FOCUSING
Conference Agenda
09:30 – 10:15
Networking and Registration :
Arrival and morning networking coffee and refreshment
09:00 – 09:05
Great Minds Event Management Welcome and Opening Remarks
09:05 – 09:15
Chairman Opening Speech
09:15 – 09:30
Opening Keynote Speech by
- Eng. Abdulla AlKhemeiri, COO, Etihad Water & Electricity
09:30 – 10:15
Opening Panel Discussion: Strategies and Policies to Enhance Sustainable Water Stewardship in the MENA Region
Moderator:
- Corrado Sommariva, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants, United Arab Emirates
Speakers:
- Sulaiman Turki Chief Strategy & Development Officer Saudi Water Partnership Company “SWPC”, Saudi Arabia
- Kartik Balasubramaniam, Vice President, TAQA
- Bruce Smith, Strategy and Planning Executive Director, Emirates Water and Electricity Company - EWEC, United Arab Emirates
- Bandar Alshammari, General Manager, National Water Company, Saudi Arabia
10:15 – 10:55
Panel Discussion:
Pioneering Energy-Efficient Solutions for Sustainable Desalination
Moderator:
- Kartik Balasubramaniam, Vice President, TAQA
Speaker:
- Eng. Issa Alwer, Project Manager, Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination & Conveyance Project, Ministry of Water & Irrigation (MWI), Jordan
- Dr. Ahmed Abd El Hady, Chief of Water and Wastewater Quality Complaints Sector in General Department for Quality and Environmental Affairs, Holding Company for Water & Wastewater (HCWW), Egypt
- Ismail Alaoui, Principal “Water” Strategy Consulting, Roland Berger, Bahrain
10:55 – 11:40
VIP Exhibition Tour, Coffee and Networking Break
11:40 – 12:10
Country Briefing Session
- Water security and desalination plans in the United Arab Emirates
Speaker:
- Dr. AlaEldin Idris, Water Resources Expert, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates
- Overview of Moroccan 1.7 billion cubic meter/year Program by 2030
12:10 – 12:50
Industry Innovation Showcase Session.
- Innovations in Pre-RO and CIP Cartridge Filtration by Dr. Günter Haas, Senior Field Applications Engineer, Entegris
- Innovation insight 2 by Kim Sun, CEO & Founder, Medisun Planet
- Innovation insight 3 by Javier Lorenzo, Global BDM – Desalination, GF Piping Systems, GF Corys
- Innovation insight 4: Mixed oxidants on-site synthesis for cost-effective seawater and potable water disinfection by Petr Gnatyuk, Founder & CEO, Emerald Ecotechnologies
12:50 – 13:30
Panel Discussion:
- Advanced Materials and Membranes in Desalination.
Moderator:
- Julio De La Rosa, Middle East Director, Acciona, Saudi Arabia
Speaker:
- Rosario Blasetti, Engineering Manager, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants, United Arab Emirates
- Antoine Amade, President of the Europe and the Middle East (EMEA) Region, Entegris
- Jong Hong, Manager, Development, Engineering and Transition, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA)
13:30 – 14:10
Public-Private Partnerships as a Key Enabler to Develop the MENA Region’s Desalination Industry - Exploring the Opportunities
Moderator:
- Marouan El Khattabi, Middle East Director, GS Inima, United Arab Emirates
Speaker:
- Adel Aboujaoude, Global Director, Jacobs, United Arab Emirates
- Eng. Faisal Alwuhaib, VP - ISTPs & ISWRs Technical Planning, Saudi Water Partnership Company “SWPC”, Saudi Arabia
- Javier Diaz, Country Manager, Aqualia
- Adiba Amin, Business Development Director, Metito Utilities, United Arab Emirates
- Adiba Amin, Business Development Director, Metito Utilities, United Arab Emirates
14:10 – 14:20
Chairman Day One Closing Remarks
14:20
Networking Lunch and End of Day One
08:00 – 09:00
Networking and Registration
Arrival and morning networking coffee and refreshment
09:00 – 09:05
Opening Session
Welcome and Opening Remarks by Great Minds Event Management
Speaker:
- Dr. AlaEldin Idris, Water Resources Expert, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates
09:00 – 09:05
Opening Video
09:10 – 09:15
Chairman's Opening Speech
Speaker:
- Dr. Corrado Sommariva, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants (SWPC), UAE
09:15 – 09:30
Opening Keynote Speech
Speaker:
- Eng. Abdulla Al Khemeiri, Chief Operations Officer, Etihad WE, UAE
09:30 – 10:15
Opening Panel Discussion
National Strategies and Integrated Water Visions: Enabling Sustainable Desalination Growth Across the MENA Region
- Aligning national desalination roadmaps with long-term water security, energy transition, and sustainability targets.
