In his profound wisdom, Sheikh Zayed made this statement in a speech delivered to mark the UAE's first Environment Day in February 1998 and this serves like a guiding light even today- “We cherish our environment because it is an integral part of our country, our history and our heritage. On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so only because they recognised the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live, and to preserve it for succeeding generations.”
The Middle East is not waiting for climate change to knock. It is already inside the door. Summers stretch longer, storms strike harder, and water—always precious—has become the pivot of survival and strategy. This is a story of thirst and sunlight, of danger and boldness. A story where the sea is both saviour and burden, and where the blazing sun, once relentless, may yet become the region’s greatest ally.
Desalination is the region’s lifeline. It delivers freshwater where rainfall is scarce, aquifers are shrinking, and demand soars with growing cities. In the Gulf, desalination plants hum night and day, producing billions of cubic metres of water. The UAE generates over 1.7 billion m³ a year—enough to fill 680,000 Olympic pools. Saudi Arabia tops the charts at 2.8 billion m³, the highest globally. Across the GCC, more than 60 per cent of drinking water now comes from the sea. Further along the coast, Oman’s falaj irrigation channels, which sustained communities for centuries, are disrupted by erratic rain. Today, 80 per cent of its urban water comes from desalination. In Qatar, one of the world’s most water-stressed nations, reliance on the sea is almost total.
This technological triumph sustains megacities and fuels economies, but it comes at a heavy price. Most plants are powered by fossil fuels. Thermal systems consume 5–7 kWh per cubic metre of water, while even modern reverse osmosis uses 2.5–4 kWh. Scaled to billions of cubic metres, desalination is an energy giant, peaking just when summer grids are already strained. Then comes brine. For every litre of freshwater, 1.5 litres of salty, chemical-treated discharge return to the sea. In the semi-enclosed Gulf, this slowly raises salinity, depletes oxygen, and harms marine ecosystems. A UN-backed study in 2019 estimated 142 million m³ of brine are discharged globally each day, with the Gulf among the worst hotspots. It is the classic water–energy trap: rising heat drives water demand, demand fuels desalination, desalination burns more energy, and the cycle worsens the very heat it fights.
For years this loop seemed inescapable. Now, the region is confronting it head-on. Governments are phasing out thermal plants in favour of advanced reverse osmosis, investing in brine valorisation, and rethinking infrastructure. What was once a vulnerability is becoming a sector for innovation and resilience. The plot twist comes from the sky. The Arabian Peninsula receives some of the world’s highest solar irradiance—6–7 kWh per square metre each day. Over the past decade, solar costs have plunged by more than 80 per cent. Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park hit a record 1.695 cents/kWh, Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra project reached 1.3 cents, and Saudi Arabia’s Sudair project followed close behind. Pairing cheap solar with reverse osmosis can finally break the water–energy trap. Daytime solar powers desalination, storage carries it through the night, and clean energy turns desalination from liability into strategic asset.
The shift is already underway. The UAE is coupling vast solar parks with new desalination plants. Saudi Arabia is targeting 50 per cent renewables by 2030. Oman is testing hybrid solar-wind projects. Qatar is refining efficient water and cooling systems to keep its cities liveable. At COP28 in Dubai, the region stood firmly in the global spotlight. The world’s first climate stocktake, debates on finance, and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 pledge underlined the region’s growing role as an architect of climate solutions in extreme conditions. Oman has stepped forward with green hydrogen projects. Qatar is betting on efficiency and resilience. Once defined by oil, the Middle East is now reframing itself as a laboratory for climate survival.
Beyond megaprojects, conservation is gaining ground. Oryx herds roam again, mangroves are being restored, and turtles nest on Emirati and Omani beaches. The region is rediscovering its green heritage alongside its climate ambitions. This transformation is also reshaping its global image.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are no longer just financial hubs or tourist magnets; they are becoming showcases of sustainability. In October 2025, Abu Dhabi will host the Global Conservation and Biodiversity Conference, a defining moment that promises to turn the dream of a greener Middle Eastern desert into a living legacy and to enlighten the world on the urgent call to conserve and to wisely use our natural resources for a truly sustainable future.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. This ensures editorial neutrality and clarity for readers. |
