Carmelaethed 
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates To speed up atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology development in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East, WaHa, a well-known climate technology company, has strengthened its partnership with Khalifa University of Science and Technology. The collaboration aims to improve the performance and energy efficiency of WaHa’s proprietary Vaporator® technology, a state-of-the-art method for drawing drinkable water from the atmosphere.
The Vaporator®, a system renowned for its remarkable energy efficiency and dual capability in AWG and HVAC applications, is the subject of the renewed agreement, which focuses on material optimization and energy profile improvement. The Vaporator® is a potential step toward regional water security because it produces drinking water that is dispersed, dependable, and affordable without the need for conventional infrastructure.
The two organizations already have a relationship, which is strengthened by this project. Researchers from Khalifa University have been testing two Vaporator prototypes in Abu Dhabi facilities since April 2024. The most recent iteration of the system has continuously surpassed daily water production goals, achieving impressive outcomes such as 100% uptime, 99.9% reliability, and notable energy efficiency gains.
Professor Samuel Sheng Mao, Director of the ASPIRE Virtual Research Institute for Sustainable Energy and Professor of Practice at Khalifa University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, emphasized the significance of the expanded collaboration:
“This partnership marks a major advance in our fight against water scarcity. By integrating Khalifa University’s materials science expertise with WaHa’s innovative AWG technology, we’re developing sustainable, scalable water solutions for the UAE and beyond. The performance data from our field tests shows clear potential for real-world impact in water-stressed regions.”
Chris Kay, President of WaHa, echoed that sentiment, expressing optimism about the partnership’s trajectory:
“We’re excited to deepen our collaboration with Khalifa University. The Vaporator® is poised to transform how arid regions access clean water, and this partnership accelerates our ability to deploy reliable, energy-efficient systems across the Middle East. The strong results from our Abu Dhabi trials reinforce our confidence in the technology and this collaboration.”
The enhanced partnership supports the UAE’s broader environmental and sustainability goals, aiming to strengthen water resilience in one of the world’s most arid regions. By harnessing cutting-edge research and climate-focused engineering, WaHa and Khalifa University are working to address one of the most urgent challenges facing the Middle East today: water security in a warming world.
