6 - 10 April 2025
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
Muscat, Oman
Chief Executive Officer - Nama Water Services
Qualifications:
Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University-2017
MSc in Major Programme Management from the University of Oxford– 2013
MSc Utilities Regulation - London School of Economics, UK - 2006
BSBA Finance and Economics - High Honors, GPA 3.8 - University of Louisville, USA – 2002
Summary
He started his career as an Economist at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority before joining the Authority for Electricity Regulation as a Regulatory Advisor in the Office of the Executive Director in 2007. During his professional career, Qais assumed direct responsibility for the regulation of the electricity sector and contributed to the expansion in scope and the establishment of other regulatory institutions in Oman.
He also advised the government on fuel diversity issues and the development of renewable energy projects while ensuring the electricity sector continues to operate efficiently and attract foreign investments.
He has extensive experience in restructuring and change management from his time as Chairman of Oman Postal Company and his participation as a member in the restructuring of the water and waste water steering committee.
Beyond the water sector, Qais is also actively involved on a number of steering committees and boards in various sectors including:
• Steering Committee Member of the National Program for Fiscal Balance (Tawazun)
• Board Member at OQ
• Board Member at National Olympic Committee
• Deputy Chairman of Oman Aviation Group
• Chairman of Oman Aviation Services 2019-2021
• Chairman of Oman Postal Company 2014-2016
Professional Experience:
2021-to date Chief Executive Officer– Nama Water Services
2014-2021 Executive Director– Authority for Public Services Regulation
2009-2014 Deputy Executive Director – Authority for Electricity Regulation
2007-2009 Regulatory Advisor – Authority for Electricity Regulation
2003-2007 Economist – Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
Regional Manager – Middle East & North Africa- UNFCCC - Green Climate Fund
Director of Water Research Center - Sultan Qaboos University
Strategy Planning & Management Manager - Nama Water Services
Nama Water Services (NWS) Company’s 5-years strategic plan is aligned with Oman Water Week 2025’s commitment to shaping a sustainable future for Oman’s water industry. In line with the event’s focus on advancing sustainability, innovation, and resilience in water management, NWS’s plan outlines strategic initiatives aimed at securing Oman’s water resources, promoting sustainable development, and addressing the nation’s evolving water needs, challenges, and future plans.
Undersecretary of Water Resources - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth & Water Resources
Member of the Strategic Advisory Group of the IMI UN Water and Former Minister in Charge of Water, Moroccan Government
Charafat Afailal, was the Minister in charge of water in the Moroccan government between 2013 and 2018 and is currently an international expert on water resources
Mrs Afailal was and is the member of board of several international organizations including Global Water Partnership (from 2021-2023) and member of Strategic Advisory Group of IMI UN_Water.
Mrs Afailal has been elected recently member of UN Committee of Economic, Social and Cultural Right for 2025-2028 mandate.
Over the past 27 years since graduating with Engineering degree, Ms Charafat Afailal has accumulated a rich expertise in the field of: water governance, planning, integrated water resources management, climate change adaptation strategies, Gender mainstreaming in water sector, Management and implementation of Nexus projects, PPP projects structuring…
Ms Charafat Afailal also played an important role in the recognition of water as the sector most affected by climate change, which culminated in the organisation of the Water Action Day during COP 22 by CCNUCC, in this sense she chaired the first International Conference on Water and Climate in Rabat in 2016.
Mrs. Afailal is a dedicated lecturer specializing in water policies and strategies. With a strong focus on sustainable water management. She has published numerous articles in the field of water governance and sustainable development.,
Mrs Charafat Afailal is a former parliamentarian in the Moroccan Representative House from 2011 to 2013.
Chief Planning and Asset Management Officer - Nama Water Services
Senior Manager - Research, Development, and Innovation - Oman Investment Authority
“Dr. Mohamed Al-Rawahi has an extensive RDI experience working with both academic and business settings. His academic background includes B.sc & M.sc from college of Agricultural and Marine Science, Sultan Qaboos University, PhD in Agro-ecosystem from Kassel University, Germany, and PostDoc in wastewater treatment from Helmholtz Center for Environmental Researches (UFZ), Germany”
Director of Operational Performance - Seureca
President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage
Acting General Manager, People Operations - Nama Water Services
Hamed Khalfan Al Ghaithi is a seasoned professional with over 19 years of experience in water and wastewater services, higher education, and healthcare. As Acting General Manager of People Operations at OWWSC, he leads strategic HR initiatives, optimizes workforce performance, and drives cultural transformation.
