Unlocking water investment unlocks growth 🔑
Over 50 chief executives, investors, and philanthropy leaders gathered at the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the UN this Monday to identify what it will take to move water projects from proven concept to financial close.
Co-Hosted by HE Abdulla Balalaa and HE Badr Jafar, UAE Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, the private roundtable explored how to close the water investment gap, and how partnerships can turn promising projects into investable opportunities.
Discussants highlighted the role of long-term guarantees, innovative technologies, and catalytic investment, and project-development pipelines that can help scale water infrastructure solutions across global markets.
“The AI revolution, the energy transition, food security and urban growth are all water stories. We cannot strengthen food systems, expand industrial capacity, nor build resilient cities without critical water infrastructure.” - HE Abdulla Balalaa
“The solutions exist. What is missing is the preparation, the risk allocation and the patient capital that turn a good idea into a financeable project. That is where business, investors and strategic philanthropy can each do what governments cannot do alone, and why the UAE is bringing them into one room.” - HE Badr Jafar
The global water sector faces a significant financing gap, with investment in infrastructure and solutions falling far short of what is needed to meet growing demand and strengthen water security.
At the private sector roundtable, UAE stakeholders also highlighted a recent commitment by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) - setting a AED 100 billion (US$27.2 billion) blue-finance target and becoming the first MENA bank to sign the UN Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles.
The FAB announcement is a powerful example of how finance can help move water from a global challenge to an investable priority.
