For thousands of years, the great Arab rivers sustained some of the world’s most important ancient civilizations.

The Nile River fuelled the development of 10 thousand years of Pharaonic rule. The Tigris and Euphrates, home of Mesopotamia, were witness to some of the most important developments to mankind, including agriculture and the written word. The rivers helped spread Islam during Prophet Mohammed’s conquests and sustained generations.

But today, whether through government policies or global warming, all three rivers are under threat.

As Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week looks for solutions to global problems, we assess the crises surrounding the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Full report: How the great tides of history turned