The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in partnership with the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), is organising a pioneering training workshop entitled “Emerging Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the GCC Countries”, to be held from 7–10 September at AGU’s campus in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the aim of securing a sustainable water future.

This marks the third training workshop within the capacity-building programme for water sector specialists in GCC countries jointly conducted by the General Secretariat and AGU. The first workshop focused on the “Unified Water Strategy for the GCC 2035”, while the second addressed the “Use of Dynamic Mathematical Modelling in Water Resource Planning and Management”.

The current workshop brings together 22 mid-career professionals from the six GCC states, representing a wide spectrum of the water sector, including public water authorities, utilities companies, planning departments and policy-making bodies.

Commenting on the occasion, Prof. Waleed Khalil Zubari, Professor of Water Resources at AGU,and Workshop Coordinator and Trainer, explained: “This workshop represents an important practical step towards building GCC capacities in the field of emerging technologies, foremost among them artificial intelligence and its multiple applications in enhancing efficiency and sustainability within the water sector. These technologies are increasingly being applied in water analysis, optimisation, and forecasting. With this workshop, we move from theory to practice by equipping participants, who represent the future leaders of the water sector, with the practical tools needed to implement intelligent, sustainable and resilient water resource management systems, thereby contributing to the security of our water future.”

For his part, Dr Mohammed Falah Al Rashidi, Director of Energy Affairs at the GCC General Secretariat, underscored the pivotal role of the Secretariat in supporting such initiatives, stating: “In line with the GCC’s objectives of achieving integration and interconnectedness among member states, this specialised workshop aligns with our strategies to develop Gulf human capital and build high-level national competencies. Investing in the development of our water sector professionals, and equipping them with the latest technological tools, is an investment in the water security of our future. It is a cornerstone for realising the visions and aspirations of our leaders towards sustainability and prosperity.”

The training is being delivered by Prof. Waleed Zubari, who is also the Dean of College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at AGU; Prof. Adel Bouhoula, Head of the Department of Computing and Professor of Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence at AGU, Dr Ziad Al Shibani, Associate Professor in Digital Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence in the United Kingdom; and Dr Munaf Al Khuzaai, Postdoctoral Researcher specialising in GIS applications, Artificial Intelligence and Modelling.

The workshop programme has been designed to address the region’s unique water challenges by providing participants with advanced skills in emerging technologies. It includes practical training sessions led by AGU experts alongside international specialists in both the water and computing sectors, with a focus on the practical application of Artificial Intelligence, Geo-AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain and Quantum Computing. The workshop will conclude with a strategic forum, during which participants will develop actionable proposals and work plans to address their respective countries’ water challenges using these cutting-edge technologies.