No rivers, no lakes, yet this place supplies water to millions, 42% of its requirement is fulfilled through…, place is…

With a GDP of $504 billion and a population of just 9.52 million, the United Arab Emirates has secured the top position in the list of the Most Economically Stable Countries. It is economically stable due to its financial infrastructure, high per capita income, and low unemployment.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), located in the arid desert of the Arabian Peninsula, has very low rainfall and high evaporation over the year, making climate conditions extremely harsh. Because of these harsh conditions, the UAE does not have any flowing, permanent rivers that would naturally occur.

Instead of rivers, the UAE has wadis, which are dry channels that only exist to carry water temporarily during rainy weather or flash floods. Though wadis are seasonal, they are vital for local biodiversity, and recently they have become popular for eco-tourism. Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah, a case in point, is a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts.

The State of Energy Report 2015 states that the UAE currently fulfills 42% of its water requirements from desalination with nearly 70 desalination plants in the UAE. These plants account for 14% of the total global desalination output, making the UAE one of the leading producers of desalinated water in the world. According to the Times of India report, the UAE has been using three desalination technologies: Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multiple-Effect Distillation (MED), and Multi-Stage Flash (MSF). The UAE’s last water demand growth was an increase of 35.8% from 2008 to 2012, so sustainable water solutions in the UAE are extremely important. The UAE is now investing in desalination technologies with renewable energy to forge its water future.

 

News