Suqia UAE: Clean drinking water projects benefit more than 943,000 people in Tanzania
DUBAI (WAM) Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE), announced that more than 943,000 people have benefitted from Suqia's projects in Tanzania to date.Suqia's projects that implement the grant from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent, aim to provide clean drinking water to over one million people in Tanzania and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.Al Tayer made the announcement while chairing the second Board of Trustees meeting of 2025.The meeting was attended by Fahad Abdelrahman bin Sultan, Deputy Secretary General for Development and International Co-operation at Emirates Red Crescent and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Suqia; Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Development Affairs and International Organisations; Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Excellence at DEWA; Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA; and Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia UAE.The meeting also highlighted the honouring of 12 winners from eight countries in the fourth cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.Suqia UAE oversees the award, which carries total prizes of $1 million and comprises four main categories.'We follow the noble path established by the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, extending a helping hand to those in need around the world. We aim to create a sustainable, positive impact on the lives of millions by promoting innovative solutions to the global water crisis and implementing humanitarian initiatives that embody the values of giving and generosity, which are cornerstones of Emirati society,' said Al Tayer.The Board also reviewed Suqia's past achievements to encourage innovation in sustainable water solutions and to advance humanitarian and development projects to provide clean water to disadvantaged communities.
Suqia UAE's projects have benefited approximately 15 million people in 37 countries, through the implementation of more than 1,000 sustainable water projects, since the Foundation's launch in 2015.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Emirati housing and education funds launched
Two allowance funding schemes have been launched, one for housing and the other for education, by the Ministry of Community and Empowerment. The allowances have been set up to support the nation's Social Support and Empowerment Programme, a federal initiative providing monthly support to Emirati families with limited income. The housing allowance is intended for families enrolled in the programme who do not receive any form of government housing assistance. The amount is determined based on the family's size and living conditions, distinguished between those living independently and those sharing accommodation with other households. The allowance also includes flexible terms for orphans and children of individuals serving jail terms. What about the education allowance? The education, or academic excellence, allowance is aimed at high-achieving university students. Students enrolled in accredited higher education institutions in the UAE who maintain a cumulative GPA (the grade given per term) of 3.3 or higher are eligible to receive up to Dh3,200 per month. Students enrolled in accredited UAE institutions through remote learning are also eligible. How to apply Applications can be submitted through the ministry's official digital platform via the social subsidy service. All applications are processed within 21 days of submission. Stepping up support The employment programme is the latest step by the government to provide additional assistance to its citizens. In 2022, President Sheikh Mohamed announced a Dh28 billion ($7.6 billion) social support package to provide lower-income Emirati families with subsidies to pay for essentials including fuel, food and utilities. Under the move, annual financial support for eligible families was raised from Dh2.7 billion to Dh5 billion, with the total social support budget doubling from Dh14 billion. The UAE's social welfare programme for low-income citizens is available to Emirati families whose income is less than Dh25,000 ($6,800) a month. The programme offers Dh5,000 aid a month for citizens over the age of 45, housing allowance up to Dh2,500 a month, university education allowance of Dh3,200 a month to outstanding students and Dh5,000 a month for six months to those who are unemployed. In addition, the government offers an inflation allowance, which covers food, electricity, water and fuel costs.
