• Home
• /
• Local business

Dubai Set to Host IDA World Congress 2009

DUBAI — Dubai is set to host the biannual International Desalination Association, or IDA, World Congress 2009 for the first time in the Middle East scheduled from November 7-12, 2009.

IDA is a non-profit organisation comprising over 2,000 members from 60 countries, including scientists, end-users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia.

Preparations are underway to welcome approximately record 1,800 prominent desalination experts from across the globe next month for the world’s most-important event in desalination and water technology, which is being hosted by TechnoPark, the science and technology facilitator of Economic Zones World.

“We are talking about very strategic commodity or activity in this part of the world, which is water,” Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Dubai Institute of Technology - TechnoPark, said.

The five-day congress themed ‘Desalination for a Better World’ will address global issues on water management, latest desalination technologies, environmental and energy impacts of desalination and will focus on promoting sustainability in the sector.

Dubai and IDA relationship started in 2004 when the emirate becomes full member of the association. “We got the success to host the event after a long process,” Al Hashemi said, adding: “One Australian and two Chinese companies compete with us for hosting 
the event.”

“The objective of the conference is to gather the best and brightest in the industry under one roof, offering attendees quality exposure to the very latest developments in desalination and encouraging cooperation and development internationally on environmentally sustainable technologies in the sector,” he said.

The congress will feature five days of 26 technical sessions, 240 presentations, lectures, roundtable discussions, interactive sessions and workshops. A concurrent exhibition will showcase the latest equipment and technology from 70 participating companies from 21 countries.

“As technology makes advancements across the globe it is important to nurture a culture of innovation right here in the Middle East to accelerate sustainable economic development and to make the region technologically capable and globally competitive,” Al Hashemi.

Sessions will be held on topics as diverse as Alternative Ideas, Innovative Solutions and Nuclear Technologies for Desalination; Chemicals, Scaling and Cleaning and Mineral Recovery; Energy Recovery: A Dramatic Reduction in Energy Consumption for Desalination; and Environmental Sustainability.

· abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com