Arab Water Council (AWC)

What Arab Water Council (AWC) does

Arab Water Council (AWC) is a regional non-profit organization founded on April 14, 2004, and headquartered in Cairo, Egypt under a Host Country Agreement with the Egyptian government (signed February 2009). It functions as the principal multi-stakeholder platform convening 880+ members across all 22 Arab states — government authorities, regional and international organizations, academic and research institutions, private sector entities, civil society/NGOs, and individuals — to address integrated water resources management challenges in a region holding less than 1% of global renewable freshwater while hosting approximately 6% of global population. AWC operates under the auspices of the League of Arab States, which confers quasi-governmental legitimacy, and is governed by a triennial General Assembly, a 45-member Board of Governors, an Executive Committee, and a Permanent Secretariat.

AWC's core product portfolio centers on its triennial Arab Water Forum (the region's premier convening platform, with the 7th edition scheduled for Jeddah in April 2026), the bilingual peer-reviewed scientific journal AL-MAA (published twice yearly since 2010), quarterly newsletters (50+ issues since 2007), Arab State of the Water Reports, a 13-volume Encyclopedia on Water Resources, and the Arab Geographical Information Room (AGIR) digital platform. The organization maintains specialized networks — the Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWR) Network, Regional Climate Security Network, Network of Arab Women in Water (NAWW), and Youth Network — and operates the Arab Water Academy in Abu Dhabi (since July 2008, hosted by Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi with ICBA) and is establishing the King Mohammed VI International Center in Morocco.

Revenue is generated through six-tier membership subscriptions ranging from US$5 (youth) to US$1,000 (private sector and regional/international organizations), annual sponsorships, and project-based grants from institutional funders including the World Bank (notably a US$5.644M GEF grant for the Regional Coordination on Improved Water Resources Management project), USAID, GEF, UNDP, FAO, IWMI, and the League of Arab States. Strategic partnerships with CIHEAM Bari, NASA, US Geological Survey, and American University of Beirut extend technical and academic reach.

Name

Arab Water Council (AWC)

Legal name

Arab Water Council

Website

https://arabwatercouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arab Water Council (AWC) is a Cairo-headquartered regional non-profit, founded in 2004 under the auspices of the League of Arab States, that convenes 880+ members across 22 Arab states to coordinate integrated water resources management through its triennial Arab Water Forum, AL-MAA journal, technical publications, AGIR data platform, and four specialized networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resources Management Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Water resources management
• Integrated water management
• Non-conventional water resources
• Water security strategy
• Capacity building programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairo

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees from six membership categories: Youth (US$5), Individuals (US$50), Civil Society/NGOs (US$100), Academic/Research Institutions (US$400), Regional/International Organizations (US$1,000), and Private Sector (US$1,000). Annual subscription runs from January to December and fees are reviewed annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Arab Water Council is a regional non-profit membership-based organization that coordinates water resources management across 22 Arab countries. It delivers value through the triennial Arab Water Forum, the bilingual AL-MAA scientific journal, technical publications, State of Water Reports, a 13-volume Encyclopedia on Water Resources, and specialized networks covering non-conventional water resources, climate security, women in water, and youth. Services include policy direction, capacity building, knowledge dissemination, and stakeholder convening for integrated water resources management.

Product overview

The Arab Water Council (AWC) is a regional non-profit organization that serves as a platform for water stakeholders in the Arab world. AWC operates as a membership-based organization offering a portfolio of products and services including: the triennial Arab Water Forum as its premier platform, the bilingual Scientific Journal 'AL-MAA' published twice yearly, quarterly newsletters, technical publications and reports, Arab State of the Water Reports published jointly with partners, a 13-volume Encyclopedia on Water Resources, and various specialized networks including the Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWR) Network, Regional Climate Security Network, Network of Arab Women in Water, and Youth Network. These products work together to advance integrated water resources management, knowledge dissemination, and capacity building across the Arab region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arab Water Forum (AWF): The region's premier triennial platform dedicated to advancing water security, resilience, and cooperation in the Arab region.
• AL-MAA Scientific Journal
• SDG-Climate Facility
• NCWR Network
• Network of Arab Women in Water (NAWW)
• AWC Youth Network