Hamed holds dual master’s degrees in Business Administration (Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK) and Strategic Quality Management (University of Portsmouth, UK), as well as a bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman). A certified lead auditor in ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 27001, and 55001, he champions quality, sustainability, health, safety, and environment (HSE).
In his role as IMS & Business Excellence Senior Manager, Hamed led OWWSC’s ISO certifications and integrated management systems, enhancing workplace safety and operational resilience. He successfully spearheaded cultural initiatives like OWWSC’s Culture Journey, fostering belonging and driving business performance.
A recognized speaker, Hamed has shared insights on cultural transformation, HSE, sustainability, and organizational excellence on national and international platforms. He is committed to advancing Oman’s water sector, embedding business excellence and HSE to create a positive impact on the community and environment.
Associate. Professor, Sultan Qaboos University
Dr. Mohammed Zahir Al-Abri is an Associate Professor in Petroleum & Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman. In addition to his academic position, he is the Founder and Director of Nanotechnology Research Center, SQU. He completed all his tertiary education from University of Nottingham (UK) from 2003-2007. His major interest lies in cutting-edge research in nanotechnology, water treatment, hydrogen production, membrane technology and environmental engineering including applications of nanotechnology in water and petroleum industries. Dr. Al-Abri has more than 30 major research projects in different areas of water treatment and desalination, nanotechnology for environmental and renewable energy applications, and membrane technology. He has more than 85 international journal papers, 30 international conferences, 25 technical reports, 4 patent applications and 3 book chapters. Dr. Al-Abri is a member of a number of international editorial boards including being a Topic Editor in “Membranes: MDPI Journal. He organized and co-organized several international conferences in nanotechnology and water treatment.
Head of Research, Development and Innovation - Nama Water Services
Interested in scientific research, she has won many awards in the field of innovation.
She believes in the importance of the role of research in finding innovative and sustainable solutions in the industrial field.
Dr. Buthaina is a specialized engineer. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemical and process engineering from Sultan Qaboos University in 2010. She joined after graduation. Directly in the field of work as the first treatment process engineer in Nama Group as a result of her keenness to expand and go deeper in her field, she completed her scientific career to obtain a master’s degree and a doctorate in environmental engineering, specializing in water treatment processes.
Thanks to the extensive knowledge she possesses in this specialty, she was able to progress smoothly through the career ladder and held several positions, including: Head of the Process Engineering Department, and she currently holds the position of Head of the Research, Development, Innovation and Sustainability Center.
Dr. Buthaina works alongside the research, development, innovation and sustainability team at Nama Water Services to develop the technical and technical aspects to achieve the sector’s sustainability by searching for effective alternative solutions in terms of technology and treatment cost, improving and developing the performance of existing operational assets to increase efficiency, in addition to testing And evaluate technologies by testing their products and suppliers’ services. In her capacity as head of the Center for Research, Development, Innovation and Sustainability.
Dr. Buthaina follows up the performance of carbon reduction and sustainability projects, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and employing the green circular economy, such as utilizing treated water in hydrogen production, converting sludge into energy, and extracting carbon dioxide, and represents the company in international conferences and activities to highlight the company’s role.
VP – Water & Wastewater, Marafiq – CUC
Said, with over 25 years of diverse experience in oil & gas, energy, and utilities sectors, is a strategic mind who consistently exceeds expectations. He has played crucial roles in commercial, operations & maintenance, project development, contracts management, supply chain, In-Country Value (ICV), strategic sourcing, and customer services across esteemed organizations like PDO, OLNG, Shell Global Solutions International, OPWP, OQ group, and currently at Marafiq. Said is a certified ACC coach, self-motivated, results-oriented, strategic mind-set and passionate about empowering and inspiring others to achieve their full potential and success.
