Latest news with #AbuSoud
Ammon
17-05-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Minister: Water shortage threatens tourism, industry, and agriculture sectors
Ammon News - Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu Soud, said Jordan faces "major" challenges in the water sector, adding that the annual per capita share does not exceed 60 cubic meters, one of the "lowest shares" globally, effectively making Jordan the world's most water-poor country. Abu Soud said the ministry is working on two parallel tracks to ensure Jordan's water security, indicating that the first is implementing the National Water Carrier Project, and the second aims to reduce losses and improve "efficiency" of networks using modern technologies. The minister's remarks came during a dialogue session held recently by the Jordan Economic Forum (JEF) to discuss challenges facing the Kingdom's water sector. According to a JEF statement issued Saturday, Abu Soud noted the National Water Carrier Project is one of the "largest strategic" enterprises in the Kingdom's history and is the cornerstone of "sustainable" water supply in the coming years. The project, he noted, will provide approximately 300 million cubic meters annually, which would make a fundamental difference in meeting needs of citizens and economic sectors. The minister indicated that water issue is "no longer simply a service, but rather a national security issue." If the per capita share falls below 30 cubic meters annually and the situation continues unchanged, it would have significant repercussions on all sectors, mainly tourism, industry, and agriculture sectors, he pointed out. During the session, moderated by JEF's Board Member Malak Oqili, the minister said tourism will be one of the most affected sectors, which would impact its "competitiveness" due to its need for more water that will then increase the operating costs in this industry. In the industrial sector, the minister stated that the increased cost of industrial water will place additional burdens on factories and lead to "higher" production costs, which could weaken exports competitiveness. As for the agricultural sector, he noted the decreasing water supply threatens to shrink agricultural areas and reduce production. Regarding challenges of outdated networks and modern technology, Abu Soud said the ministry is working to reduce the loss rate in networks that are suffering from deterioration, as some fixtures are more than fifty years old. Abu Soud stated the ministry aims to reduce water loss by 2% annually, equivalent to approximately 5 million cubic meters per year. The minister noted this goal is being fulfilled by replacing water networks, detecting leaks early, and controlling violations.
Jordan Times
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Water Ministry, FAO discuss regional water scarcity initiative
Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity for the Near East and North Africa (NENA) aims to support strategic planning and improve water resource management (Photo courtesy of FAO) AMMAN — Minister of Water Raed Abu Soud and Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Nabil Assaf on Sunday discussed the Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity for the Near East and North Africa (NENA). The initiative aims to support strategic planning and improve water resource management, promote the use of non-conventional water sources, ensure water sustainability, enhance governance in agricultural water use, strengthen the resilience of food systems and water services to climate change, and foster knowledge-sharing through regional cooperation. Abu Soud stressed the initiative's 'importance' in addressing Jordan's water challenges and those facing the broader region, reviewing national efforts to safeguard water sustainability through strategic planning and the search for innovative solutions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The minister noted that the initiative offers a 'valuable' platform to improve water resource management and planning, promote sustainable water use in agriculture, develop technical capacities, raise awareness, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and the best practices. He added that the ministry, in collaboration with key stakeholders, aims to implement integrated water resource management, strengthen water governance, and improve the flexibility and security of water services. Abu Soud pointed out that the initiative also seeks to introduce modern irrigation and agricultural technologies to advance food security and counter climate change, while reinforcing regional cooperation for sustainable water resource management. Assaf highlighted the critical role of partnerships in confronting regional water scarcity, especially in light of challenges such as climate change, irregular rainfall, and declining water quality, all of which affect food availability across the region. The NENA Region, already naturally exposed to chronic shortage of water, will be exposed in the coming decades to a 'severe' intensification of water scarcity due to several drivers, including demographic growth, tendency to increase food self-sufficiency to reduce vulnerability to import and price volatility, urbanisation expansion, energy demand and overall socio-economic development, according to Per capita fresh water availability, which has already decreased by 66 per cent over the last forty years, will probably decrease by another 50 per cent by 2050. Also, there is an 'alarming' trend observed over last decades showing that the NENA Region is experiencing more frequent, intense and long droughts as a consequence of climate change, the website said. Agriculture, which consumes already more than 85 per cent of available fresh water resources, will face 'strong' challenges in keeping the same water allocation while sustaining food security and rural economy, according to FAO. Countries in the region need to plan strategically their water resources allocation, review their water, food security and energy strategies to ensure that they are aligned with the imperative of making the best use of each single drop of water, the website added.
The National
26-03-2025
- Sport
- The National
The UAE-founded halal football prediction app giving fans more ‘skin in the game'
The founder of a new gaming app that allows users to predict the outcome of football matches without breaching Shariah – Islamic law – is hoping to expand into other sports. Zaid Abu Soud, a former mixed martial arts (MMA) organiser, launched Hajem Sports in the UAE in January to give Muslim users a thrill similar to gambling but without placing a monetary bet. After an encouraging start with football, he is now hoping to add MMA and basketball matches to the options in the future. 'I would like to push for a mixed martial art, but my team would like to push for basketball,' says Abu Soud. But the biggest potential addition is esports, he says, adding that it is one of the fastest-growing and most followed activities in the region. Similar to sports betting apps that are typically found in the West, Hajem allows users to predict the outcome of a football match without placing a monetary wager. 'We wanted to give the Arab or Muslim user a skin in the game without committing a vice,' says Abu Soud. Betting is prohibited in Islam. But Hajem users play for points rather than money. Five credits are made available every day and correct predictions are rewarded with points. Users move up and down local and global league tables on the app in line with the outcome of their predictions, giving them the excitement of competition without any money changing hands. Abu Soud's original goal was to give Muslim sports fans the chance to watch football with friends and enjoy an added element of competition. 'They're 'betting', but not with money,' he explains. 'They're 'betting' with their reputation and know-how. They want to prove to their friends that they are smarter than them and that's what Hajem lets them do.' Abu Soud found during his research of sports betting apps commonly found in the West that the majority of wagers involve small amounts of money. Most of the time, he figured, they are using the apps for fun. Hajem was designed with that in mind. 'It's about the feeling – the high of winning without the financial interaction associated with it,' he explains. Most of Hajem's revenue comes from selling digital assets, such as skins for users' avatars. Abu Soud hopes to attract new users around the globe who are interested in sports but do not want to break Islamic laws or wager their hard-earned money. He believes his app is an attempt to 'innovate in a familiar space without all its pitfalls' and enables Emiratis and others in the region to have fun while holding on to their 'important values'.
Jordan Times
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Jordan celebrates World Water Day, pursues sustainable water resource management
AMMAN — Jordan on Saturday celebrated the World Water Day, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing the sustainability of its water resources through "ambitious" projects and strategic plans to preserve water and ensure a secure and sustainable water future. World Water Day, observed annually by the United Nations on March 22, aims to highlight the importance of water and inspire action to address the global water crisis. Jordan places "significant" importance on sustaining its water resources, recognising water as a fundamental resource for life and sustainable development. Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the Kingdom has achieved notable success globally in advancing the sixth Sustainable Development Goal: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all. Despite growing challenges and pressure on water facilities, Jordan focuses on sustainable management of water resources, wastewater, and ecosystems while emphasising the need for a supportive environment. He added that the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda includes a commitment to systematically monitor and review progress towards the desired goals and targets using relevant global indicators, a commitment Jordan is working to fulfil through carefully studied plans. Abu Soud highlighted Jordan's integrated strategies for water conservation and achieving water security through desalination, reusing treated wastewater for irrigation, constructing dams, implementing water harvesting projects, and managing groundwater. "World Water Day offers an opportunity to reaffirm and implement the directives of the Letter of Designation and the concern of His Majesty King Abdullah over the water issue, which is strategically vital for water and food security," the minister said. "Speedy implementation of strategic projects to achieve water security is essential, with the National Carrier Project being a key initiative that will provide 300 million cubic meters of water annually. Efforts are also underway to reduce water loss, curb water pipeline violations, and hold offenders accountable," Abu Soud said. Recently, the