Abu Dhabi DoE Partners With Goldman Sachs To Enhance Water Security And Sustainable Growth

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has entered into a significant agreement with Goldman Sachs International. This collaboration aims to explore innovative financing models for ensuring long-term water security in the emirate. The initiative also supports sustainable economic growth, marking the first such partnership between a government entity in Abu Dhabi and Goldman Sachs.

The agreement was formalised during a DoE delegation's visit to the US. Dr Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, and Jared Cohen, Co-Head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute, signed the agreement. Senior officials and experts from both parties were present at the event.

Dr Al Jarwan emphasised that water security is crucial to Abu Dhabi's energy transition agenda. He stated, "Water security is a central pillar of Abu Dhabi’s broader energy transition agenda. Our partnership with a global financial institution like Goldman Sachs reflects the emirate’s commitment to attracting world-class expertise and investments to deliver flexible, efficient, and future-ready water systems." This partnership aligns with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.

The collaboration will focus on reducing network losses and advancing desalination technologies powered by clean energy. It aims to foster conservation practices while positioning the UAE as a regional leader in sustainable utilities. The agreement is part of DoE's strategy to increase private sector involvement and attract AED400 billion in foreign investment by 2050.

Under this agreement, both parties will work on attracting foreign direct investment and forming public-private partnerships. They plan to modernise water infrastructure using advanced treatment technologies and enhance water network resilience. Asset monetisation strategies will be explored to enable private capital investment in essential projects.

The mission led to several outcomes, including cooperation frameworks, joint task forces, knowledge-sharing programmes, and pilot projects in AI, energy storage, and water efficiency. Agreements were also made for US institutions to participate in Abu Dhabi Energy and Water Week 2026.

Learning from Global Models

Dr Al Jarwan highlighted that learning from US regulatory and technological models can help shape effective policies for future-ready infrastructure. He noted significant interest from US partners in research, technological innovation, and joint investment opportunities in sustainable infrastructure.

The AD.WE platform was introduced as a national tool supporting digital transformation through artificial intelligence and predictive analytics for efficient resource management. This platform attracted interest from US partners keen on research collaborations.

Expanding International Cooperation

This visit underscores DoE's commitment to fostering international cooperation and expanding strategic partnerships. Dr Al Jarwan expressed eagerness to translate this mission's outcomes into tangible actions like joint projects and cooperation agreements.

The DoE aims to adopt global best practices across energy, water, and agriculture sectors through strategic partnerships with leading research centres, universities, entrepreneurs, investment companies, and sovereign funds.

This initiative marks a step towards securing sustainable resources while promoting economic growth through international collaboration. The focus remains on creating solutions that are economically viable, environmentally responsible, and socially beneficial for Abu Dhabi's future development.

With inputs from WAM