Under the national strategy focused on the management and sustainability of the country’s water resources, the Ministry of Environment and Water has revealed its continued efforts and support towards the achievement of water sustainability and security via the implementation of key initiatives, particularly in the management and maintenance of water resources and reserves. In line with this, the Ministry of Environment and Water has recently revealed the completion of eight new water dams, barriers and lakes in the Sakamkam, Fujairah basin, which is part of the programs set by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to develop infrastructure to protect and strengthen our water resources. The projects in the Fujairah basin follow after the recent completion of several hydrological studies of water/drainage basins and the preparation of technical, engineering and design requirements for projects, dams and water facilities.

His Excellency Sultan Alwan, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Water Resources and Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Water, said: “The efforts of the Executive Committee in following the directives of His Highness President Al Nahyan have resulted in the completion of these new dams and barriers in the Sakamkam, Fujairah basin. With these new facilities, the country now has additional energy storage of 700, 000 cubic meters of water or 154 million gallons of water. These new dams will significantly contribute in collecting rain water, reducing the waste of water into the sea while also protecting the Sakamkam area, which is witnessing urban and industrial growth. The new facilities will also minimize the risk of floods as experienced by the region repeatedly over the past few years. A later date will be scheduled to complete the second phase of the project, which includes the construction of canals to drain rain water.”

 The Assistant Undersecretary added, “The implementation of these new dams and barriers project will enhance the development of the network for the monitoring and control of groundwater in the Sakamkam basin, which has been drilled into four wells and have all been provided with modern digital monitors using solar panels as a source of energy to run and operate the transmission and to send intraday data remotely.”

 These achievements are a testament of the efforts and directives of H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, who has continuously supported the projects related to collecting rainwater and has promoted the maximum utilization of our water sources. The projects also reflect the fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Water, the National Center of Meteorology & Seismology (NCMS), the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the Ministry of Public Works, which has helped in the completion of the project in accordance with best practices and world-class standards and guidelines.