Products and services

• Arab Water Forum (AWF) Triennial platform mobilizing water stakeholders across the Arab region to identify water-related priorities and define solutions to regional and country-specific water challenges.
• AL-MAA Scientific Journal Bilingual scientific refereed journal published twice yearly since 2010, publishing scientific papers on integrated water resources management, water policies, trans-boundary water issues, water conflicts and diplomacy.
• AWC Newsletters Quarterly newsletters keeping members and stakeholders informed on recent achievements, developments, and news updates of the Council.
• Arab State of the Water Reports Country-level water resources assessment reports prepared jointly with CEDARE and ACSAD, sponsored by UNEP, covering water resources at the Arab regional scale with methodology documentation.
• Encyclopedia on Water Resources 13-volume encyclopedia published jointly with the Bari Institute covering water resources development and management in arid and semi-arid regions of the Arab World.
• Arab Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWR) Network Network providing database and platform to develop and promote non-conventional water resources technologies across five components: treated wastewater, desalinated water, agricultural drainage water, brackish groundwater, and rainwater harvesting.
• Regional Climate Security Network (RCSN) Network providing a platform for stakeholders to address interconnected climate, water, and security risks across the Arab region and develop integrated climate security frameworks.
• Network of Arab Women in Water (NAWW) Network promoting gender balance and women empowerment in water resources management and decision-making processes across the Arab region.
• AWC Youth Network

