• Capital 360 Event Experiences will be the Professional Conference Organisers working with the support of other ADNEC Group subsidiaries
• Congress showcases new desalination and water reuse technologies that will help tackle the challenge of water scarcity worldwide
• Summit will gather global thought leaders, outstanding innovators, and influential executives to share knowledge on impactful new solutions

Abu Dhabi, 6th June 2024 – ADNEC Group and the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy today announced their partnership at a signing ceremony, appointing Capital 360 Event Experiences as the Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) for the prestigious International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) World Congress at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 8-12 December 2024.

As the PCO, Capital 360 Event Experiences, the event services arm of ADNEC Group, will work alongside the Group's venue and tourism clusters to oversee and project manage the entire event and ensure that delegations and attendees experience a world-class event. Under the theme 'Addressing Water Scarcity', the IDRA 2024 World Congress and its accompanying exhibition offer an essential hub for thought leadership and an interactive forum for innovative technical and business-led solutions to address global water scarcity and secure a sustainable future.

Hosted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy with the cooperation of key government stakeholders, IDRA World Congress 2024 will focus on Integrated Water Resource Management with an emphasis on desalination and water reuse emerge to help address accelerating global demand for water in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 6, 'Water and Sanitation for All'.

H.E. Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said: 'We take pride in signing this strategic partnership between the DoE and ADNEC Group. It will significantly enhance the success of the upcoming global event hosted in Abu Dhabi, further enriching its national achievements and solidifying its role as a premier hub for major international events.'

Al Rumaithi added: 'The extensive expertise, high potential and diverse resources in Abu Dhabi will serve as crucial assets in attaining the conference's objectives and fulfilling its aspirations, aligning with the goals of participating entities, industry leaders, experts, visitors, and stakeholders concerned with sustainability, particularly regarding water, an essential environmental resource for both the present and the future.'

'The UAE is leading sustainable development in the region, particularly in water conservation. The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative underscores the nation's dedication to raising awareness about the water scarcity crisis on the global stage. It aims to expedite the development of innovative, sustainable technological solutions, foster international cooperation, and bolster investments to tackle this pressing global challenge,' stated the Undersecretary of the Department of Energy.'

Al Romaithi said: 'Abu Dhabi's global leadership is embodied through the initiation of numerous significant projects in water desalination. This includes the implementation of low-carbon technologies like the Al Taweelah reverse osmosis desalination plant. Furthermore, the city adopts innovative tools and employs advanced technology to enhance water efficiency and ensure water security while also rationalizing energy and natural resource usage for sustainability. The Department of Energy has issued various regulations and policies aimed at maximizing the benefits of recycled water, implementing a water management policy in district cooling plants, and soon launching low-carbon water certificates to monitor emissions from desalination processes.'

As a significant proportion of the global population still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and handwashing facilities, new desalination and water reuse technologies offer great potential as resilient solutions to help meet rising global water demand. The IDRA World Congress 2024 will identify new sustainable water security options that will meet challenges posed by predicted population growth, increased industrial water requirements, and weather fluctuations due to global climate change.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: 'Organising and hosting the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) World Congress in Abu Dhabi comes within the framework of ADNEC Group's strategic vision to support and promote the business tourism sector and international events and conferences.

He explained that the ADNEC Group is committed to attract, host, and organise a variety of regional and international events and conferences. These efforts are in line with the vision of the wise leadership to promote and diversify the national economy, leveraging global opportunities, and showcasing Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for investment across all sectors, particularly those related to sustainable development.

Al Dhaheri stressed the importance of the role played by the various teams within the ADNEC Group in securing the hosting rights for IDRA in Abu Dhabi. Their exceptional efforts and distinguished presentation to the Higher Organising Committee were instrumental in Abu Dhabi's successful bid to host this prestigious global event at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.

Spanning five days, the IDRA World Congress 2024 agenda will feature four parallel tracks of full-day technical sessions along with high-level plenary sessions, a Leaders Summit, a Desalination Hackathon, Roundtable Sessions, IDRA Academy Courses, Plant Tours, a Welcome Reception, a Gala Dinner with Awards Ceremony, and a Closing Luncheon with Technical Award presentations.

To ensure the success of the event, IDRA World Congress 2024 will have the full support of ADNEC Venues operations team and venue management services. With a total surface area for shows now exceeding 153,000 square metres, the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi is the largest centre for exhibitions and conferences in the MENA region and an ideal location for major international gatherings

Capital 360 Event Experiences will draw on its wide range of resources – including design, audio-visual production, stage productions and management – to ensure that the event is delivered in a way befitting the UAE's prestigious global and regional reputation. Capital Protocol will provide world-class protocol services to attendants in the form of event managers, ushers, and crowd, traffic and security management services that adhere to the highest international standards. As the official caterer for the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, Capital Catering will ensure that the event's catering requirements will be met by accomplished, award-winning chefs according to the highest standards of quality and excellence.

Hotel management will also be provided for IDRA World Congress 2024, ensuring easy access to the venue while staying in ADNEC Group's portfolio of world-class hotels. Tourism 365, the tourism arm of ADNEC Group has specially prepared a range of trips and excursions that will showcase the UAE capital's unique attractions and abundant hospitality to Congress attendants.