Al Etihad
14 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE PASS evolving toward a smarter, people-first future
25 July 2025 00:48 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)With over 11 million users and 1.5 million digital transactions taking place every day, UAE PASS stands as a clear success in advancing the nation's vision for a smart government — but its development is far from over. Mira Sultan, one of the Emirati women among the project's pioneers, speaks to Aletihad about the growing significance of the nation's digital identity system and how it is evolving as a future-ready platform. 'Our digital government journey is driven by a clear ambition: to deliver seamless, secure, and proactive services that meet people's needs without friction,' said Sultan, Senior Director of the Digital Enabling Platforms Department at Digital Dubai and a National Expert in NEP Cohort 4. 'The next milestones focus on accelerating full digital service delivery, deepening integration across entities, and enhancing personalisation through secure data exchange,' she said. Continuously evolving through user feedback and testing, the digital identity system is being enhanced to deliver a seamless, AI-driven experience. By expanding the use of e-signatures and paperless solutions, UAE PASS is set to fully replace outdated processes and power a smarter, more connected country.'The goal is not merely to digitise existing services, but to rethink how the government functions, removing complexity, increasing efficiency, and making services available anywhere, anytime, and on any device,' Sultan said. UAE PASS links individuals to thousands of online services with a secure, single login — eliminating the need for users to create multiple accounts or visit customer care centres. Usage and feedback are closely monitored through a combination of quantitative and qualitative channels, Sultan said. 'With over 1.5 million daily transactions and thousands of new users joining every day, the growth itself is a key indicator of satisfaction and usability.''What sets it apart and makes it truly game-changing is how it simplifies and unifies digital identity, access, and signature across both government and private sectors,' she added. With emerging AI solutions, the UAE PASS team is now looking to 'deliver more personalised experiences, enhance accessibility, and enable smarter service recommendations', Sultan said. 'Operationally, AI helps us detect patterns, predict demand, and optimise delivery. All of this is governed by robust privacy and data protection frameworks. The future of UAE PASS lies in becoming more intelligent, responsive, and deeply integrated into citizens' daily lives.'The move toward paperless governance is anchored in national infrastructure, which includes the digital ID, online payment platforms, cloud services, and secure data sharing channels, Sultan said. 'Together, they enable a frictionless government that operates 24/7, anytime, anywhere. The ultimate goal is not just digitalisation, it is elevating the quality of life for every resident.' A Shared Vision Back when the UAE PASS was just a concept, days were filled with 'bold ideas and big questions', Sultan said. They asked: Is it really possible to create such a system? 'Could we unify digital identity across a diverse ecosystem? Could we convince entities to move away from their current identity systems entirely?' she recalled. Sultan admitted that the journey was challenging — but also 'incredibly rewarding', as the team was driven by a deep sense of responsibility to shape a platform that reflects the nation's values and empowers its people.'The trust placed in me, along with the shared vision we embraced as a team inspired me to push boundaries,' she said. Her personal motivation was rooted in impact.'I have always believed that true transformation happens when technology improves everyday lives. The opportunity to contribute to a national platform that embodies this mission, by saving time, enabling secure interactions, and simplifying life, was deeply motivating,' Sultan her, it wasn't just about launching a new tool but 'reshaping how people connect with government in the digital era'.Sultan's leadership journey has been moulded by the National Experts Programme (NEP), of which she is a graduate.'NEP has played a transformative role in sharpening my strategic lens. The focus on five leadership mindsets — global, analytical, reflective, collaborative, and execution-driven — empowered me to approach digital transformation with a broader perspective,' she said. Looking ahead, Sultan sees the UAE PASS evolving beyond its role as a gateway to services. 'It should remain human-centred, inclusive, and resilient in the face of change. My hope is that UAE PASS continues to inspire other nations while always keeping people at its core.' Early this year, the UAE PASS application has won the Gold Award in the International General Authority category for the 16th Edition of the Public Sector Transformation Awards, an annual global event that celebrates innovation culture and showcases best practices in the government sector.
Zawya
21 hours ago
- Zawya
DEWA encourages travellers to activate ‘Away Mode' for smart water, energy use this summer
Dubai, UAE: As part of its 'Expand Your Smart Choices This Summer' campaign, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has urged its residential customers to activate the 'Away Mode' feature before travelling. This feature helps ensure efficient electricity and water use by allowing customers to monitor their electricity and water use while travelling. It can be activated through DEWA's website and smart app, with options to select the service activation period. The 'Away Mode' feature also provides daily or weekly data by email, thus facilitating early intervention and reducing waste. DEWA also recommends turning off all lights and setting timers for garden and exterior floodlights before travelling. Additionally, customers should close water valves and inspect for potential leaks through regular maintenance of electricity and water connections. DEWA recommends using specialised technicians for maintenance work. Through the DEWA Store on its smart app, customers can hire reliable technical service providers in the event of internal building faults. Furthermore, DEWA advises customers to benefit from the digital services and features it provides within the Smart Living initiative to reduce waste. This initiative allows customers to monitor their bills and tariff brackets, and to track electricity and water consumption daily, weekly and monthly through a dedicated data panel. The Consumption Assessment Tool helps customers analyse their consumption patterns and identify opportunities for enhancement, providing a detailed report and customised tips to boost efficiency. The High-Water Usage Alert service instantly notifies customers of unusual consumption beyond the meter, helping them to identify detect leaks early on. DEWA launched the 'Expand Your Smart Choices This Summer' campaign in June to raise awareness of its innovative digital tools that allow customers to proactively monitor consumption and adopt a more efficient, sustainable lifestyle, particularly during the summer. General tips and guidelines on consumption management can be found on DEWA's smart app and website, under 'Consumption Management During Summer'.