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 880 members from 22 Arab countries representing various stakeholder groups
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CIHEAM Bari (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2023Longstanding strategic partnership for water resource management collaboration in Mediterranean and Arab Gulf regions. Joint Board of Governors meetings held July 18-19, 2023. Dr. Roula Khadra appointed as member of AWC executive committee. AWC participating in preparation of Mediterranean Water Forum during 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto City.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in SDG-Climate Facility multi-phased program aiming to integrate climate measures into SDG policies and develop national capacities in accessing climate finance. Also partner in Regional Climate Security Stakeholder Dialogue organized December 2020.
• League of Arab States (LAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWC operates under the auspices of the League of Arab States. LAS provides institutional framework and political backing for AWC activities including Arab Water Forum co-convening and participation in Arab Sustainable Development High-Level Committee.
• UNDP Arab StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiator of Climate Risk Nexus Initiative with LAS, AWC, UNISDR, WFP, UNEP-FI and WMO. Initiative develops capacities of LAS and Member States to enact decisions and policies for managing growing complexity of risks.
• UNISDR (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Risk Nexus Initiative and SDG-Climate Facility. Collaborates on integrating disaster risk reduction with climate change and water security frameworks.
• WFP (World Food Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Risk Nexus Initiative and co-publisher of Climate Change and Social Vulnerability Report launched March 2023. Collaboration on food-water security nexus and anticipatory action frameworks.
• UNEP-FI (UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Risk Nexus Initiative and SDG-Climate Facility. Focus on integrating environmental and financial considerations for climate resilience.
• WMO (World Meteorological Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Risk Nexus Initiative contributing meteorological and climate data expertise for water security planning.
• US Geological Survey (USGS)majorTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner in Acceleration of ASR in MENA Region project contributing geological and hydrological expertise.
• American University of Beirut (AUB)majorTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner in Acceleration of ASR in MENA Region project providing research capacity.
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead agency for ReWater MENA project (2018-2022, 4-year project) expanding safe reuse of water in MENA region. Addresses barriers to reuse and promotes safe reuse practices for food safety, health and livelihoods.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Guidelines for Brackish Water Use for Agricultural Production in NENA Region project (2014-2015). Also partner in FAO Water Scarcity Initiative with AWC participating in four working clusters.
• NASAmajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner in Regional Coordination on Improved Water Resources Management program supporting earth observation and satellite data for water resources management.
• Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Arab Water Academy (AWA) in Abu Dhabi. Provides institutional base for regional center of excellence for executive education in water supporting countries' transition to integrated water management.
• International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi in hosting Arab Water Academy. Contributes expertise in saline agriculture and water resource innovation.
• CEDARE (Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of Arab State of the Water Reports (2004, 2012) with AWC and ACSAD, sponsored by UNEP. Contributes to water resources assessment across Arab region.
• ACSAD (Arab Center for Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of Arab State of the Water Reports with AWC and CEDARE. Contributes expertise on arid zone water management.
• World Food Programme Regional Bureau CairomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication of Climate Change and Social Vulnerability Report launched March 2023. Collaboration on addressing climate change, migration and gender nexus.
• MEDWAYCAP Project / ENI CBCMEDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWC participated in MEDWAYCAP 2nd Innovation Camp organized by National Agriculture Research Center in Jordan and CIHEAM Bari. Workshop on capitalization of NCWR treatment, reuse, and management knowledge.
• IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical Study Tour and Field Visit under IFAD/CASP Programme (Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme) involving Nigerian delegation focused on irrigation infrastructure and water management.
• GWP-Med (Global Water Partnership Mediterranean)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on Women & Water Diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa Consultation Workshop with Geneva Water Hub, supported by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
• Geneva Water HubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on Women & Water Diplomacy workshop with GWP-Med, supported by Sida under 'Making Water Cooperation happen in the Mediterranean' Project.
• Singapore International Water WeekmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed between AWC and Singapore International Water Week for years 2012-2013 to enhance cooperation and knowledge exchange in water sector.
• African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented recognition award to AWC President Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid at 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal recognizing AWC's contributions to African water sector.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of CyprusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed during 3rd General Assembly for enhancing cooperation to promote dialogue and share knowledge and experiences for water resources management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arab Center for Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD): Damascus-based League of Arab States organization focused on arid zones research. ACSAD co-publishes the Arab State of the Water Reports with AWC and CEDARE, and addresses water resource management in the same geographic footprint, making it a directly comparable peer for regional water research coordination.
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI): Research-for-development CGIAR organization focused on water management in developing countries. IWMI is a strategic partner of AWC (lead agency for ReWater MENA) and operates with comparable mandate on water resources research, policy advisory, and capacity building in overlapping geographies.
• Global Water Partnership Mediterranean (GWP-Med): Regional water partnership covering the Mediterranean basin, working on integrated water resources management. GWP-Med has collaborated with AWC on water diplomacy workshops and shares focus on trans-boundary water cooperation, capacity building, and stakeholder convening.
• African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW): Continental-level intergovernmental body coordinating African water ministers. AMCOW presented AWC's president a recognition award at the 9th World Water Forum, demonstrating comparable convening role and multi-stakeholder engagement model at a continent scale analogous to AWC's regional scope.
• Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE): Regional intergovernmental organization based in Cairo focused on environment and sustainable development in the Arab region. CEDARE co-publishes the Arab State of the Water Reports with AWC and shares overlapping mandates on water resources management across the same 22 Arab countries.

Broad incumbents

• UN-Water: UN inter-agency coordination mechanism for freshwater and sanitation issues. UN-Water provides the global umbrella under which AWC's work on SDG 6 (water and sanitation) sits, and several AWC partner agencies (UNDP, WFP, FAO, WMO, UNEP) are UN-Water members.
• World Water Council: Global multi-stakeholder platform organizing the World Water Forum (triennial global event). World Water Council is the global counterpart to AWC's regional Arab Water Forum and operates with an analogous membership and convening model across a wider geography.

Emerging players

• CIHEAM Bari (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari): Italy-based Mediterranean agronomic research center with longstanding strategic partnership with AWC for water resource management. CIHEAM Bari co-hosts AWC Board of Governors meetings and collaborates on Mediterranean Water Forum planning, with overlapping focus on agricultural water use.
• Geneva Water Hub: Switzerland-based hub focusing on water diplomacy and hydrodiplomacy. Geneva Water Hub has partnered with AWC on Women & Water Diplomacy workshops and addresses overlapping concerns around transboundary water cooperation, though at a global rather than Arab-region focus.

Regional players

• Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD): UAE federal environment regulator that hosts AWC's Arab Water Academy (AWA) and partners on capacity-building initiatives. EAD has overlapping focus on integrated water resources management in a single GCC country, making it a regional peer with narrower geographic scope than AWC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arab-water-council-awc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Arab Water Council (AWC)