The underlying historical perception of people, in most countries of the region, that water is a free natural resource supports the dominating influence of traditional, political and social factors in the management and use of the resource. The increasing use of the limited resource in response to the increasing demands is not only reducing its availability but also jeopardizing its quality. In view of the vital importance of water for sustaining life and promoting development, appropriate policies are needed to deal with the problems of water scarcity and the challenges ahead. In the Middle-East region we certainly need continuing innovation and rationalization in our handling of water, but foremost and above all we need to develop and put into action, in countries of the region, a balanced system for the management of the resources. We must work toward a framework for management functions that will integrate consideration of the present and future, of economics and environmental preservation, of technology and building the capacities and of growth and food and water security and sustainability.