DOHA: Senior policymakers, diplomats, academics, and environmental experts gathered in Doha for a high-level panel discussion addressing one of the region’s most pressing challenges: water security. Organized by the Qatar International Academy for Security Studies (QIASS).

The event was held in collaboration with the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DIGS) and in partnership with Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Defense, and Public Works Authority (Ashghal).

Entitled ‘Water Security in the Arab World: Development Pathways and Conflict Roots,’ the event was inaugurated by Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE DrMohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi.

In his opening remarks, Al Khulaifi said: “We believe that water security cannot be achieved through individual efforts, but through collective cooperation and the establishment of joint frameworks for managing transboundary resources, moving away from the logic of conflict and toward the logic of partnership. In this context, I would like to emphasize three key messages.

“First, water security is a human security issue before it is a political one; we cannot speak of development or stability when people are deprived of their right to clean water. Second, technical solutions alone are not sufficient. We need sound policies, transparent governance, and regional cooperation that prioritizes shared interests over short-term gains. Third, water can serve as a bridge for cooperation, if managed wisely, becoming a gateway to economic integration and a tool for building trust among nations.”

The session examined how the Arab world’s acute water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and energy-intensive desalination, has transformed water from a technical issue into a strategic vulnerability. The speakers also highlighted Qatar’s opportunity to lead through low-carbon desalination, circular water economies, and regional cooperation frameworks that link the water, energy, and food sectors.

The discussion featured leading local voices including Dr Imad Mansour, Associate Professor - Critical Security Studies, DIGS; Brigadier Mohammed Yousef Al Jaida, Director of Environmental Directorate at the Qatari Armed Force - Ministry of Defence; Mohammed Jassim Al Sayegh, Civil Engineer at Ashghal, and Hammam Osama Abdelghafar, Marine Environment Researcher in the Environmental Monitoring and Inspection Department, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

“The Arab world’s water challenge is immense, but so is its capacity for innovation,“said Sarah de Vaulx from the Research and Analysis Department at QIASS.

“By aligning technological, environmental, and security priorities, we can turn water from a source of fragility into a foundation of resilience,” she added.

Echoing findings from the new QIASS research study ‘Water Security in the Arab World: Development Pathways and Conflict Roots’, participants stressed that the future of regional water security is dependent on collaboration through shared infrastructure, data transparency, and renewable energy integration. QIASS’s study calls for a new paradigm in managing the region’s water resources, transforming scarcity into resilience through cooperation, innovation, and sustainability.

Hesham Elgamiel, Senior Director Quality Control & Business Development, explained that the panel discussion was part of QIASS’s ongoing commitment to fostering knowledge exchange and regional cooperation on critical security and sustainability issues.

“Water is no longer a sectoral issue-it is a security imperative that shapes everything from national resilience to regional diplomacy,” said Elgamiel.

“At QIASS, we are bridging the gap between research and policy, helping to reframe water security as a strategic priority that demands integrated responses across energy, environment, and defence,” he added.