Q3
From the A1RWATER editorial team
Published quarterly, every issue of A1RWATER Insights features trends, opinions and analysis from experts, thought leaders and changemakers within the water industry and beyond. For this inaugural issue, we present an introduction to A1RWATER, examine world-leading tools and best practices in water stewardship and offer insights about storytelling in sustainability and innovation.
This is just the beginning. Each issue will provide inspiration and practical takeaways that fuel our collective goal: ensuring water security for generations to come.
Issue 01 contributors
Founder, CEO
“Take Me to the Source: In Search of Water”
Research & Development Manager, Risk Filter Suite
WATER STEWARDSHIP HUB
Senior Water Stewardship Manager
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Commercial Officer
Managing Director
A LETTER FROM CEO ALEX GUY
Welcome to A1RWATER Insights
A1RWATER was born in Abu Dhabi, out of the belief that we could make a difference. Our technology, which transforms humidity in the air into high-quality water at scale, is a testament to what is possible when ingenuity meets necessity. We aim not only to supply water, but to do so sustainably and efficiently, minimising environmental impact and helping to end our reliance on single-use plastics. Our goal is to create decentralised solutions that will empower communities worldwide with water autonomy and security.
Our updated brand name, A1RWATER, emphasises this clear purpose. Water is the one resource that unites us all, essential to our everyday lives, survival and planet. This transformation also reflects our proud history of engineering technology-first solutions, and our continued pursuit to redefine water access, from a single drop to water for entire cities and communities.
Today, we are expanding internationally, within the GCC and beyond, and laying the groundwork to enter the U.S. market. This journey is full of collaboration and discovery, requiring resilience and adaptation. Every step forward is guided by our mission: to create the most sustainable source of water in the world.
As you read through this issue of A1RWATER Insights, I hope you find inspiration in the articles and insights that highlight what’s possible when clear intention meets rigorous execution.
As our team says, to go far we must go together. Whether you are a long-time supporter or new to our community, thank you for being here, and thank you to our featured experts for their invaluable insights on the future of water.
Where bold commitments meet regional innovation
BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN THE UAE
Just over 100 kilometres outside of Abu Dhabi, near the small city of Sweihan, more than 3.3 million solar panels stretch out in neat rows across a huge swath of desert to create one of the world’s largest standalone solar projects. Off the coast of Dubai, a 600-square-kilometre artificial reef — reported to be one of the world’s largest marine development projects — is being built to boost marine diversity and offset the impact of carbon emissions. And in nearby Sharjah, the Middle East’s first waste-to-energy plant is helping tackle the challenge of unrecyclable waste while producing 30 megawatts of low-carbon electricity.
The UAE has a reputation for making bold moves when it comes to tackling the impacts of climate change. Climate mitigation is a key goal in the country’s strategy for sustainable development and long-term prosperity, driving a raft of measures, laws and projects aimed at reducing its environmental impacts, boosting food and water security and decreasing its reliance on fossil fuels and plastics.
Two of the UAE’s top sustainability targets are also its biggest challenges: water security and plastic pollution. The UAE is one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, with a high dependency on single-use plastic water bottles. Amid the low recycling rates in the Middle East, where most waste ends up in landfills, experts say the UAE must tap into everything from legislation to public outreach to cutting-edge technology to ensure its citizens have future access to all the water they need without impacting the environment.
A commitment to adopting and investing in new technologies, along with an integrated water management strategy and a ban on single-use plastics, is a core component of the country’s Green Agenda 2030. The agenda sees the UAE tackling its water and plastic pollution issues from several angles, including advancing the development of energy-efficient water solutions, launching waste-to-energy plants to support its net-zero emissions objective and boosting investment in water conservation strategies.
“The government [creates] a favourable market environment for sustainable technologies by providing tax incentives, subsidies and grants for businesses and individuals adopting these technologies. This can help reduce the financial barriers associated with the initial investment in sustainable solutions.” says Rupert Wright, chairman of Ashbright, a strategic communications company, and author of “Take Me to the Source: In Search of Water”, published by Random House.