Head of Municipal Water Services - Veolia
Businiess Unit Head - Oman AcwaPower
Saif Ali Al-Ghafri is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in the power and water sector, specializing in Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) and desalination plant operations. As the Operations Head at ACWA Power, Saif has been instrumental in driving innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability within the organization.
He is highly motivated and ambitious, possessing excellent management skills and a proven track record of working effectively in global and multicultural environments. Saif has led numerous initiatives to enhance plant reliability, optimize performance, and address technical challenges across multiple sites in Oman and beyond.
His expertise extends to advanced desalination technologies, particularly Reverse Osmosis (RO), where he has championed the adoption of next-generation membrane technologies and digital solutions to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Saif holds a strategic vision for the future of desalination and power industries, fostering collaborations between research entities and industry leaders. His contributions are widely recognized in the industry, and he actively participates in international forums to share knowledge and drive progress in sustainable water and energy solutions.
Expert - Desalination and Brine Concatenation Technology Gulf Core Company
I am highly motivated and have a solid academic and industry background (more than 25 years) in membrane/thermal
desalination technology development. I would make a valuable addition to the innovative R&D landscape. I have
contributed and participated in active R&D-based academic and industry firms to minimize the environmental
impact of desalination plants' brine blowdown via innovative technology and sustainability solutions. I have several
patent ideas for membrane and thermal brine concentration technology for salt production. This direction's strategic
benefit is encouraging technology localization and opening a new market out of brine mining/crystallization. Brine
mining would provide the local market with precious minerals. It would give the Gas and Oil field industry wet salts
required for intermediate transformation technology, such as polymers and Chlor-Alkali, to maintain Mud
composition and characterization.
Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre
Prof. Patchigolla joined Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC). His research focuses on advanced power generation cycles, renewables with energy storage, thermal desalination with minerals recovery and industrial decarbonisation. Currently Prof. Patchigolla has a research team of 3 PhDs and 3 postdocs at Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre. He has a strong track record in the production of high-quality peer reviewed journals papers (83 papers; h-factor=28-29) rated 4* for net zero thermal engineering approaches. Some illustrations include: Green methanol shipping corridor, CMDC round 4; reducing marine emissions, ASAYD shipping company via GUTech; Hydrogen liquefication and zero storage losses, REHIP; EU Project-DESOLINATION – “demonstration of concentrated solar power coupled with advanced desalination system in the Gulf region”, involving the design and manufacture of a 2.0 MWe sCO2 cycle and recovering minerals from concentrated brine to manufacture concrete aggregates.
Associate Professor - United Arab Emirates University
Dr. Ashraf Aly Hassan, currently holding the position of associate professor at UAE University. Formerly, he served as a faculty member at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and played pivotal roles in the industry, serving as a senior process engineer and R&D team leader at BioAir Solutions.
Dr. Aly Hassan completed his Ph.D. at the University of Cincinnati, followed by a three-year tenure as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Risk Management Research Laboratory of the US EPA. His educational background includes a master's degree from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Cairo University.
Dr. Aly Hassan's scholarly impact is evident through the publication of 100 Scopus-indexed peer-reviewed articles, yielding an H-Index of 23 and accumulating over 2000 citations. Throughout his academic career, he successfully secured over 2 million USD in research grants in both the USA and UAE. Dr. Aly Hassan leads a dynamic research group with a focus on various areas, including biodesalination, biohydrogen production, biological treatment of diverse pollutants, and the fate and transport of nanoparticles.
Projects Manager - Authority of Public Services Regulations
Dr. Salim Al Mamary is a Ph.D. holder in Project Management, University of South Australia, 2011. He has over 27 years of experience in project management, water resources management, water and networks projects, water utilities projects, water desalination, water recycling, irrigation projects, pumping stations, and flood protection dams in government and private sectors. Dr. Al Mamary has been involved in the planning, design, development, and management of several water-related projects in Oman. He has participated in water policy-making and water strategy planning. In the publication, He has over 20 papers presented at national and international conferences on the topics of water management, risks, and project management. Dr. Al Mamary is the Founder and Board member of Oman water society. He has a broad range of knowledge and involvement in international cooperation for research, seminars, conferences, and training on Project Management and Water Management.
