With rising global temperatures and the intensification of desertification, the world is facing an unprecedented drought, leaving over 2 billion people without access to drinking water in their homes. In response, water desalination systems are becoming an increasingly viable solution.
Once considered a costly alternative, technological advances have significantly reduced the expenses of desalination, making it an essential tool for regions grappling with drought. Over the past 50 years, global water desalination system capacity has increased more than 50-fold, now processing 71.4 billion gallons of water per day—enough to supply 150-200 million people. The United Nations Environment Programme predicts that these figures could double by 2030.
While Spain leads European desalination efforts with its El Prat de Llobregat plant, the Middle East remains at the forefront globally. With 32 active plants and another six under construction, Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. It processes 9.7 million cubic meters of water daily, accounting for 22% of the world’s desalinated water and providing for over 34 million people.
Why is the Middle East leading the way? The region contains some of the most arid nations on Earth, with 13 countries below the absolute water scarcity threshold. Rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization have further strained the region’s limited freshwater resources. As a result, Gulf States have heavily invested in water desalination systems, leveraging the extensive coastlines along the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, along with underground sources of brackish water, to support large-scale desalination operations.