- Strengthening institutional frameworks to streamline project delivery and ensure regulatory consistency across jurisdictions.
- Fostering regional cooperation and cross-border knowledge exchange to accelerate innovation and policy harmonization.
- Empowering private sector participation through PPP frameworks, investment incentives, and technology partnerships.
Moderator:
- Dr. Corrado Sommariva, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants (SWPC), UAE
Panelists:
- Eng. Salaheddine Dahbi, Director of Water Research and Planning, Ministry of Equipment and Water, Morocco
- Eng. Ali Jabir Al Hosani, Senior Advisor CEO Office, Etihad WE, UAE
- Eng. Rami Ghandour, Chief Executive Officer, Metito Utilities, UAE
- Eng. Bandar Alshammari, General Manager, National Water Company, KSA
- Dr. AlaEldin Idris, Water Resources Expert, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE
10:15 – 10:45
Panel Discussion
Beyond Net-Zero: Energy-Efficient Pathways to Net-Negative Desalination
- Integrating hybrid power systems: renewable and nuclear to decarbonize large-scale desalination operations.
- Optimizing plant design and process efficiency to lower energy intensity and minimize lifecycle operating costs.
- Showcasing performance benchmarks and best practices from leading regional utilities and EPC contractors.
- Exploring next-generation energy recovery systems and storage technologies, driving the shift toward net-negative water production.
Moderator:
- Dr. Corrado Sommariva, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants (SWPC), UAE
Panelists:
- Adel Alsaeedi, SVP Project Development, Emirates Water and Electricity Company "EWEC", UAE
- Eng. Ammar Al Nuaimi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Environmental Engineering, Clean Energy Technologies & Installation Consultant, ADNOC, UAE
- Ahmed Abdelhady, Director of Water Quality, The Holding Company for Water and Wastewater
10:45 – 11:00
Industry Keynote Speech
By Hassan Allam Holding
11:00 – 12:00
Break
VIP Exhibition Tour and Networking Break
12:00 – 12:30
Country Briefing Session
National Updates on Major Desalination Programs
- UAE : Advancing water resilience through next-generation IWP projects
Speaker:
- Dr. AlaEldin Idris, Water Resources Expert, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE
- Morocco: Implementing the national desalination program 2030
Speaker:
- Eng. Salaheddine Dahbi, Director General of Water Engineering, Ministry of Equipment and Water, Morocco
12:30 – 13:15
Industry Innovation Showcase Session
Reserved for Industry Partners
Spotlighting the latest technologies advancing desalination efficiency and sustainability, from digital optimization and AI to hybrid energy and brine valorization.
- Mixed oxidants for revolutionary and cost-effective water disinfection free of harmful bromate, chlorate, and chlorite by-products
Speaker:
- Petr Gnatyuk, Founder & CEO, Emerald Ecotechnologies
- Cartridge Filtration as a Key Enabler for Reliable Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant Operation
Speaker:
- Valeriia Nilolaeva, Senior Process & Laboratory Specialist, JSC Filter
- Sustainability by Material Choice: The Carbon & Lifecycle Case for GRP in Modern Desalination by Future Pipe
Speaker:
- Chhandak Ghorai, Business Development Manager, Future Pipe
13:15 – 13:55
Panel Discussion
Public–Private Partnerships and Investment Frameworks: Unlocking Regional Water Infrastructure Development
- Structuring innovative financing models that attract private investment and ensure long-term project sustainability.
- Balancing risk allocation between public authorities, developers, and lenders to enhance the bankability of IWP and IWPP projects.
- Highlighting successful PPP case studies that demonstrate accelerated project delivery and value creation for both investors and utilities.
- Advancing policy frameworks that promote transparency, competition, and investor confidence across regional water markets.
