{"id":72598,"date":"2026-11-02T17:23:18","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T17:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hashtagdubai.org\/?p=72598"},"modified":"2026-11-02T17:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T17:23:18","slug":"arab-youth-center-water-innovation-30-projects-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hashtagdubai.org\/index.php\/2026\/11\/02\/arab-youth-center-water-innovation-30-projects-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Arab Youth Center opens Youth Pitches to the world, supporting 30 water innovation projects from 26 countries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Previously focused on Arab youth, the 8th edition expands globally to empower young innovators to contribute to international water security efforts, with six finalists to showcase their solutions at the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi, 2 November 2026<\/p>\n

The Arab Youth Center (AYC) has launched the training phase of the eighth edition of Youth Pitches, opening the initiative beyond the Arab world for the first time to empower young people from across the globe to contribute to international efforts on water security. Bringing together 30 projects and startups from 26 countries, this year\u2019s edition provides training, mentorship and acceleration support to help young innovators develop practical responses to water scarcity, pollution and flood risks.<\/p>\n

Six projects will be selected to showcase their innovations at the Youth Pavilion during the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE will co-host with Senegal in Abu Dhabi this December. The programme creates a pathway for participants to strengthen their solutions and engage with government entities, industry experts, investors and potential partners who can support their development and implementation.<\/p>\n

The global expansion builds on AYC\u2019s work to develop young people\u2019s capabilities and strengthen their contribution to development priorities. By bringing innovators from different countries into one programme, the Center aims to encourage the exchange of knowledge and give youth a greater role in addressing water challenges that affect food production, public health and community safety worldwide.<\/p>\n

\"Archive<\/p>\n

Al Hallami: Enabling youth to contribute to shared global priorities<\/h2>\n

Fatima Al Hallami, Executive Director of AYC, said: \u201cOpening Youth Pitches to global participation strengthens the Arab Youth Center\u2019s role in bringing together young innovators from different countries to exchange expertise on shared water challenges. The UAE\u2019s hosting of the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi also gives the qualifying projects an opportunity to present their solutions to water sector stakeholders and discuss the support they need to grow and reach the communities they aim to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cWater challenges affect farmers\u2019 ability to produce food, the quality of water families use and the safety of communities exposed to flooding. We empower young people to develop solutions that respond to these needs, helping them assess feasibility, understand costs and implementation requirements, and connect with the expertise and partners that can support delivery. The value of innovation lies in its ability to solve a real problem and deliver lasting benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fatima<\/p>\n

Solutions for agriculture, water resources and community safety<\/h2>\n

Participating projects address a range of water challenges, from improving agricultural efficiency to helping communities prepare for extreme weather.<\/p>\n

Hareth, developed by the UAE\u2019s Shouq Mirza Al Blooshi, uses AI-powered irrigation technology to reduce water waste and support sustainable agriculture. Jordan\u2019s PETtrace is developing smart tools and an application that enable communities to monitor plastic pollution in rivers and collect data to help protect water resources.<\/p>\n

FloodSense Ghana is developing a solar-powered flood early-warning system to help communities prepare for flooding and reduce risks to residents and agricultural areas. In the Netherlands, Algaenius is developing technology that uses microalgae to desalinate seawater and capture carbon dioxide, with the aim of producing drinking water.<\/p>\n

Together, these projects illustrate the range of local needs the programme seeks to address, while creating opportunities for participants to learn from approaches developed in other countries.<\/p>\n