Iran’s military has issued a warning that it would consider striking desalination plants and other key infrastructure in the Gulf region should the United States carry out threats to target Iranian fuel and energy systems in response to a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This development highlights growing concerns about the security of vital water resources for Gulf countries heavily dependent on desalination technology.
Gulf’s Heavy Reliance on Desalination
Desalination plants provide a crucial lifeline for potable water in Gulf Arab nations. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) obtains over 80% of its drinking water from desalination. Bahrain has been fully reliant on desalinated water since 2016, reserving all groundwater as an emergency backup. Qatar and Kuwait similarly depend almost entirely on desalination for their residential water needs, with Qatar at 100% dependence and Kuwait at 90%. Oman relies on desalination for about 86% of its water supply. Saudi Arabia, with greater natural groundwater resources, sources approximately half of its distributed water from desalination as of 2023.
Concentrated Vulnerability
The Gulf’s desalination infrastructure is highly concentrated in a limited number of mega-plants, many also functioning as co-generation facilities supplying significant electricity to the national grid. These large plants are susceptible to missile or drone attacks, which could cause widespread humanitarian and economic disruption. The Atlantic Council cautions that damage to these plants could interrupt water deliveries to essential services, residences, and businesses, potentially escalating into city-wide blackouts and mass evacuations. Notably, a 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable revealed Riyadh might face evacuation within a week if crucial facilities such as the Jubail desalination plant and its associated power systems were compromised.
Measures to Strengthen Resilience
To bolster water security, Saudi Arabia constructed the Riyadh Strategic Water Reservoir, the world’s largest drinking water storage system, as verified by Guinness World Records in 2023. Qatar has also prioritized preparedness by developing an extensive network of large concrete drinking water reservoirs, earning Guinness World Records for the largest tanks and distribution network. These reservoirs aim to provide a buffer against supply interruptions—vital for a region where summer temperatures regularly reach 50°C.
Leading Desalination Facilities
Saudi Arabia leads the region in desalination capacity, followed by the UAE and Israel. Among the major installations is the $7.2 billion Ras Al Khair plant in Saudi Arabia, capable of processing 3 million cubic meters of water daily, servicing Riyadh and other key cities. The UAE has four significant plants totaling $5.3 billion in investment, located in industrial and port areas across the country. Israel’s Sorek plant, procured with Singaporean and Hong Kong firms’ involvement, provides around 640,000 cubic meters daily, fulfilling one-fifth of national water demand. Most Saudi and UAE plants have been developed with European firms, including Germany’s Siemens, France’s Engie, Spain’s Acciona Energia, and Belgium’s BESIX Group.
Although U.S. investors are largely absent from these projects, the strategic importance of desalination facilities remains a central concern given the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.
Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Edmund Blair and Hugh Lawson
Leave feedback about this