The UAE is also looking to policies as a way to change consumer behaviour for the benefit of the environment, such as its recent move to reduce plastic pollution and cut its dependency on bottled water. Worldwide, plastic waste often ends up in oceans, rivers, reservoirs and other water sources, impacting water quality and further squeezing the amount of usable water.
A survey conducted by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency in 2023 found that each UAE resident uses an average of 500 single-use plastic bottles a year. With a population of roughly 9.5 million, that adds up to an alarming 4.75 billion plastic bottles used across the Emirates annually. Meanwhile, a report presented in The World Government Summit in 2019 found that residents also used about 11 billion plastic bags each year.
To encourage citizens to pass on the plastic, the UAE introduced legislation that is being rolled out in three phases. In January this year, single-use plastic bags were banned, followed by all types of single-use bags in June. Over the next two phases, between 2025 and 2026, other single-use plastic products such as bottles, cups, plates, cutlery and Styrofoam food packaging will also be banned.
As Wright explains, “This shift towards sustainability can improve the UAE's reputation as an environmentally conscious nation. The implementation of new technologies, such as air-to-water [technology], has the potential to address water scarcity and reduce the reliance on single-use plastic bottles in the region. It is also particularly beneficial in arid regions like the UAE, where water scarcity is a significant concern.”
Alongside the government’s initiatives, the private sector is already working towards a range of innovative solutions that include everything from reducing plastic waste and boosting renewable energy to developing toxic-free cleaning products and even creating building products from date palm waste. The country’s cherished date palm industry — the UAE is one of the largest date producers in the world — inspired researchers from the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain to develop a biodegradable alternative to plastic straws using the tree’s leaves.
As the UAE looks to big ideas to solve its water security and plastic pollution problems, innovative technologies offer part of the answer for both the government and private companies.
“By working together, the government and private sector can create an enabling environment for the adoption of upcoming sustainable technologies,” says Wright. “This collaboration can accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future.”
Our world of water
Water’s critical role in our lives and economies
Average water consumption for common goods & uses.
Source: Stacker Media
Equivalent to
25,600+ single-use
500 ml plastic bottles of water
Equivalent to
290,000+ single-use
500 ml plastic bottles of water
The world generated ~139 million tonnes of single-use plastic waste in 2021.
Source: United Nations Development Programme
The water stress ratio is calculated by comparing the water withdrawal per capita (cubic metres per inhabitant per year) and the renewable water resources per capita (cubic metres per inhabitant per year).
Source: Abdul Latif Jameel
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ORGANISATION’S WATER RISK
Using the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Water Risk Filter to turn insight into action
As part of its global water stewardship efforts, Hilton used the WWF Water Risk Filter to explore, assess and respond to risks across its portfolio. The company mapped every property in its portfolio against global water risk, revealing varying levels of vulnerability across regions.
Hilton is now working to reduce water use intensity by 50%, and has identified 20 community water projects in areas of heightened water risk, with 12 projects already completed. In 2023, for example, the Hilton Global Foundation partnered with Instituto Agir Ambiental in Brazil to support women living in social vulnerability. By constructing 60 rainwater harvesting systems, the organisations provided 1,800 people with access to clean water.
The WWF Water Risk Filter is relevant to companies across various sectors, from agriculture to telecommunications. Its global dataset includes 32 basin indicators based on peer-reviewed spatial data. “Every basin will have a different risk focus according to the nature and conditions in the basin, coupled with the industry sector operating there,” says Meza.
The relationship between companies, communities and their water sources is one defined by dependence and impacts. “Water is not a global resource, but rather a local one,” says Rylan Dobson, WWF Senior Water Stewardship Manager. Site-specific analysis is therefore critical to ensuring that a company’s response to water is aligned with the unique local water challenges. Businesses must evaluate their risks by examining the cumulative water risks faced by each site in their value chain.
