Sustainable Insights

November 2024

Innovative Approaches in the UAE’s Journey to Sustainable Water Resource Management

The UAE’s history, shaped by its arid climate, has fostered a keen awareness of water scarcity. Here, water is more than a vital resource; it’s foundational to economic growth, public health, and sustainable development. Recognizing water scarcity as a global challenge, the UAE is not only working toward water security at home but is also engaging in international partnerships to support innovative solutions for water management. At COP29 in Baku recently, the UAE, led by HE Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, underscored its commitment to advancing global water priorities in preparation for the UN 2026 Water Conference.

The UAE hosted a key session at its pavilion on COP29’s Food, Agriculture, and Water Day, co-chaired by Senegal’s Minister of Environment, Daouda Ngom. This session outlined the UAE’s vision for the Conference, emphasizing cross-sectoral solutions and integrating water into global climate and biodiversity frameworks. The UAE highlighted critical initiatives, including the Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI), as a catalyst for addressing water scarcity and supported the COP29 Water for Climate Action Declaration. It also participated in the ministerial launch of the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action, advocating for sustained discussions on water across COPs. HE Balalaa emphasized positioning water as central to climate action and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6. Events such as the inauguration of the Water for Climate Pavilion, attended by global leaders, reinforced this focus. Through engagements with diverse stakeholders, including non-state actors and private sectors, the UAE is championing innovative, collaborative approaches to tackle global water challenges and elevate its prominence in climate discourse. Hosting the 2026 UN Water Conference, the UAE will emphasize the importance of global collaboration to achieve water-related targets outlined in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Key Objectives of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036

In 2017, the UAE introduced the Water Security Strategy 2036, led by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, to ensure sustainable water access across all conditions, meeting both World Health Organization standards and the UAE’s long-term prosperity goals. Key objectives include reducing total water demand by 21%, increasing the water productivity index to $110 per cubic meter, cutting the water scarcity index by three levels, reusing 95% of treated water, and achieving two days of national water storage. This strategy revolves around three core programs: Water Demand Management, Water Supply Management, and Emergency Production and Distribution, covering policy development, conservation awareness, advanced technologies, and workforce training. The strategy also aims to halve per capita consumption, emphasizing sustainable practices and innovations. To bolster water security, it envisions establishing six interlinked networks connecting water and electricity sectors across the UAE. This infrastructure will support emergency needs by providing 91 liters of water per person daily and, under extreme conditions, a minimum of 30 liters. By 2036, this plan expects to yield AED 74 billion in savings and cut carbon emissions from desalination by 100 million metric tons.The UAE’s commitment to expanding its desalination capacity stems from multiple critical factors:

1. Growing Demand and Urbanization: With a rapidly rising population, substantial water demands across households, industry, and leisure have surged to nearly 3.5 billion cubic meters per year as of 2020. Massive infrastructure projects and urbanization place continual pressure on supply systems to meet growing needs.

2. Climate and Environmental Pressures: Climate change is intensifying droughts and heatwaves, while depleting groundwater reserves and limited rainfall add further constraints. With freshwater scarcity posing a significant challenge, the UAE relies on innovative desalination solutions.

3. Economic Diversification Goals: Reducing dependence on oil for water desalination is pivotal to supporting the UAE’s economic diversification strategy. Prioritizing alternative energy sources for desalination frees up oil and gas resources for global exports.

Scaling Desalination with Sustainability

1. Jebel Ali Desalination Plant, Dubai

The Jebel Ali Desalination Plant is among the world’s largest single-site desalination facilities. Built by Acciona and BESIX, this Dubai-based plant produces 490 MIGD through reverse osmosis (RO), powering Dubai’s water supply in alignment with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. Additionally, the plant can generate 9,547 Megawatts of electricity, making it a critical resource for the emirate’s energy and water infrastructure.

2. Taweelah Desalination Plant, Abu Dhabi

Located in Abu Dhabi, the Taweelah Desalination Plant is a benchmark for efficiency in the UAE. Producing 200 MIGD of drinking water, it uses advanced RO technology to supply around 909,200 cubic meters daily. The plant was developed in partnership with TAQA, Mubadala, and ACWA Power and is managed by NOMAC, with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) as the primary offtaker. This state ofthe-art facility represents a step forward in water production for the UAE’s capital city.

Source: Al Taweelah Independent Water Plant (IWP), Abu Dhabi/manufacturingtodayindia.com

3. Umm Al Quwain Desalination Plant

The Umm Al Quwain Desalination Plant is designed to provide 681,900 cubic meters of water per day upon completion, using RO technology. Situated near Ras Al Khaimah, this facility aims to meet water demands in the Northern Emirates. Once operational, it will be managed by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA), contributing significantly to the region’s fresh water supply.

Source: Al Taweelah Independent Water Plant (IWP), Abu Dhabi/manufacturingtodayindia.com

4. Fujairah F1 Desalination Plant

Fujairah F1 was the Mi ddle East’s first hybrid desalin tion plant, combining Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) and RO processes to produce both desalinated water and electricity. Locaed 300 kilometers northeast of Abu Dhabi, it plays a crucial role in supporting water and energy needs in the emirate of Fujairah.

Source: Fujairah Power and Desalination Plant/ international.net

5. Al Layyah Desalination Plant, Sharjah

Al Layyah in Sharjah is a dual-purpose power and water plant, producing 896 Megawatts of electricity and 51 MIGD of desalinated water daily. Expanded to provide around 20% of Sharjah’s electricity, the plant serves as a reliable source of fresh water for the emirate’s residents.

