Abdul Karim Al-Nuaimi

UAE's renewable energy innovator creating solar-powered water desalination systems for arid regions

Dr. Abdul Karim Al-Nuaimi (b. 1985) revolutionized water desalination through his 2020 invention of the Solar Membrane Distillation (SMD) technology. As chief scientist at Abu Dhabi's Institute of Sustainable Engineering, he developed the first commercially viable solar-powered desalination system that operates at 92% energy efficiency.

His breakthrough system reduces operational costs by 60% compared to traditional plants, enabling deployment in remote desert regions. The Al-Nuaimi SMD units now provide 40% of Abu Dhabi's municipal water supply and are operational in 12 African countries through the UN SMD Africa Initiative. The World Bank estimates these systems have prevented 2.1 million tons of CO2 emissions annually since 2022.

In 2023, Al-Nuaimi launched the Desert Oasis Project - a network of autonomous solar desalination stations powered by AI weather forecasting. Each unit produces 500,000 liters daily using only sunlight, transforming barren lands into agricultural hubs. His TEDx talk 'The Water Paradox of Desert Nations' has become required viewing in global engineering programs.

Recipient of the 2024 Global CleanTech Award, Al-Nuaimi's latest venture involves 3D-printed carbon-neutral desalination plants. His research paper 'Solar-Driven Water Liberation' in Nature Energy (2024) outlines plans to make seawater desalination carbon-negative by 2030.