Water Engineer - Authority for Public Services Regulation
Khaula Al-Balushi is a Water Engineer in the Projects Department of the Directorate of Water and Sanitation. She graduated from Sultan Qaboos University with a degree in Civil Engineering and currently specializes in desalination plants, with three years of practical experience in project management.
Her responsibilities include handling permits for new desalination plant projects, monitoring their progress, conducting field visits, and regularly overseeing operations at existing plants. She also ensures that the produced water meets the contracted specifications in collaboration with the Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company.
Additionally, Khaula is involved in initiatives and projects aimed at improving the water sector and providing high-efficiency, reliable services, aligning with the government’s ongoing efforts to develop the sector. This aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which aims to enhance service levels and promote sustainability.
Country Manager Oman & Qatar, Seureca, Veolia
CFO of GS Inima Middle East - GS Inima
Francisco Suárez has a degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Oviedo in Spain.
His experience includes more than 15 years in the field of international construction and infrastructure. He worked as CFO in Eastern Europe (Poland and Hungary) in the civil construction and infrastructure sector and continued his stage as Country Manager in Poland developing business with the opening of a new venture for the award and execution of different construction contracts.
The experience gained in International markets allowed him to assume new challenges in the African continent as Regional CFO of seven countries with different infrastructure projects, with special relevance the execution of the new embassies/residences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in six enclaves of the continent.
In 2018 he moved to the Middle East to develop further different infrastructure projects in the water/energy sector, joining GS Inima in 2021 as Country CFO in Oman and subsequently as Regional CFO. He supports different divisions of the company such as Construction, Operation & Maintenance and Concessions in the countries where
the company operates, leading the financial and administration departments as well as the management of its projects and assets.
Assistant Professor - University of Technology and Applied Sciences
Director of Digital Operations - SUEZ
Ben is a software engineer by background and a proponent of digital innovation within Suez from the Dubai office. For Suez, he supports water unities in the Middle East in the exploration and implementation of the latest available digital innovations. A resident of Dubai since 2024, he is passionate about efficient capital investment, and security of water supply for all.
Regional Head - Business Unit, Utilities - GF Corys Piping Systems
Mark Jarrett was born in Bedford, England in 1961. He has more than 40 years of experience in the gas and water industry working for with GF Piping Systems.
Initially employed in the Georg Fischer foundry in Bedford, UK he has held various positions related to manufacturing, product management and marketing of malleable iron fittings for gas and water distribution.
In 1996 he joined the headquarters of GF in Switzerland as a Regional Export Manger with responsibility for various gas and water distribution markets in South America, Europe, Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.
Since 2002 Mark has been based in Dubai, UAE from where he travels the region and lectures on specialized features of product design, testing and application. An important aspect of this function is to advise on product choice, system layout and introduction of new techniques for his company's extensive range of distribution products.
Mark is Regional Head of the Business Unit, he is also responsible for the certified theoretical and practical training of customer’s personnel at operational and supervisory levels for polyethylene products in the Gulf Region.
Managing Director Middle East and North Africa - Wilo Middle East FZE
Yasser is the Group Director of Wilo Middle East and North Africa, overseeing operations and strategic initiatives across the region. With a meticulous focus on detail and a profound understanding of the industry, he ensures Wilo's position as a frontrunner in the manufacturing of high-efficiency pumps and pumping systems.
Yasser Nagi holds an MBA from IESE Business School and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from The American University in Cairo. This combination of business and engineering education equips him with a unique skill set for leadership and innovation.
His leadership is characterized by a blend of strategic foresight, exceptional customer service, and a commitment to driving business success while maintaining a sharp eye on the evolving industry. Additionally, his years of experience in many well-known international companies spanning from vendor and resource management to creating and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), showcases his ability to drive results across various facets of the business.
Water Industry Development Manager - Siemens
As a seasoned professional with a track record of driving digitalization and sustainability solutions in the dynamic Energy and Water Utilities sector, I thrive on building lasting relationships and delivering results. With a career spanning over a decade, I've consistently excelled in techno commercial roles with industry giants like Oracle, Schneider Electric, and Areva T&D.