“We always recommend conducting a water risk assessment at the start of, and as part of, any strategy development process as it is a structured way of understanding the unique local water risks facing operational sites,” says Dobson.
WWF’s Water Risk Filter focuses on three core areas: physical, regulatory and reputational water risks across a company’s value chain. These categories carry potential financial implications, whether through increased costs, revenue loss or impacts on brand value.
WWF also divides its analysis into basin water risks, considering the company’s geographic locations and conditions of the basins and operational water risks, focusing on the company’s water reliance and impact on these ecosystems. “In combination, the two sets of results allow a company to better understand which sites not only face potentially challenging external conditions, but also which sites could face greater risks if the larger operational uses of or dependencies on water are similar to these external challenges,” says Dobson. “These insights can then enable companies to develop more localised, or contextual, strategies for more specific local water challenges.”
Physical risks emerge from a company's geographical location and its operational dependence on water. These risks include:
- Basin water risks: Companies situated in areas prone to water scarcity, flooding, poor water quality or ecosystem degradation.
- Operational water risks: Businesses heavily reliant on water for their activities or those that significantly impact water resources. This dependence can lead to operational disruptions if water availability or quality declines.
Regulatory risks are influenced by the governance and regulatory environment in which a company operates:
- Basin water risks: Companies in regions with unstable, ineffective or poorly implemented regulatory frameworks are at greater regulatory risk.
- Operational water risks: Businesses not prepared for regulatory changes or those non-compliant with existing regulations may face restrictions, fines or operational halts.
Reputational risks arise from the perceptions of stakeholders and local communities:
- Companies perceived as unsustainable or irresponsible in their water usage can face reputational damage, impacting potential media coverage and water-related conflicts.
TRANSFORMING INSIGHTS TO IMPACT
Next, it’s important to compare the three risk types — physical, regulatory and reputational — and evaluate the risk scores for each to identify which poses the highest threat. “There is no one- size-fits-all action plan for water,” says Dobson. “For some geographies or operational units, certain water action should be prioritised over others. Where water quality is a challenge, more resources and action should focus on this issue rather than efficiency.”
WWF recommends verifying and refining assessments with on-the-ground information. “Local-scale data often represents a more accurate overview of the context that might impact companies’ operations,” says Meza. “Once the WWF Water Risk Filter has been used for prioritisation, we always recommend users verify and refine with local expert knowledge before making any decisions.”
Companies can use scenario analysis to manage uncertainties and assess their long-term climate and water-related risks. WWF’s tool provides three scenario projections for the years 2030 and 2050: optimistic, current trend and pessimistic pathways. Planning for at least two scenarios, including a pessimistic one, helps prepare for a range of possible futures.
“While it is important to take contextually appropriate response actions to current water and biodiversity risks, strategies should also seek to build future resilience,” says Meza.
What is measured is set in motion. “Setting targets is a core part of business,” says Dobson, “and targets are a key element in monitoring the effectiveness of water and biodiversity strategies.” WWF recommends setting contextual targets that consider local water basin conditions, offering site-specific day-to-day guidance to ensure resources are strategically allocated for meaningful impact.
Where water dependencies and impacts are strategically material for specific operational units, WWF would encourage companies to consider setting science-based targets, established in line with the latest hydrological science recommendations. They continue to work with companies, financial institutions and partners worldwide to facilitate the development of a practical methodology to set these forms of targets.
A timely call to action
WWF's Water Risk Filter empowers businesses to become stewards of our planet's most vital resource: water. This responsibility demands precision and commitment, supported by the most current data. The WWF team ensures this by updating the Water Risk Filter every two years, with the latest enhancements launching in September 2024.
This is more than a tool; it’s a call to action for companies to lead with purpose, forging a path where businesses and ecosystems thrive side by side. To learn more about the WWF Water Risk Filter, visit riskfilter.org/water.
