Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative names first 15 Emiratis in Water Pioneers cohort

The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has selected 15 young Emiratis, aged 19 to 31, for the inaugural Water Pioneers cohort of its youth programme. The initiative announced the selection in Abu Dhabi on 9 November 2026. Registration opened in September 2026.

The initiative said the one-year programme aims to strengthen participants’ water knowledge and leadership capabilities. It also aims to create opportunities for them to contribute to national and international dialogue on water challenges.

Workshops, expert sessions and site visits

The Water Pioneers Youth Program includes a series of workshops, expert-led sessions and site visits. According to the initiative, these are designed to give participants the knowledge, skills and leadership capabilities to contribute to national and global efforts to address water scarcity.

The initiative said the programme recognises that water challenges intersect with food, energy, technology, finance and community well-being. By connecting emerging professionals across disciplines, it seeks to encourage informed dialogue and practical contributions.

A multidisciplinary Water Pioneers cohort

Members of the cohort come from water and environmental sciences, engineering, technology, finance, public policy, entrepreneurship, sustainability and the arts. Several already work in the UAE’s water and energy sectors.

Aya Almarzooqi is a water engineer at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), where her experience includes smart metering, artificial intelligence and big data. Rashid Aldarmaki is a chemical engineering professional at ACWA with experience in desalination. Saif AlHameli, a finance professional at KfW IPEX-Bank, has worked on investments in desalination infrastructure and other water-related projects.

Hoor Alkatheeri is an artificial intelligence student at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). She is the founder of HAAY, a start-up developing technology to produce water from air. Salma Almehairbi studies interior design at Zayed University and explores environmental themes through photography and art.

Other members bring experience in policy, strategy and governance. Hoor Ahli of the Dubai Future Foundation has participated alongside the UAE’s climate negotiations team at COP27 and COP28. Mohammed Alyousefi is a strategy consultant at Bain & Company.

Full list of participants

• Shaima Aljneibi, IT and product management professional, Central Bank of the UAE
• Amna AlBastaki, Global South Utilities (GSU)
• Aya Almarzooqi, water engineer, DEWA
• Mohammed Alyousefi, strategy consultant, Bain & Company
• Hind Alketbi, artificial intelligence student, MBZUAI
• Hoor Ahli, Dubai Future Foundation
• Rashid Aldarmaki, chemical engineering professional, ACWA
• Reem Habib, climate science and sustainability background, University of Toronto
• Hoor Alkatheeri, founder of HAAY and student at MBZUAI
• Saif AlHameli, finance professional, KfW IPEX-Bank
• Abdalla Almarzooqi, renewable energy professional, Masdar
• Ali Alhammadi, chemical engineering student, Khalifa University
• Muzoon Almarzooqi, focused on links between water and wider environmental and societal challenges
• Salma Almehairbi, interior design student and artist, Zayed University
• Zayed Musaed, environmental science professional, AD Ports Group

Responding to water scarcity

The initiative said water scarcity remains a growing global challenge, with 2.2 billion people worldwide still lacking access to safely managed drinking water. It added that bringing the next generation into the global water conversation is increasingly important as pressure on water resources rises.

“Addressing the global water challenge requires collective ambition, collaboration and solutions that look beyond today. Just as importantly, it requires investing in the next generation and empowering young people with the knowledge, capabilities and opportunities to collectively help shape the future of water. The inaugural Water Pioneers cohort reflects the ambition and determination of young Emiratis to be part of that effort. Water has always been an integral part of the UAE’s story, and through this Program, we are building on that legacy by empowering a new generation to contribute to addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Chief Executive Officer of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative.

Alumni network and wider initiatives

The initiative described the inaugural cohort as the first step in a longer-term ambition for the programme. After the initial 12 months, it aims to keep participants engaged through an alumni network. The network is intended to support continued collaboration on water-related initiatives in the UAE and internationally.

The youth programme runs alongside the initiative’s technology competitions. In March 2024 it launched XPRIZE Water Scarcity with the US-based XPRIZE Foundation. The five-year competition aims to develop more efficient and affordable seawater desalination technologies. It has a total prize purse of $119 million, made possible by a $150 million contribution from the initiative, and has attracted 600 teams from 82 countries.

In April 2025 the initiative launched the Al Miyah Challenge for Agriculture, an AED 8 million competition for technologies that reduce water consumption in agriculture while maintaining or improving crop yields. H2O Global News has previously reported on other programmes developing water talent and innovation, including the Imagine H2O 2026 accelerator cohort.

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