First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has expanded its sustainability agenda beyond traditional finance, forging a strategic alliance with Water.org and impact investment manager WaterEquity in a move aimed at widening access to clean water and sanitation in emerging economies.
Announced ahead of World Environment Day, the partnership includes FAB’s investment in the WaterEquity Everspring Fund, an open-ended impact fund dedicated exclusively to financing water and sanitation solutions in developing markets. The collaboration lays the foundation for long-term cooperation between the three organizations, with a focus on using market-driven financial models to tackle one of the world’s most persistent development challenges.
The agreement places FAB among a small group of financial institutions deploying private capital directly into the water-access sector. The bank also noted that any gains generated from its investment will be directed toward supporting Water.org’s broader mission.
Water security has increasingly become a strategic concern for governments, businesses and communities worldwide. FAB said the initiative reflects its view that access to water is closely tied to climate resilience, public health, economic productivity and long-term sustainability.
Through the Everspring Fund, capital is channelled to local financial institutions, which then provide affordable loans to low-income families and small businesses. These loans help finance household water connections, sanitation facilities and other essential water-related improvements that might otherwise remain out of reach.
The partnership also aligns with the UAE’s broader ambitions to strengthen global water security and complements national initiatives focused on sustainable water management. It further underscores Abu Dhabi’s efforts to position itself as a centre for climate-focused investment and sustainable development.
FAB Group Chief Executive Officer Hana Al Rostamani said the collaboration combines financial resources with sector expertise to advance scalable solutions for water security while generating meaningful social and economic benefits.
Water.org co-founders Gary White and Matt Damon welcomed the investment, noting that access to small-scale financing has already enabled tens of millions of people worldwide to secure safe water and sanitation services. They described FAB’s participation as an example of how private-sector capital can accelerate progress in addressing a critical global challenge while demonstrating the potential of impact-focused investments.
By linking commercial finance with social outcomes, the partnership highlights a growing trend among major financial institutions: treating access to water not only as a humanitarian issue, but also as an investment opportunity capable of delivering measurable and lasting change.
