DMCC Partners with AQUA-INDEX to Launch World’s First Freshwater-Backed Digital Asset Token
DMCC, Dubai’s premier international business district, has announced a significant partnership with AQUA-INDEX, a global leader in water commodities trading, through a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding. This groundbreaking collaboration supports AQUA-INDEX’s initiative to launch the world’s first digital asset token secured directly by freshwater resources—a move set to revolutionise how water is traded, valued, and managed worldwide.
The innovative token—the first of its kind—will be backed by verified, drinking-quality water held in global reservoirs. This enables investors, hedgers, traders, and the general public to trade, hold, and even take delivery of fresh water as a commodity. By uniting financial innovation with water market expertise, the partnership aims to unlock new levels of liquidity and transparency across the global water supply chains.
With this partnership, AQUA-INDEX will leverage DMCC’s extensive global network, cutting-edge infrastructure, and renowned commodity marketplace to facilitate efficient trading and investment in water assets. Furthermore, AQUA-INDEX will boost knowledge exchange around global water usage and pricing and make accessible sophisticated trading and hedging solutions for DMCC and its member businesses. It is noteworthy that DMCC will not directly own or manage the token.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO, DMCC, highlighted the issue of global water scarcity, stating, “Nearly half the global population experiences water scarcity for at least part of the year, yet water remains the only critical resource without a mature, regulated market. We are proud to partner with AQUA-INDEX to drive a transparent, neutral, and legally coherent structure and marketplace for water to secure the future of a resource that has long been undervalued.
This is the next clear milestone in the formation of DMCC Water Centre, where we will not only bring the conversation of water to the forefront, but also attract the sector’s leading companies to create a global centre in Dubai for water innovation, security, sustainable best practice, knowledge, and education, while ensuring that the world’s most transported commodity has the ability to reach water-distressed areas.”
Yaacov Shirazi, Chairman and Founder, AQUA INDEX, emphasized the transformative nature of this asset class: “Pricing water by the value of its usage, standardisation of water by its mineral content and quality, and turning water to a new asset class for a financial trading, is a gamechanger in the world economy. It will establish new levels of water management which prevents scarcity, contamination, and lack of access.”
This announcement is part of DMCC’s concerted efforts to establish the DMCC Water Centre, a dedicated ecosystem that positions Dubai as a central, neutral hub for water trading and innovation. The Water Centre will unite WaterTech innovators, logistics providers, and commodity traders under a single, comprehensive platform.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