Scaling Desalination with Sustainable Solutions

With limited natural freshwater sources, the UAE relies on desalination as a primary method for producing potable water. Utilizing advanced technologies and renewable energy sources, desalination projects, such as the Taweelah Reverse Osmosis facility in Abu Dhabi, aim to balance water needs with environmental impact.

Desalination plants currently supply around 42% of the UAE’s total water requirements, positioning the country as one of the world’s largest producers of desalinated water. At COP29, the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI), and International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) emphasized innovative water solutions to combat global water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. Key strategies included energy-efficient desalination, AI-driven water management, and integrating renewable energy. Collaboration across public, private, and academic sectors was highlighted as essential to advance sustainable water infrastructure and reduce industrial water footprints. Abu Dhabi’s leadership, including low-carbon desalination plants and youth-focused conservation programs, underscores its commitment to secure water resources, align with net-zero goals, and inspire global action, paving the way for IDRA’s 2024 World Congress. Desalination is energy-intensive, with high-pressure pumps for reverse osmosis accounting for the bulk of energy use. Recognizing this, the UAE is leading initiatives to improve energy efficiency.

Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy aims to retrofit 30,000 buildings by 2030, promoting advanced water pumps to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The UAE is also exploring green desalination. Masdar’s pilot projects in Abu Dhabi have tested renewable-powered reverse osmosis systems, reducing energy footprints while offering potential annual savings of $550 million. Innovations like osmotic enegy through partnerships with MediSun Energy and EEIC show case how clean-energy solutions can revolutionize desalination. These advancements highlight the UAE’s commitment to sustainable water management, setting an example for global environmental resilience.

The Role of Dams and Rainwater Harvesting

In a significant move to bolster the UAE’s resilience against climate change and enhance its water security, a comprehensive initiative has been launched to expand the country’s strategic water infrastructure. Spearheaded by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and closely monitored by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, this initiative is set to introduce a robust network of dams and water canals across the nation. The ambitious plan is designed to substantially increase the UAE’s capacity to manage its water resources more effectively, in line with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. This strategy aims to ensure sustainable access to water during both normal and emergency conditions, reflecting a proactive approach to addressing the challenges posed by climate change. The implementation of these projects will take place across 13 residential areas in various emirates, including Shis and Khor Fakkan in Sharjah, Masfout in Ajman, Sha’am and Al Fahleen in Ras Al Khaimah, and several areas in Fujairah such as Mohamed bin Zayed City, Hail, Qidfa, Murbeh, Dadna, Al Seeji, and Ghazimri.

Key Project Details

Construction of nine new dams and nine water canals across different regions of the UAE, stretching over a combined distance of 9 kilometers.
Expansion of two existing dams to increase storage capacity.
Creation of rubble barriers to prevent flooding in affected areas.
The project is set to be completed within 19 months and will cover a wide range of residential areas, including Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Upon completion, the dams will increase the UAE’s water storage capacity to 8 million cubic meters.

Global Leadership and Partnerships in Water Security

The UAE has made significant progress toward achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, attaining 100% in safe drinking water and sanitation services, and 79% in integrated water resources management—one of the best regional results. This achievement underscores the nation’s commitment to sustainable water resource management and its alignment with broader energy, environment, and food strategies. To further enhance these outcomes, the UAE is implementing the National Energy and Water Demand Management Program 2050 to reduce consumption, promote innovation in renewable energy, and boost the efficiency of water and power plants. Domestically, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) collaborated to create the UAE’s first hydrogeological map and geo-database. This milestone aids in documenting and conserving water resources. Additionally, the UAE operates 140 wastewater treatment plants with a total capacity of 3 million m³/day. Of the 768 million m³ of treated wastewater produced annually, 73% is reused, mainly for urban green spaces, showcasing the country’s focus on sustainable water reuse practices. The UAE is leveraging international partnerships to advance water security solutions worldwide. Initiatives like the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI) and Clean Rivers non-profit are critical examples of these efforts. Launched in 2023, Clean Rivers is dedicated to reducing plastic waste in global water systems, supporting projects like the UN Development Programme’s initiative in Indonesia to remove 5,000 tons of plastic over three years. Furthermore, MBZWI’s XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, funded with a $150 million investment, is a bold step toward accelerating desalination innovations and promoting clean water access globally. The UAE also champions initiatives like the Suqia – UAE Water Aid Foundation, which has raised over AED 180 million, providing water to over 7 million people worldwide.

Tackling the Water Scarcity Challenge Through Collective Action

Addressing the worldwide water crisis demands urgent action, emphasizing the necessity for countries to view water as a crucial shared resource. By modifying existing public policies, such as adjusting water pricing, revising agricultural subsidies, and altering procurement regulations, nations can promote water conservation, targeting the largest consumers of water. The clock is ticking on the opportunity for meaningful intervention in the water crisis. For nations to make substantial headway in conserving this indispensable resource, financial contributions from countries, along with support from financial institutions, are indispensable. These investments are crucial for accelerating the pace of progress and ensuring that actions taken are both impactful and sustainable. By reevaluating and adjusting public policies to favor water conservation, ensuring equitable access to clean water, and securing necessary funding, countries can safeguard this essential resource for future generations.