Khadim Al Darei, vice-chairman and co-founder of Al Dahra Holding and Michael Mirilashvili, CEO and president of Watergen, sign the agreement. Wam
Khadim Al Darei, vice-chairman and co-founder of Al Dahra Holding and Michael Mirilashvili, CEO and president of Watergen, sign the agreement. Wam
Khadim Al Darei, vice-chairman and co-founder of Al Dahra Holding and Michael Mirilashvili, CEO and president of Watergen, sign the agreement. Wam
Khadim Al Darei, vice-chairman and co-founder of Al Dahra Holding and Michael Mirilashvili, CEO and president of Watergen, sign the agreement. Wam

Making water from air: Abu Dhabi and Israeli companies sign agreement


Shuchita Gautam
  • English
  • Arabic

An Abu Dhabi company has signed a partnership with an Israeli firm to produce water from the air, it was announced on Thursday.

The UAE’s Al Dahra Holding, a company that produces animal feed and food products, and Watergen, the Israeli firm that develops water-from-air solutions, signed the agreement to enhance the Emirates' water security.

Air-to-water technology converts humidity in the air to water.

Both companies will work to create a renewable source of water for human and agricultural consumption.

The two companies agreed to establish a permanent centre in Abu Dhabi for manufacturing and distributing drinking and irrigation water production equipment.

Watergen has developed a technology to produce water from the air and patented the world's most energy-efficient atmospheric water generator (AWG).

The agreement was signed after a delegation of the UAE company visited Israel in October 2020.

It will help provide large quantities of drinking water and water used in the irrigation of farms, parks, reserves, ranches and remote areas.

The five-year project will be developed and adjusted to accommodate the UAE desert environment.

An AWG can produce up to 5,000 litres of water per day.

"Al Dahra aims to find sustainable and comprehensive environmental solutions that will protect the environment and support sustainable development programmes in the UAE," said Khadim Al Darei, vice-chairman and co-founder of Al Dahra Holding.

He said the technology will help create renewable water sources instead of digging wells or water desalination.

"Our visit to Abu Dhabi is due to the long-awaited Abraham Accord, which was signed by the UAE and Israel to establish stability in the region and normalise the ties between the two countries," said Michael Mirilashvili, CEO and president of Watergen.

AWGs have an internal water treatment system and can operate without any special infrastructure.

Large-scale AWGs are designed for towns, villages, factories, off-grid settlements and rural communities.

They can also be installed on rooftops, helping to decentralise the supply of safe drinking water in areas that have insufficient water infrastructure.

AWGs with capacities of up to 800 litres of water per day can be used in offices and smaller ones of 30 litres in homes.

Signing of the Abraham Accord in pictures

  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, speaks to Donald Trump, US president at the time, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in September 2020. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, speaks to Donald Trump, US president at the time, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in September 2020. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state at the time. Wam
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state at the time. Wam
  • Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Pompeo in Washington. Wam
    Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Pompeo in Washington. Wam
  • Sheikh Abdullah visits Washington in September last year. Wam
    Sheikh Abdullah visits Washington in September last year. Wam
  • Sheikh Abdullah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, US President Donald Trump, centre, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sign the Abraham Accord at the White House South Lawn. MOFAIC
    Sheikh Abdullah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, US President Donald Trump, centre, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sign the Abraham Accord at the White House South Lawn. MOFAIC
  • Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the White House. MOFAIC
    Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the White House. MOFAIC
  • Sheikh Abdullah, Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu at the White House during the Abraham Accord signing ceremony. MOFAIC
    Sheikh Abdullah, Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu at the White House during the Abraham Accord signing ceremony. MOFAIC
  • Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Mr Al Zayani wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Mr Al Zayani wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump sign the Abraham Accord. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump sign the Abraham Accord. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah speaks as Mr Trump looks on before the signing of Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AP
    Sheikh Abdullah speaks as Mr Trump looks on before the signing of Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AP
  • Sheikh Abdullah looks on from the White House as Mr Trump speaks at the Abraham Accord signing ceremony, also attended by Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu. AP
    Sheikh Abdullah looks on from the White House as Mr Trump speaks at the Abraham Accord signing ceremony, also attended by Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu. AP
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani stand on the Blue Room Balcony during the signing ceremony. AP
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani stand on the Blue Room Balcony during the signing ceremony. AP
  • Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Al Zayani shortly before participating in the signing of the Abraham Accord. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Al Zayani shortly before participating in the signing of the Abraham Accord. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah, with Mr Netanyahu, left, and Mr Al Zayani at the signing of the Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah, with Mr Netanyahu, left, and Mr Al Zayani at the signing of the Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AFP
  • US President Donald Trump speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP
    US President Donald Trump speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP
  • President Donald Trump walks to the Abraham Accord signing ceremony at the White House with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AP
    President Donald Trump walks to the Abraham Accord signing ceremony at the White House with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AP
  • US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at the White House to attend the Abraham Accord signing ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump. EPA
    US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at the White House to attend the Abraham Accord signing ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump. EPA
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House before the signing of Abraham Accord. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House before the signing of Abraham Accord. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, in the Oval Office. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, in the Oval Office. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah with Mr Trump in the Oval Office. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah with Mr Trump in the Oval Office. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with by President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with by President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National
  • The UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National
    The UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, is welcomed to the White House by US President Donald Trump. EPA
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, is welcomed to the White House by US President Donald Trump. EPA
  • Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Trump outside the White House. AFP
    Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Trump outside the White House. AFP
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed speaks to Mr Trump after arriving at the White House. Reuters
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed speaks to Mr Trump after arriving at the White House. Reuters
  • White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner walks away following a television interview on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington. Reuters
    White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner walks away following a television interview on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington. Reuters
  • US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome the arrival of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington DC. AFP
    US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome the arrival of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington DC. AFP
  • A delegation of senior UAE officials led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, prepares to depart for the White House to sign the Abraham Accord. MOFAIC
    A delegation of senior UAE officials led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, prepares to depart for the White House to sign the Abraham Accord. MOFAIC
  • US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AFP
    US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AFP
  • Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani arrives at the White House in Washington DC. AFP
    Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani arrives at the White House in Washington DC. AFP
  • US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
    US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
  • Preparations at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.
    Preparations at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.
  • Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.
    Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.
  • Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.
    Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.
  • Preparation at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. The National
    Preparation at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. The National