Moderator:
- Robert M. Bryniak, Chief Executive Officer, Golden Sands Management Consulting
Panelists:
- Walid Madwar, Chief Commercial Officer, Metito Utilities
- Marouan El Khattabi, Middle East Director, GS Inima, UAE
- Eng Tamer Shafik, Vice President – Business Development, Orascom Construction
- Antonio Renom, Head of Middle East Region, Cox, UAE
13:55 – 14:35
Panel Discussion
Designing the Next Generation of Desalination Plants | Modular, Smart, and Sustainable
- Integrating digital twins and AI for predictive operations
- Leveraging modular and prefabricated design to accelerate deployment, optimize capital efficiency, and enhance scalability across desalination projects. Incorporating renewables and energy recovery into plant layouts
- Standardization and scalability for future expansions
Moderator:
- Elena Beresneva, Expert in Water Conditions and Economic Systems, Water Today
Panelists:
- Prof. Bader S. M. Al-Anzi, Senior Consultant at the office of His Excellency the Minister, Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Kuwait
- Prof. Dr. Roumiana Tsenkova, Professor at Kobe University, Japan. Founder & Head of Aquaphotomics Research Field
- Dr. Titia De Mes, Sustainability Manager, TAQA Water Solutions, UAE
- Mr. Sivakumar Venkatraman, General Manager - Sales & Marketing,VA TECH WABAG LIMITED
14:35 – 14:45
Summary
Chairman Day One Closing Remarks
- Dr. Corrado Sommariva, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants (SWPC), UAE
14:45
Networking Lunch
End of Day One
08:30 – 09:30
Networking and Registration
09:30 – 09:40
Chairman Day Two Welcome and Remarks
09:40 – 10:20
Panel Discussion: Integrating water resources - Desalinated Water as a sustainable alternative to Groundwater Supply
Speakers:
- Dr. Edda Kalbus, Integrated Water Resource Senior Specialist Emirates Water and Electricity Company- EWEC, United Arab Emirates
- Paul Leruth, Lead Power Modeller Emirates Water and Electricity Company - EWEC, United Arab Emirates
- John Robert Caruso, Construction Director, Emirates Water and Electricity Company - EWEC, United Arab Emirates
- Suresh Athilkar, Engineering Director, Emirates Water and Electricity Company - EWEC, United Arab Emirates
10:20 – 10:50
Country Briefing Session
- Desalination to Overcome a Dry Tomorrow: Oman's Water Security Strategy
Speaker:
- Bouran Mohammed, Water Resources Management Specialist, United Nations Development Programme Yemen
- Improving the Implementation of Desalination Projects in Egypt through a Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Approach
Speaker:
- Dr. Ahmed Abd El Hady, Chief of Water and Wastewater Quality Complaints Sector in General Department for Quality and Environmental Affairs, Holding Company for Water & Wastewater (HCWW), Egypt
10:50 – 11:05
The Evolution of SPC for Reverse Osmosis Desalination in the Last 15 Years: Trends, Innovations, and Future Perspectives
Speaker:
- Rosario Blasetti, Engineering Manager, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants, United Arab Emirates
11:05 – 11:50
Coffee and Networking Break
11:50 – 12:30
Panel Discussion: Adopting Circular Economy Strategy to Drive in Desalination Industry’s Sustainability
Moderator:
- Latifa Lahsine, Head of Desalination Centre of Excellence, ENGIE
Speakers:
- Eng. Mohammed AlQahtani, Executive Director- IWPs & IWTPs Project Delivery, Saudi Water Partnership Company “SWPC”, Saudi Arabia
- Bouran Mohammed, Water Resources Management Specialist, United Nations Development Programme Yemen
- Dr. AlaEldin Idris, Water Resources Expert, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates
- Gerry O'Toole, Technical Director,Jacobs, United Arab Emirates
12:30 – 12:45
Industry Innovation Showcase Session.
- Innovation Insight 1 : Upgrading Water Desalination, Treatment, and Reuse Processes with PILLER MVR Technology. By Dr. Steffen Kuberczyk, Chief Sales Officer, Piller Blowers & Compressors
12:45 – 13:25
Panel Discussion: Advanced Desalination Technologies, Brine Valorisation and the Combination of Both
Moderator:
- Bouran Mohammed, Water Resources Management Specialist, United Nations Development Programme Yemen
- Latifa Lahsine, Head of Desalination Centre of Excellence, ENGIE
- Rosario Blasetti, Engineering Manager, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants, United Arab Emirates
- Julio De La Rosa, Middle East Director, Acciona, Saudi Arabia
13:25 – 13:30
Chairman Closing Remarks
13:30
Networking Lunch and End of Conference
08:30 – 09:30
Networking and Registration
Morning coffee and networking
09:30 – 09:40
Opening Session
Chairman Day Two Welcome Remarks
Speaker:
- Dr. AlaEldin Idris, Water Resources Expert, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates
09:40 – 10:10
Fireside Chat
Advanced Materials and Membranes – Next Generation of High-Performance RO Systems
- Developing nanomaterial-based and graphene-enhanced membranes to achieve higher permeability and energy efficiency.
- Extending membrane lifespan through advanced coatings, anti-scaling compounds, and self-healing surface technologies.
- Improving fouling resistance and cleaning optimization via intelligent monitoring and adaptive chemical dosing systems.
- Evaluating field performance data and lifecycle costs to benchmark next-generation RO technologies against current industry standards.
