host a UNESCO Chair through its Centre for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology to strengthen research, policy and international collaboration on water resilience ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
New UNESCO Chair to bridge research, policy and practice
Khalifa University of Science and Technology has established the UNESCO Chair on Global Water Resilience, Innovation and Sustainable Solutions, creating a UAE‑based platform to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable water technologies. Formally established on 30 June 2026, the Chair is hosted by the university’s Centre for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT) in Abu Dhabi.
The initiative aims to bring together researchers, government entities, academia and industry to tackle pressures on water systems from climate change, population growth and rising demand. Its global network comprises recognised institutions across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, and will support joint research, mobility, knowledge exchange and capacity development.
Research priorities and practical goals
The Chair’s research agenda covers six priority areas: water security and climate resilience; water treatment, reuse and circular solutions; membrane science and advanced water technologies; water quality monitoring and sensing; nature‑based solutions; and water policy and governance. Through international collaboration it intends to move solutions beyond the laboratory and into practical application.
Among its stated targets are the delivery of 10 international research projects and more than 20 high‑impact publications, alongside graduate courses, scholar exchanges and capacity‑building programmes designed to develop the next generation of researchers, engineers and policymakers.
Alignment with UAE strategies and the 2026 UN Water Conference
The Chair forms part of the UAE’s wider efforts to advance Sustainable Development Goal 6 and to implement national priorities such as the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. It will contribute to Abu Dhabi’s role as a hub for water research, innovation and policy dialogue ahead of the United Arab Emirates’ co‑hosting of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference with Senegal in Abu Dhabi from 8–10 December.
Khalifa University’s leadership of UNESCO’s Youth4Water flagship initiative is to be anchored in the Chair, and the university is partnering with UNESCO on the Global Water Hackathon 2026. Hackathon winners will be announced during the UN Water Conference, with AED290,000 in cash prizes recognising youth‑led innovations.
Institutional and international support
Senior figures welcomed the Chair as a step towards translating science into action. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Chair of the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, described it as the UAE’s fourth UNESCO Chair and a catalyst for international cooperation. UNESCO and UAE officials underlined the role of the Chair in strengthening partnerships between science, policy and youth engagement on shared water challenges.
Through its CMAT capabilities and a multidisciplinary research ecosystem, Khalifa University will use the Chair to strengthen institutional capacity and accelerate practical, evidence‑based solutions for water resilience at home and abroad.
Source: WAM