The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a nation in the Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian (Persian) Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia. It is a federation of seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain) each with its own hereditary emir, with specific powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates.

The UAE is an important producer of natural gas and oil, ranking seventh globally in total proven reserves of both.

Its major environmental issues include:

• Lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants
• Desertification
• Beach pollution from oil spills

The UAE is susceptible to frequent sand and dust storms.

Water Resources

Total Renewable Water Resources: 0.2 cu km (1997)

Freshwater Withdrawal:    2.3 cu km/yr (23% domestic, 9% industrial, 68% agricultural)

Per Capita Freshwater Withdrawal:

The total annual surface runoff produced from rain is about 150 million cubic meters (m3), but there are no perennial streams. The average annual groundwater recharge is about 120 million m3, most of which comes from infiltration from the river beds. The total groundwater abstraction during the year 1995 is estimated at l,615 million m3. This means that groundwater depletion probably amounts to almost 1,500 million m3/year. However, this figure does not consider the possible annual recharge of groundwater entering from neighboring countries (for example from the Eastern Arabia Aquifer), as no figures are available. In any case, the over-extraction of groundwater resources has led to a lowering of the water table by more than one meter on average during the last two decades, while seawater intrusion is increasing in the coastal areas. 

Dams 

To increase the groundwater recharge a number of dams have been built at various locations across the country. There are about 35 dams and embankments of various dimensions having a total storage capacity of 80 million m3. While most of these dams are basically built for recharge purposes, they also provide protection against damage caused by flash floods. 

Desalinated Water and Treated Wastewater

The first desalination plant was installed in Abu Dhabi in 1976 with a total capacity of 250 m3/day. Because of a rapid increase in domestic and industrial water demand more plants were installed, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. At present there are 35 desalination plants in the UAE, with a total installed capacity of l,922 m3/day or 700 million m3/year, while total actual production is 385 million m3/year. 

It is estimated that about 500 million m3 of wastewater were produced in the urban areas during 1995, of which 108 million m3 were treated and reused. 

The World Bank reports that at least 80 countries have water shortages and 2 billion people lack access to clean water. More disturbingly, the World Health Organization has reported that 1 billion people lack enough water to simply meet their basic needs, unfortunately in many countries water is scarce or contaminated.

Pure Aqua provides wide range of water purification methods that are customized based on the United Arab Emirates' water issues.

United Arab Emirates' main water resources are:

• Surface water is water from river, lake or fresh water wetland, which can be treated using different methods, such as Ultrafiltration Systems, Brackish Water RO.
• Desalination can be used for water from ocean, or sea source, which can be treated using Seawater Reverse Osmosis Systems; Desalination Systems.
• Ground Water or brackish water is from water located in the pore space of soil and rock “Borehole well”, which can be treated using Reverse Osmosis Systems, Chemical Dosing, UV Water Sterilizers.
• Government water supply, which could have high level of hardness or high level of chlorine, can be treated with Water Softener Systems, Media Water Filters.

Water treatment solutions in UAE

Pure Aqua provides affordable and environmentally friendly water purification methods to countries such as UAE that possess water quality problems. Our job is to supply first-rate water treatment systems which comply with national environmental standards and can be used for clean water production, recycling, irrigation, and other purposes. Pure Aqua manufactures water treatment systems that meet the World Health Organization requirements.

Completed Water Purification Projects for United Arab Emirates: