ICBA and IWMI to strengthen global collaboration on water security and climate-resilient agriculture

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 9 January 2026: The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance scientific collaboration in sustainable water management and climate-resilient agriculture.  The agreement between the two research centers comes at a time when global water scarcity and food security challenges are intensifying. The MoU was signed by Dr. Tarifa A. Al Zaabi, Director General of ICBA, and Dr. Mark Smith, Director General of IWMI, during an official delegation visit to ICBA’s headquarters in Dubai. The agreement establishes a three-year cooperation framework focused on joint research, knowledge exchange, capacity development, and integrated solutions to strengthen the resilience of water and food systems in arid and saline environments facing climate risks.