The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) has concluded a training workshop organised in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) under the title “Emerging Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the GCC Countries”, which saw the participation of 22 specialists working in the water sector across the GCC.

During his meeting with the workshop participants, His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of the Arabian Gulf University, stated: “The Arabian Gulf University serves as a Gulf centre of expertise that brings together a distinguished group of scientific talents, and stands as a successful model of regional cooperation. Through its partnerships and initiatives, the university contributes to steering the energy and creativity of young talents towards innovation, fostering critical thinking as a driving force for sustainable development, especially in vital sectors such as water. This workshop is a practical example of this approach, which combines science and technology to serve the future of the region.”

The workshop formed part of the joint training programme between the GCC General Secretariat and AGU aimed at enhancing the capacities of specialists in the water sector. It was the third workshop within this programme, which includes a series of specialised courses designed to support water security across the GCC.

The workshop featured intensive training sessions that explored the applications of AI, GeoAI (Geospatial Artificial Intelligence), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain technology, and quantum computing in the field of water resources management. These sessions were delivered by a group of prominent local and international experts in water and technology.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants presented practical proposals and preliminary plans for applying emerging technologies to address the water challenges facing their countries, focusing on achieving efficiency, enhancing sustainability and building resilient smart water management systems. These included encouraging investment in emerging technologies related to water management, especially AI and IoT, to develop smart solutions for consumption forecasting and improving distribution efficiency.

They also called for bolstering regional cooperation among GCC countries to exchange expertise and best practices in applying modern technologies in the water sector, and for launching ongoing training programmes to build the capacities of national workforces in mathematical modelling, AI, and geographic information systems (GIS) related to water.

In addition, they emphasised the importance of supporting joint scientific research in the field of emerging water technologies, establishing open research platforms to develop solutions tailored to the region’s needs, and integrating smart technologies into national water policies and strategies across the GCC to ensure alignment between technology and long-term planning.