In my current role as regional Water Industry Development manager in Siemens Digital Industries, I lead the Middle East and APAC region in Digital Water solutions, strategizing, and executing successful digitalization projects targeting operational efficiency with our customers.
My expertise extends to advanced distribution management, IoT, SCADA/RTU, AI & ML analytics, cybersecurity, and more. Fluent in English and Turkish, I possess a unique blend of technical knowledge and business acumen.
International Sales Manager / Geospatial technologies Expert - Barthauer Software GmbH
Dr.-Eng. Belhaj Ali, a seasoned expert with over three decades of experience, is a leader in geospatial database
design, GIS web application development, and advanced technical studies in GIS. His specialization spans spatial
analysis, geospatial data integration, and the development of custom technical specifications tailored to client
needs. Proficient in industry-leading tools like ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Desktop 10, QGIS, and GvSIG, Dr. Belhaj Ali also
brings deep expertise in image processing with software such as PCI Geomatica, Erdas Imagine, and Envi. His track
record includes successfully managing complex GIS projects and designing innovative geospatial databases.
In the realm of project management, Dr. Belhaj Ali excels in strategic planning, team coordination, and the
management of budgets, contracts, and partnerships. A multilingual communicator fluent in English, French, and
Arabic, he has guided technical teams and mentored interns with remarkable effectiveness. Beyond industry
contributions, Dr. Belhaj Ali has an extensive academic footprint, actively participating in international conferences
and symposiums while leveraging over 20 years of teaching and mentoring graduate students across Tunisia, France,
and Saudi Arabia.
Strategic & Operational Assistance - Project Manager - Seureca
Senior Advisor - Witteveen+Bos
Michel Bretveld obtained his MSc degree in 2002 as a Water Supply Engineer at the Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. During his professional career of approximately 23 years within Witteveen+Bos he gained extensive knowledge in hydraulic modelling, design of water supply networks and NRW reduction. Since 2018 he has been the project manager of the Framework contract with the Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company in Oman and involved in numerous water supply projects ranging from master planning and feasibility projects to preparation of concept designs, detailed designs and tender documents.
Director of Strategic Growth Partnerships - WRC
Process Development Manager - Jaeger Envirotech
Mr. Pajooh holds a Ph.D. in Sanitary Engineering from Leibniz University Hannover, alongside degrees in Civil Engineering, an MBA, and expertise in Water and Environmental Management. With over a decade of experience in the water sector, he specializes in decentralized wastewater treatment systems, aeration technology, and biological wastewater treatment. Currently serving as the Process Development Manager at Jaeger Envirotech, Mr. Pajooh and his team have developed ShearCon® Process, which enables the transformation of conventional biomass into premium biomass without the use of chemicals. This premium biomass settles significantly faster, exhibits higher nitrification rates and enhances performance of wastewater treatment plants.
Regional Manager Water Engineering and Business - Brentwood Europe GmbH
Lead Process Engineer - Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions
PhD candidate Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands
Alaaeldin is a 4th year PhD candidate at the Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research. He develops electro-membrane processes for water treatment applications. His research focuses on ion transport through ion-exchange membranes and surface coatings. Furthermore, he investigates the integration of electrodialysis with other membrane technologies, such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration.
Assistant Research Professor - King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
I am currently working at Institute of Water Management and Treatment Technologies, KACST as an Assistant Research Professor at. I obtained my PhD in Environmental Science at School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland in 2022. My research focuses on the study of the occurrence, fate, and environmental impact of different emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals and personal care products in aqueous and terrestrial matrices. Other of my research interests is the removal rate of these compounds through different conventional treatment processes applied. My research also focuses on the development of analytical methodologies for determination of pharmaceuticals in environmental matrices.
