01 · The problem
What is happening
The United Arab Emirates has very low natural renewable freshwater availability and relies on seawater desalination for most municipal supply. Desalination requires substantial energy and produces concentrated brine that is returned to the Gulf, a semi-enclosed and already saline sea. Efficiency improvements, a shift from thermal to membrane-based reverse osmosis, renewable-powered plants, treated wastewater reuse and demand management are the main levers.
Moderate severity. Material effects on people or ecosystems; actively managed. Severity is descriptive editorial metadata summarising documented effects. It is not a measured index or a score.
02 · Causes
Why it is happening
- 01
Very low natural freshwater availability
Rainfall is minimal and there are no significant perennial rivers or renewable aquifers.
- 02
High per-capita demand
Landscaping, tourism and high living standards raise water use per person.
- 03
Brine discharge to a semi-enclosed sea
Concentrated brine returned to the Gulf raises local salinity and temperature near outfalls.
03 · Impacts
Who and what it affects
- 01
Energy use and emissions
Producing potable water from seawater requires significant electricity or heat.
- 02
Brine and marine effects
Concentrated, warm brine discharged near the coast can affect local marine ecosystems.
- 03
Supply chain dependency
A water system dependent on continuously operating plant and power is sensitive to disruption.
04 · Solutions
Documented approaches
Reverse osmosis instead of thermal desalination
Membrane-based plants use substantially less energy per cubic metre than older thermal processes.
Expected effectLowers the energy and emissions intensity of water supply.
Renewable-powered desalination
Coupling desalination with solar generation.
Expected effectReduces the emissions associated with each unit of water produced.
Treated wastewater reuse
Using recycled water for landscaping, cooling and industry instead of desalinated potable water.
Expected effectReduces the volume that must be desalinated.
05 · Key indicators
What can be measured
- Renewable freshwater availability
- Among the lowest globally
The UAE is consistently classed by FAO and World Bank data as extremely water-scarce in natural renewable freshwater terms.
06 · Sources
Where this comes from
- [1]AQUASTAT water resources databaseFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsfao.org(opens in a new tab)
- [2]The State of Desalination and Brine Production: A Global OutlookUN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health · Jan 2019inweh.unu.edu(opens in a new tab)
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