Managing water risk
GLOBAL WATER USAGE FACT SHEET
The urgent need for scalable solutions
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Meet Dave Cupit, one of the visionary minds behind A1RWATER’s atmospheric water technology
Dave Cupit has spent a lifetime disrupting water filtration and creating new atmospheric water generation (AWG) solutions. From pioneering systems for companies in the UK and U.S. to developing groundbreaking air-to-water technology in the GCC, Asia and beyond, his imaginative signature is found on revolutionary solutions for top-tier companies around the globe. Blending a keen engineering mind with blue-skies thinking and Six Sigma philosophies, his solutions are bold, exacting and transformative.
Today, as COO at A1RWATER, Dave oversees product R&D and installation. Dave joins us to discuss how A1RWATER has evolved, what’s unique about our technology and ideas he and our product team are pursuing next.
Q&A
DC: We started with a blank sheet of paper on the first of October in 2018. We wanted to begin from scratch with a brand new concept, a brand new design that we would develop from the bottom up, rather than trying to improve something and tear it down.
After auditing different manufacturers, with the exception of one, they all were essentially water cooler manufacturers. They had seen a niche in the market and added an extra compressor in their machines. Mostly the technology wasn’t commercially ready or real, which gave early air-to-water technology bad press.
We could have bought and badged another manufacturer’s product, but we decided if we were going to do it, the technology was going to be ours and it was going to be different. We said let’s lead the pack, or let's not do it at all.
THE EVOLUTION OF STORYTELLING IN SUSTAINABILITY
How a strong ESG narrative can transform audience engagement
A1RWATER
Chief Commercial Officer
The shift in sustainability narratives
Historically, sustainability was often relegated to the sidelines of corporate priorities. It was seen as an optional add-on, rather than a fundamental component of business strategy. Early narratives focused on compliance and risk mitigation, highlighting the bare minimum required to meet regulatory standards. However, as environmental challenges have become more pressing, this approach has shifted dramatically.
Today, sustainability is at the heart of business operations, influencing everything from product development to marketing strategies. Companies are not just reacting to regulations — they are proactively setting ambitious ESG goals. This shift has necessitated a new kind of storytelling, one that emphasises authenticity, innovation and long-term impact.
The power of an ESG story
An effective ESG story does more than showcase a company's green credentials. It weaves sustainability into the very fabric of the brand, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with stakeholders. For businesses, this means moving beyond platitudes and demonstrating tangible actions and results. It’s about showing — not just telling — how they are making a difference.
A strong ESG story can enhance brand reputation, build trust with consumers and attract investors. It can also differentiate a company in a crowded market, providing a competitive edge. For instance, consumers are increasingly favouring brands that align with their values, and employees are seeking purpose-driven employers. By embedding sustainability into their core narrative, companies can forge deeper connections with their audiences.
Takeaways for companies crafting their ESG narratives
01Be authentic
02Integrate sustainability into your core
03Tell a compelling story
04Be transparent and accountable
05Innovate for impact
CLEAN TECH IN THE UAE
Clean tech’s potential — what new UAE entrants should know
HA: It comes down to the clear and decisive nature of the UAE’s leadership. The UAE has a fantastic track record of hosting world-class sustainability events, from Expo 2020 to COP28 last year, where the world's brightest and best investors and green tech companies are given a global platform. Combined with the development of green ecosystems at Expo City, Masdar City, Dubai Tech Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park and many more, companies have world-class infrastructure and a favourable regulatory environment to do business in.
The government also supports new clean tech entrants with incentives, rebates and a vibrant investment sector with focused clean tech verticals and large portfolios in which to implement the technology they are investing in. The fact that the UAE is forward-looking while being small and dynamic means that it can implement innovative clean tech into the market quickly and efficiently.
Conclusion
The insights here represent just some of the challenges and opportunities surrounding global water security as we look ahead to the years to come. Stay tuned for future issues with topical insights, regional reporting and more.
It is a pivotal moment for government, corporate and sustainability leaders to choose responsible practices and make a lasting impact. Interested in learning more about how we can assist with your sustainable water strategies?