Chief Operating Officer - PWT
Ghislain Juvanon, a seasoned executive with over 15 years of experience in the water treatment sector, currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at PWT. With a rich background in Europe and the GCC, Ghislain is known for his ability to lead complex water projects, drive operational efficiency, and implement sustainable solutions that align with global best practices. His expertise and leadership have co
Research and Development Senior Manager Oman Environmental Services Holding Company's (be'ah)
Head of Technology - Gradiant International Holdings
Country Manager - KSA / Development Manager Middle-East - Seureca
Dr. Mohammad Mourad is a distinguished environmental and water engineering expert with over 20
years of experience, including 15 years in project management and 9 years leading engineering
and consultancy business units. As Country Manager for KSA, Kuwait, and Bahrain at Seureca, he
oversees diverse projects in water, wastewater, and waste management for clients such as NWC,
MEWA, and ARAMCO.
Dr. Mourad's expertise spans waste management, environmental assessments, and infrastructure
engineering. He has led impactful initiatives, including the development of Saudi Arabia's National
Environmental Strategy, a diagnostic study of 94 sewage treatment plants, and the formulation of
hazardous waste facility RFPs. In addition, he has conducted environmental assessments for
industrial wastewater and lagoon remediation projects.
An innovator in Research & Development, Dr. Mourad has pioneered patented solutions for
wastewater networks and developed predictive tools for bathing water quality, funded by the EU
and French governments. He has authored over 30 scientific publications in renowned journals and
conferences.
Dr. Mourad holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the National Institute for Applied Sciences, LyonFrance, and is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.
Research And Development Technician - GS Inima Environment
Oriol Carbó holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), MSc in Biological and Environmental Engineering also from UAB and a PhD in Water Science and Technology from the University of Girona. He completed his doctoral studies in an industrial setting at the company GS Inima Environment, where he currently works in the R&D department developing new wastewater treatment technologies. He is currently working on the demonstration at full-scale of the combined HRAS, AGS and anammox processes in the mainstream of urban WWTPs.
Wastewater Projects Manager - Nama Dhofar Services
Using treated water for aquifer recharge of groundwater presents a wide spectrum of technical and health challenges. A major consideration is the possible presence of chemical and microbiological agents in the source water that could be hazardous to human health and to the environment. Concerns about hazardous agents in the water apply particularly to potable reuse. Although non-potable uses such as irrigation can result in human exposure to hazardous agents, there is less potential for exposure and the risks are therefore significantly lower.
In the present study, the sampling and observation results clearly indicate that the injection of the treated water in the aquifer system improves the groundwater quality and it may not have any discernible risk and harmful impacts for the aquifer system as well to the human health. A summarized review of the study is given in the case study.
The concept of treated water injection is becoming widely accepted and adopted by many countries especially those experiencing water shortages and saline water intrusion problems (Metcalf & Eddy, 2003, Toze, 2006; Fytili and Zabaniotou, 2007). Injection of treated water effluents can significantly reduce or completely remove the impact of these effluents on receiving environments. Additionally, the injection of treated waters may reduce the amount of water that needs to be extracted from environmental water sources. However, due to health and safety concerns, a careful study is required on the same.
Over ten years of treated water injection by SSDC (Currently NDS) into the quaternary rocks and the Adawnib formation aquifer has demonstrated that it has positively impacted the aquifer as evidenced by the increase in prevailing groundwater level. The historic groundwater level contours along with the current groundwater level contours results clearly indicates gradual increases in the groundwater level in the aquifer system, especially at the down gradient side of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 km distant from the Arabian Sea shore along injection strip (where the saline water intrusion possibilities are more).
Also, EC (Salinity) of the groundwater wells is shown to decrease in the injection area. From the TDS contour map , it is clearly evident that in and around the injection strip, groundwater TDS value is ≤ 2000 mg/L, whereas the outside of the injection strip the groundwater TDS value is > 2000 mg/L. Hence the results signify that due to injection of treated water, the salinity level gradually decreased in the aquifer system and therefore the actual objective of the injection of treated sewage effluent water in the aquifer was to stave off increasing groundwater salinities along the coastline resulting from seawater intrusion which was recommended in Dames & Moore 1993 report and the Groundwater Pollution Protection Master Plan (GWPPMP) prepared by Mott MacDonald (1999) is achieved by SSDC (Currently NDS).