Moderator
- Prof. Bader S. M. Al-Anzi, Senior Consultant at the office of His Excellency the Minister, Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Kuwait
Panelists:
- Prof. Shadi Hasan, Director Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University
- Ahmed Abdelhady, Director of Water Quality, The Holding Company for Water and Wastewater
10:10 – 10:30
Country Briefing Session
Emerging Market Opportunities in Desalination
- Jordan : Advancing water resilience through next-generation IWP projects
Speaker:
- Eng. Wasfi Alhawamdeh, Research Specialist in Water Conflicts and Director in the Jordanian Water Sector, Water Authority, Jordan
- Egypt: Expanding desalination across 11 governorates under the National Program
Speaker:
- Ahmed Abdelhady, Director of Water Quality, The Holding Company for Water and Wastewater
10:30 – 11:10
Panel Discussion
Future pathways for sustainable desalination and marine ecosystem stewardship
- Advancing brine management and desalination operations for marine resilience
- Policy, regulatory, and governance approaches for sustainable desalination
- Innovations shaping the future outlook for the sector
Moderator:
- Anuradha Bhattacharya, Director - MENA Oceans Initiative, Goumbook
Panelists:
- Dr. Corrado Sommariva, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants (SWPC), UAE
- Latifa LAHSINE, Head Of Desalination Centre Of Excellence, Engie
- Ismail Alaoui, Principal | Water | Strategy Consulting, Roland Berger
- Alp Katalan, MENA Commercial Lead, Desolenator
11:10 – 11:40
Coffee and Networking Break
Exhibition and networking coffee break
11:40 – 11:55
Presentation
AI and Automation in Desalination: From Real-Time Control to Predictive Performance
- Deploying advanced automation and AI-driven control systems to optimize energy use, recovery rates, and plant reliability.
- Enabling predictive maintenance through machine learning models that anticipate equipment failures and reduce downtime.
- Integrating digital twins and smart sensors for real-time process visibility and adaptive decision-making.
- Transforming operational efficiency by leveraging big data analytics to enhance plant performance and output quality continuously.
Speaker:
- Asim Khan, Lead - Water Production Planning, Emirates Water and Electricity Company "EWEC", UAE
11:55 –12:10
Presentation
R&D and Innovation, Accelerating the Next Wave of Desalination Technologies
- Collaborative research between utilities, Research and Development Centers, and technology developers
- Testing next-gen membranes, ERDs, and low-energy thermal hybrids
- Pilot programs linking AI, sensors, and automation to improve plant efficiency
- Creating regional R&D hubs and innovation partnerships to localize technology
Speaker:
- Elena Beresneva, Expert in Water Conditions and Economic Systems, Water Today
12:20 – 12:50
Panel Discussion
Decentralized Desalination – Localized Solutions for Sustainable Water Supply
- Deploying modular, small-scale desalination units to serve remote and off-grid communities
- Enhancing system resilience through distributed treatment and localized operation models
- Integrating renewable energy, smart controls, and real-time monitoring for autonomous performance
- Supporting national water strategies through flexible, rapidly deployable, and cost-efficient infrastructure
Moderator:
- Dr. Titia De Mes, Sustainability Manager, TAQA Water Solutions, UAE
Panelist:
- Vishal Sinha, Director Environment, Etihad WE, UAE
- Antonio Renom, Head of Middle East Region, Cox, UAE
- Ahmed Abdelhady, Director of Water Quality, The Holding Company for Water and Wastewater
12:50 13:05
Presentation
Nuclear Desalination – Powering Sustainable Water Security
- Exploring the integration of nuclear energy with desalination to ensure stable, large-scale freshwater production
- Leveraging heat and electricity from advanced reactors (SMRs and Gen IV designs) to achieve near-zero carbon operations
- The potential role of nuclear desalination in achieving 24/7 clean water-energy systems across the MENA region
Speakers:
- Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim Ali, Associate Professor Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University
- Dr. Mostafa Ismail, Postdoctoral Fellow, Khalifa University
13:05 – 13:20
Presentaitn
Circular Economy and Brine Valorization: Transforming Waste into Resource
- Advancing policy and regulatory frameworks that incentivize circular economic practices and sustainable brine management.
- Recovering valuable minerals and chemicals from brine streams to create new industrial revenue sources.
- Implementing zero-liquid discharge and brine concentration systems to minimize environmental impact and enhance resource efficiency.
- Enabling industrial reuse applications through integration with chemical, mining, and construction sectors.
Speaker:
- Robert M. Bryniak, Chief Executive Officer, Golden Sands Management Consulting
13:20 – 13:30
Chairman Closing Remarks
Key takeaways and wrap-up
- Dr. Corrado Sommariva, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water and Power Consultants (SWPC), UAE