government launched the National Water Strategy for 2023-2040, outlining objectives and plans to achieve water security while aligning with population growth and urban and economic expansion, he noted. Key aspects of the strategy include reducing dependence on fresh water by increasing the use of reclaimed water for irrigated agriculture, adopting more efficient irrigation methods, expanding rain-fed agriculture, and collecting rainwater. He said that the Ministry of Water, in collaboration with international organisations, encourages modern agricultural techniques like hydroponics, which require less water compared to traditional farming. The ministry also promotes innovation and utilises advanced technology to optimise water resources, contributing to achieving the SDGs and benefiting from renewable energy. Regarding the use of modern technology in energy, he explained that the water sector has adopted the Energy Management System (EnMS) according to the global ISO 50001 standard, consistent with the water sector's energy policy. All water facilities are expected to be included in the EnMS by 2030, aligning with the sixth SDG. The minister referred to significant expansion in wastewater infrastructure, with the number of wastewater treatment plants rising from seven in 1999 to 36 in the present. These facilities treat 235 million cubic meters of water, providing 190 million cubic meters of reclaimed water suitable for restricted agricultural use. Also, 66 per cent of the population now has access to wastewater services, said the minister, adding that a wastewater strategy was launched at a cost of JD930 million to implement wastewater projects, expand services to new areas, and improve environmental conditions. According to reports from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Jordan is among the world's most water-scarce countries, with per capita water availability at some 61 cubic meters annually, where the Kingdom faces a water deficit of about 400 million cubic meters annually due to declining water sources, Petra said. Jordan's total available water from all sources stands at 1.115 billion cubic meters, including around 510 million cubic meters for municipal use, 570 million for agricultural and livestock purposes, and 35 million for industrial use.
Jordan Times
13-02-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Water carrier project 'national security' priority for Jordan — minister
Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud stresses that the National Water Carrier Project is a "water security and national security" enterprise (Petra photo) AMMAN — Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud stressed that the National Water Carrier Project is a "water security and national security" enterprise, stressing the government is "steadily" pushing its implementation under Royal directives. During a meeting organised by the Jordanian-French Business Club Association and the Franco-Jordanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CAFRAJ) in Amman, the minister reviewed the challenges facing the Kingdom's water sector and the decline in the per capita share to less than 60 cubic metres for all uses. In the presence of French Ambassador Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison and Australian Ambassador Bernard Lynch, Abu Soud stressed the importance of securing "sustainable" water sources under the current priority project, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Abu Soud also stressed the progress in completing the technical, financial and legal details for the financial closing procedures and starting the project's implementation before the end of this year, in partnership with the private sector and international bodies. He noted that the ministry has plans to deal with the water situation to secure citizens' needs and various uses, while making "remarkable" efforts to reduce water loss by implementing plans and programmes to reach global levels, and confront attacks on water resources. The minister referred to the Jordanian-French partnership in the fields of water and sewage project management. He said that the meeting aims to provide opportunities for Jordanian, French and regional companies and institutions to discuss water sector issues and give participants the opportunity to learn about the Kingdom's water situation and enhance investment in this field. Abu Soud praised France's positions and bilateral ongoing cooperation in the water sector, as France is a donor government to the water sector and contribute to the implementation of important projects, mainly Disi and Khirbet Al Samra projects. In this context, he referred to French assistance in improving water management in Amman, carrying out water loss reduction projects and cooperation programmes with the French Development Agency (AFD). The meeting also included discussions on multiple projects and issues related to the water sector.
