Water in the UAE

The UAE has almost no rivers and very little rain, yet water flows from every tap. Knowing where it comes from, and what it costs to make, changes how you think about a long shower.

Where UAE water comes from

• The UAE government portal (u.ae) states that about 42 per cent of the country's total water requirement comes from some 70 major desalination plants.
• Desalination removes salt from seawater. The u.ae portal says thermal desalination, which heats seawater, is the dominant technology in the UAE, and that linking desalination to renewable energy is one solution to its energy use.
• The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure says non-conventional sources, meaning desalinated seawater plus treated wastewater, make up 53 per cent of the UAE's water supply.
• Groundwater is the other main source. The UAE builds dams partly to recharge groundwater from rare rainfall and protect against floods (u.ae).
• Because so much water is manufactured, every litre carries an energy and environmental cost before it reaches you.

Recycling water

• The UAE has more than 160 wastewater treatment plants with a combined capacity above 3 million cubic metres per day (Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure).
• About 73 per cent of treated wastewater is reused, mainly to irrigate city landscaping such as parks and roadside planting.
• Treated water is not used for drinking at home; it replaces fresh water for jobs like irrigation, which saves desalinated water for people.

The national plan

• The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 aims to keep water available in normal conditions and in emergencies.
• Its targets include cutting total water demand by 21 per cent, increasing the reuse of treated water to 95 per cent, and increasing national water storage capacity up to 2 days (u.ae).
• Cutting demand by 21 per cent cannot happen through big projects alone. Household habits are part of the plan.

How much do we use?

• Emirates Nature-WWF reports that UAE residents use an average of about 550 litres per person per day, roughly twice the global average. Treat this as an estimate: it is not an official government figure.
• A quick worked example: Emirates Nature-WWF suggests timing how long your shower takes to fill a 1 litre bottle. If it takes 5 seconds, your shower runs at 12 litres per minute.
• At 12 litres per minute, a 10 minute shower uses 120 litres. Cutting it to 4 minutes uses 48 litres, a saving of 72 litres every day, or more than 26,000 litres a year.
• If the bottle fills in under 7.5 seconds, Emirates Nature-WWF suggests switching to a low-flow showerhead.

Saving water at home: a checklist

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving. DEWA says this can save more than 19 litres a day.
• Fit tap aerators on kitchen and bathroom taps. DEWA says they can reduce tap water use by up to 40 per cent without weakening the flow.
• Keep showers short (Emirates Nature-WWF suggests 3 to 4 minutes) and choose a shower over a bath, which uses about three times the water.
• Ask your family about a dual-flush toilet if one needs replacing: DEWA says it can save about 10,000 litres per person every year.
• Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when full, and report dripping taps or running toilets quickly.