DEWA Faces Growing Challenge to Meet Dubai’s Record Water Demand
Dubai is experiencing unprecedented growth in water demand, driven by a rapidly increasing population and the expansion of utility accounts. In the past year alone, the city added 65,000 new utility accounts, raising questions about whether the infrastructure responsible for producing, delivering, and billing for water can keep pace with this expansion. While Dubai is not facing a water crisis, the challenge lies in managing the complexities of its water supply system amid such rapid growth.
Record Highs in Water Demand
According to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the demand for desalinated water surged by 6.62% in 2025, reaching a record high of 161.505 billion imperial gallons. This figure marks the highest annual total recorded to date. The average daily peak demand for water in Dubai reached 487 million imperial gallons, up from 455 million the previous year, illustrating the intensity of the city’s growth, which saw an additional 32 million gallons of demand in just one day.
The trend of increasing demand has continued into 2026. DEWA’s Q1 2026 results, released on May 12, indicate that desalinated water production hit a record 37.57 billion imperial gallons in the first quarter, a 5.51% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Customer accounts grew by 19,803 during this quarter, contributing to a total of 65,086 new accounts over the past year. This annual growth rate of 5.08% is the highest recorded in recent years, with each new account representing another household or business relying on the same desalinated water grid.
The Role of Desalination in Dubai’s Water Supply
Dubai’s geographical and climatic conditions present significant challenges for water supply. The emirate receives less than 100 millimeters of rainfall annually and lacks rivers, lakes, or substantial freshwater reserves. Groundwater aquifers are insufficient to meet the needs of a population nearing 4 million, making desalinated seawater the primary source of water, accounting for 99.5% of the city’s supply.
DEWA employs two main technologies for desalination: Multi-Stage Flash Distillation (MSF) and Seawater Reverse Osmosis (RO). MSF heats seawater to produce steam, which is then condensed into pure water. RO, on the other hand, uses pressure to push water through ultra-fine membranes, effectively removing salt and contaminants. RO is increasingly favored due to its lower energy consumption and compatibility with renewable energy sources, prompting DEWA to transition towards this technology.
In Q1 2026, DEWA completed the installation of Unit A at the Hassyan Seawater Reverse Osmosis desalination plant, increasing its capacity to 60 million imperial gallons per day. This brings the total installed capacity to 555 million imperial gallons per day, with RO now constituting 23% of DEWA’s water production mix, up from just 5.3% in 2019.
Financial Implications of Water Demand
The financial implications of meeting Dubai’s burgeoning water demand are substantial. DEWA invested AED 11.72 billion in 2025, focusing on expanding renewable energy capacity, desalination plants, and the transmission and distribution networks. This level of investment is essential to stay ahead of a demand curve that adds the equivalent of a mid-sized city’s consumption to the grid each year.
For residents, these infrastructure costs are reflected in utility bills. DEWA’s 2026 residential water tariff ranges from AED 7.699 to AED 10.118 per cubic meter, depending on consumption levels. Additionally, a fuel surcharge of AED 1.10 per cubic meter is applied to cover desalination-related energy costs. The sewerage fee, which was raised from 1 fil to 2 fils per gallon in 2024, is expected to increase to 2.8 fils per gallon by 2027, representing a 180% hike over three years due to the need for infrastructure investment.
Looking Ahead: The 2030 Roadmap
DEWA’s 2030 roadmap outlines ambitious plans for the future. The authority aims to increase total installed desalination capacity from 555 million imperial gallons per day to 730 million by 2030. This increase of 180 million imperial gallons per day represents a 32% rise in capacity within the next five years. Of this total, 303 million imperial gallons per day will be generated using Seawater Reverse Osmosis powered by renewable energy, marking a significant shift in the city’s water production methods.
DEWA’s CEO, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, highlighted 2025 as the best financial and operational performance in the authority’s history. The Q1 2026 results continued this trend, with net profit reaching AED 940 million on consolidated revenue of AED 6.45 billion. This record performance was achieved despite challenging geopolitical conditions in the region.
DEWA’s production numbers, customer growth, and investments in new capacity indicate a system functioning at maximum output to meet demand. The sustainability of this system will depend on how quickly Dubai continues to grow. Current trends suggest that demand will likely outpace expectations.
Source: timesofdubai.ae
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Published on 2026-05-14 12:47:00 • By the Editorial Desk
