Water Law and Policy in the Middle East and North Africa Region

The book will be useful to graduate students, researchers, policymakers and practitioners working in water law and policy, environmental law, environmental studies, sustainable development, social justice and area studies on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and West Asia.

Addressing water insecurity through increased investment in water infrastructure and technologies has become a key priority in several arid and water scarce countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Yet, advancing water security is not solely technological - it also has profound law and policy implications. Given the implication of water security for sanitation, food, energy, land, human rights, peace and conflict prevention in the region, holistic legal and institutional frameworks that advance the sustainable management of water resources across all sectors are essential. This book offers a comprehensive and authoritative account of the guiding principles and rules on water in the MENA region. It introduces readers to the applicable legislation, institutions and rules underpinning the design, approval, financing and application of water infrastructure and technologies across the MENA region. It concludes with reflections and recommendations on legal and regulatory innovations that can help unlock sustainable and rights-based implementation of water law and policy in the MENA region.