The Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) was founded as a result of an initiative by key water sector representatives in the Arab Region. The Association’s first consultative meeting was held in Cairo - Egypt in September, 2006. The meeting brought together delegates from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, UAE, Palestine, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

Since the Association was founded, it has obtained the support of both the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia of the United Nations(UN-ESCWA) and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). ACWUA Steering committee was formed during that meeting which was then followed by a series of regional meetings to discuss the establishment of the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association.