Senior Natural Resources Officer - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Waleed is a distinguished expert in water management with over two decades of experience dating
back to 1996. His impressive career includes successful management of irrigation projects and
substantial contributions to international water management development. From 2018 to 2023, he
excelled as a water resources management expert at FAO, following a senior advisory role with
various international organizations from 1998 to 2018. This trajectory led to his promotion to the
position of professor of water resources management in 2020.
Educationally, Waleed holds two noteworthy PhD degrees in water management, reflecting his
commitment to innovative approaches to addressing water challenges, particularly in arid regions.
His academic achievements were further acknowledged through a prestigious post-doctoral
fellowship from the Japanese Society for Science and Technology (JSPS) between 2007 and 2009.
He has led numerous irrigation projects at global, regional, and national levels, showcasing his
expertise in integrated water resources management, irrigation modernization, RS/GIS-based
water project management, water reuse, water accounting, smart irrigation, water productivity, and
solar-powered water pumping. His substantial body of research, including over 70 articles in
esteemed international journals, underscores his dedication to advancing the field. Additionally,
Waleed serves as a highly respected reviewer for several prestigious international journals and is
an esteemed member of various international societies, including the International Commission on
Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). Currently, he holds a significant role as the lead technical officer
for multiple irrigation projects across KSA, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, and other GCC countries, where
his expertise continues to drive sustainable water management solutions.
Head of Water Management - Petroleum Development Oman
Associate. Professor, Sultan Qaboos University
Dr. Mohammed Zahir Al-Abri is an Associate Professor in Petroleum & Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman. In addition to his academic position, he is the Founder and Director of Nanotechnology Research Center, SQU. He completed all his tertiary education from University of Nottingham (UK) from 2003-2007. His major interest lies in cutting-edge research in nanotechnology, water treatment, hydrogen production, membrane technology and environmental engineering including applications of nanotechnology in water and petroleum industries. Dr. Al-Abri has more than 30 major research projects in different areas of water treatment and desalination, nanotechnology for environmental and renewable energy applications, and membrane technology. He has more than 85 international journal papers, 30 international conferences, 25 technical reports, 4 patent applications and 3 book chapters. Dr. Al-Abri is a member of a number of international editorial boards including being a Topic Editor in “Membranes: MDPI Journal. He organized and co-organized several international conferences in nanotechnology and water treatment.
Performance Manager-Access to Water & Sanitation HUBGRADE Squad - Veolia
Regional Manager – Middle East Region - Litus Inc
John began his career in the UK manufacturing sector then progressed to the O&G industry, relocating to the Middle East in 2004 with, where he spent time working in the US and across the GCC. Initially performing testing for cementing and stimulation services as engineer, progressing to technical manager and operations manager primarily in upstream services. John has held multiple senior advisor and management roles with a diverse background of both operations and technical positions with major service companies. John joined the team at Litus in 2024 and has been an influential part in our growth in the MER.
Strategy and Business Development Manager - Enerflex
Associate Professor - Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Managing Director - H2O Biofouling Solutions B.V.
Harry Polman is owner and Managing Director of the company H2O Biofouling Solutions B.V. With more than 30 years of experience in the field of biofouling control in intake (cooling) seawater systems, Mr. Polman is recognized as an international expert in the field of Biofouling control and defining biofouling control strategies for both existing and new to build utilities. He has authored or co-authored several international papers, book chapters and consulted in more than 250 Biofouling related projects worldwide (e.g. Oman). Mr. Polman developed the biofouling control technologies Pulse-Chlorination® and EcodosingTM and has an expertise in testing new products and technologies for seawater treatment.
PhD Researcher - University of Debrecen
Student National university of science and technology
Member Of Oman Water Society - Oman Water Society
Head of Applied Chemistry Section - University of Technology and Applied Sciences – Muscat
Lead Non-Technical Facilities - OQ Alternative Energy
Research & Development Manager - Ara Petroleum
Lecturer - Global College of Engineering and Technology
Senior R&D Chemist - Kenana Sugar Company
Projects Engineer - Hema Energy Group
CEO & Co-Founder - Western Plasma Technologies
