How the UAE’s Water Security Blueprint Serves as a Model for a Thirsty World

Given its geographic location, the UAE is acutely aware of how precious a resource water is and why we must protect it. Reflecting on the recent World Water Week, which with the theme 'Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,' we are reminded that water security is a shared global challenge.

By working together, we can achieve more to ensure a stable and sustainable future for all.

Water security is critical in maintaining the fragile balance between ecosystems, health, sustainability and livelihoods. The UAE prioritises sustainable practices and innovative water conservation and production technologies to ensure long-term resilience.

Our overarching National Water Security Strategy 2036 sets out a plan to ensure sustainable access to water in the UAE during both normal and emergency conditions. It is centred around reducing demand and water scarcity and increasing productivity and storage capability.

Building on this, the Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative, launched in February, looks outwardly, garnering international, proactive support to combat water scarcity through transformative and sustainable solutions.

To translate these written commitments into action and enhance our national capabilities in water security, the UAE is making significant strategic investments in research and development (R&D).

From smart facilities that simulate leaks in transmission pipelines to new desalination innovations, we are pioneering solutions that can be shared with the rest of the world.

As a region with minimal freshwater sources, the UAE relies on desalination – turning seawater into potable water- to provide the vast quantities needed to supply its nine million residents with safe drinking water.

Desalination is traditionally an energy-intensive process; therefore, to deliver on our Net Zero ambitions whilst ensuring production can meet the country’s growing demand, the UAE has invested in R&D to find low-carbon solutions.

Significant investments in renewable energy have led to ambitious projects utilising solar power in desalination. The carbon footprint of this process is significantly reduced by harnessing the power of the sun.

Reverse Osmosis desalination is another less energy-intensive method, using pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane, leaving salts behind.

In the emirate of Umm Al Quwain, EtihadWE’s Naqa’a desalination plant uses state-of-the-art Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) technology to produce potable water.

With a production capacity of approximately 50 billion gallons annually, the plant can more than adequately meet the needs of around two million residents in the UAE. It is one of the world's largest desalination plants.

Innovative technologies like Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and Pressure Exchanger (PX) technology have reduced the electrical energy rates used in operating the plant by up to 60%.

Investing in developing advanced wastewater treatment technologies is helping the UAE manage water demands in agriculture, construction, and industrial processes.

These technologies allow for the reuse of treated wastewater. Within these sectors, the UAE is supporting innovation to reduce the amount of water used.

For example, in agriculture, new water-efficient irrigation technologies like drip irrigation and hydroponics significantly reduce the volume of water needed to keep crops hydrated.

Through AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance (AGWA) - Abu Dhabi’s food and water cluster, leading universities and technology enablers are advancing research, innovation and talent development to alleviate pressures on agricultural systems and capitalise on technological advancements to support global water security.

Water conservation—protecting what we have—is a key element of the UAE’s Water Security Strategy. Efforts to conserve water start at community level - raising awareness of consumption and continue through to water management by utilities.

Non-revenue water (NRW), for example, refers to water that has already been through the desalination process and is ‘lost’ before it reaches the customer. Investments in the latest technology to detect leaks across vast pipeline networks are reducing NRW figures in the UAE.

The latest smart ball technology, data loggers and ultrasonic sensors are all used to detect leaks across the UAE’s extensive network.

Going hand in hand with these cutting-edge technologies is the digital capability to support them. The UAE’s Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (A) 2031 has led to major AI innovation facilities developing solutions to improve efficiency across sectors.

The utilities sector is among those using AI and the Internet of Things to improve water management, manage demand and detect leaks.

A coordinated approach to water conservation has seen utilities in the region roll out large-scale smart metering programmes and deploy mobile applications that use cutting-edge AI and IoT technology.

These digital applications give consumers the knowledge and tools to manage their consumption responsibly.

Collaboration is a common theme across all research and development in the UAE. Research centres and innovation facilities are bridging the gap between public and private, drawing on the expertise of both to create powerful solutions capable of transforming the country's water production and management.

Advances across every area of water production and management in the UAE make it well-placed to offer valuable insights that can be shared with water-stressed regions, paving the way to a more secure future.

The 2024 World Water Week delivers the same important message as the UAE gave at COP28 last year: the route to a sustainable future is understanding that we are all facing the same ultimate challenge. By pooling our knowledge and resources, we stand a much better chance of achieving it.