Water scarcity has become a pressing crisis in the United Arab Emirates. Rising temperatures, rapid urban growth, and a surging population are straining the nation’s already limited natural resources. To meet demand, the UAE now relies heavily on desalination, producing about 42% of its water from the sea, according to the 2024 research on UAE Desalination. Massive plants along the coast, including Dubai’s Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi’s Shuweihat , rank among the largest in the world.
Why Desalination Became Essential in the UAE?
Booming Cities
The same research highlights that one of the primary drivers behind the UAE’s growing reliance on desalinated water is its rapidly expanding population, fueled by immigration and economic growth. As more people settle in the country, the demand for freshwater, particularly for drinking, sanitation, and domestic use, has soared. This surge in population not only increases household consumption but also places additional pressure on sectors like agriculture, industry, and energy.
The UAE’s swift urbanization compounds the issue: Large-scale infrastructure projects, widespread real estate development, and the creation of green urban landscapes all require significant volumes of water for purposes such as irrigation and municipal maintenance. As noted in the research, “more water for residential usage… is required as the population grows,” and “large amounts of water are required for construction projects… landscaping… and municipal services”. These factors create an urgent water demand that the country’s limited natural resources can no longer support, making desalination not just a solution, but a necessity.
“more water for residential usage… is required as the population grows,” and “large amounts of water are required for construction projects… landscaping… and municipal services”.
Climate Pressures Push UAE Toward Desalination
Another critical factor intensifying the UAE’s dependence on desalinated water is the impact of climate change. As temperatures continue to rise, evaporation rates are accelerating, causing surface water and groundwater to vanish more quickly than they can be replenished. At the same time, rainfall patterns have become unpredictable, leading to a significant decline in the natural recharge of aquifers, which serve as a crucial source of freshwater in arid environments. Therefore, the UAE is losing its ability to rely on natural hydrological cycles. As the study notes, “higher temperatures accelerate evaporation… [and] reduced and unpredictable rainfall… diminish aquifers”. These climate-induced pressures leave the country with few alternatives, making large-scale desalination not just an urgency but a strategic necessity for survival in the future.
“higher temperatures accelerate evaporation… [and] reduced and unpredictable rainfall… diminish aquifers”
UAE’s Water Strain Spurs Desalination Reliance
Beyond climate pressures and population growth, the same research highlights that the UAE’s water crisis is also worsened by unsustainable water management practices. One major issue is the use of outdated and wasteful irrigation methods in agriculture such as flood irrigation, where large amounts of water are poured over fields, causing much of it to evaporate or drain away before it can benefit the crops; “Inefficient agricultural irrigation systems, such as flood irrigation or abuse of water, result in large water losses”.
Another serious problem is the underuse of treated wastewater. Instead of recycling this valuable resource, much of it is simply discharged into the sea. This not only wastes water that could be reused for farming, landscaping, or industrial processes but also harms marine ecosystems. As the research explains, “limited wastewater treatment and reuse have exacerbated water scarcity… these behaviors… hurt the environment”. If not addressed, these inefficient and wasteful practices will continue to undermine the country’s efforts toward long-term water security.
“limited wastewater treatment and reuse have exacerbated water scarcity… these behaviors… hurt the environment”
Policies Shaping the UAE’s Water Future
The UAE’s water and electricity management is divided among four main authorities: Etihad Water & Electricity, the Department of Energy for Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) for Dubai, and the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWGA) for Sharjah.
To illustrate, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has adopted a proactive and comprehensive approach to water security, guided by the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. This strategy aims to reduce water demand by 21%, increase productivity to USD 110 per cubic meter, and reuse 95% of treated water. It relies on three pillars: managing demand, optimizing supply, and ensuring emergency readiness. These efforts have positioned the UAE as a regional leader in sustainable water management, ranked first in the Greater Middle East for water resources by the 2024 Yale Environmental Performance Index (Aletihad Newspaper).
Advances in UAE Water Management and Infrastructure
The UAE is making significant strides in water management and infrastructure, focusing on sustainability and resilience. In 2024, the country launched the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, pledging $150 million to address water scarcity. A key project under this initiative is the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, a five-year, $119 million challenge aimed at developing affordable and sustainable desalination technologies.
Moreover, In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions Company achieved a milestone by utilizing 80% of recycled water in 2023, surpassing its target. This accomplishment earned the 2024 Water Reuse Project of the Year award, highlighting the emirate’s commitment to wastewater treatment and reuse.
In addition, Dubai is investing $8.2 billion in the “Tasreef” project to enhance its rainwater drainage system. This initiative aims to increase the drainage capacity by 700%, addressing challenges posed by extreme weather events and ensuring infrastructure resilience.
These developments reflect the UAE’s proactive approach to water management, integrating innovative technologies and strategic investments to secure a sustainable water future.
Cloud Seeding in UAE: A Future Reliable Solution to Water Scarcity in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates has adopted cloud seeding as a complementary solution to water scarcity, seeking to boost rainfall in its arid climate. A 2023 study in Atmosphere (MDPI) found that the UAE’s program produced measurable rainfall increases, sometimes reaching 10–30% depending on storm conditions . In fact, local case studies show seeding has shifted short-duration rainfall statistics. In Sharjah, analyses found peak intensities rose by about 34–36% for some return periods after seeding began.
Overall, cloud seeding is seen as low-cost and useful, but best integrated with desalination, wastewater reuse, and conservation, rather than as a standalone solution.
Conclusion
The UAE’s reliance on desalination ensures water availability but raises concerns over energy use, marine ecosystems, and carbon emissions. Recent government strategies, including the Water Security Strategy 2036 and investments in renewable-powered desalination, show a shift toward sustainability. The challenge ahead lies in balancing immediate needs with long-term environmental resilience.
