Fahad Al-Attiya: A country with no water

Introduction

• Speaker in charge of food security in Qatar.

• Responsible for designing a master plan over two years and implementing it in the next decade.

Qatar in the 1940s

• Population of about 11,000 people without modern amenities (no water, energy, oil, or cars).

• Inhabitants were mainly fishermen or nomadic tribes.

• Life expectancy was around 50 years.

Chapter Two: The Oil Era

• Discovery of oil in 1939, fully exploited post-World War II.

• Oil transformed the country's landscape and led to urbanization.

• The emergence of diverse accents due to previous scattered living conditions.

Current Qatar

• Present population: 1.7 million, a significant increase in 60 years.

• Average economic growth of 15% over the last five years.

• Life expectancy has risen to 78 years.

• Water consumption has dramatically increased to 430 liters per capita.

Surviving with Limited Water

• Qatar has only 74 mm of annual precipitation, yet continues to grow economically.

• Heavy reliance on desalination technology for water supply.

Risks and Challenges

• Growing population reaching 9 billion by 2050 increases food demand.

• Changes in dietary needs with socio-economic advancement.

• Declining agricultural yields due to climate change and market policies.

• Current water reserves last only two days; 90% of food is imported.

Sustainable Solutions

• Emphasis on renewable energy, specifically solar power.

• Plans to use solar energy for desalination (1,800 megawatts for 3.5 million cubic meters of water).

• Redesigned agricultural practices to support local food production.

• Need for supporting systems: education, research, and technology industries.

• Legislation and policies are crucial for implementing the master plan.

Conclusion

• Vision for Qatar to be a millennium city akin to historical global cities.

• Desire for sustainability and peace as part of the city’s future.