The UAE faces growing water scarcity challenges that require development and implementation of long-term, sustainable, and integrated capacity in water and membrane technologies that are resilient, energy-efficient, environment-friendly and cost-effective. The Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT) has been established to meet this need. CMAT has three over-arching objectives: (1) Develop and transfer novel and relevant advanced membrane and water technologies, (2) Develop a sustainable framework for integrated, multidisciplinary research to tackle water challenges in UAE and GCC, and (3) Support local and regional stakeholders in the water sector through targeted training, capacity building and technology transfer activities. To fulfill its objectives, CMAT leads activities under four themes: Advanced Water Technologies and Hybrid Systems; Nanomaterials and Membranes; Energy Efficiency and Sustainability of Water Processes; and Technology Transfer and Capacity Building in Desalination and Water Technology. The center is working to create a viable ecosystem for relevant technology development and intellectual property transfer at KU, driving interdisciplinary novel membrane and water technologies research. It works closely with concerned UAE government bodies and local and regional stakeholders in the water sector, including the water industry and the public utilities providers, in addition to a growing network of international collaborations. The Center also aims to provide KU with a mechanism for engaging UAE industry and government in research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) of innovative water-related technologies. It will focus on research that addresses ensuring adequate availability of water to meet society’s needs while addressing concerns of environmental integrity and economic viability.