Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the two largest economies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), led the region in desalinated water production in 2022. While Saudi Arabia produced a significant volume, the UAE's share of desalinated water was notably higher relative to its population. In contrast, Qatar and Kuwait each produced 700 million cubic meters of desalinated water, and Bahrain, the smallest member of the GCC, had the lowest production.
Desalinated water is the primary source of urban water consumption in Saudi Arabia. As populations in the GCC and broader MENA region expand, coupled with an influx of foreign workers, the demand for water has surged. Climate change is also expected to worsen water needs, particularly in agriculture, where many countries are striving for greater self-sufficiency in food production. In 2020, agricultural water consumption in MENA exceeded renewable water resources by over 7,000 times.
Production volume of desalinated water in the Gulf Cooperation Council region in 2022, by country
(in million cubic meters per year)
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Volume in million cubic meters per year
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GCC-Stat. (May 12, 2024). Production volume of desalinated water in the Gulf Cooperation Council region in 2022, by country (in million cubic meters per year) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 01, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/800286/gcc-production-volume-desalinated-water-by-country/
GCC-Stat. "Production volume of desalinated water in the Gulf Cooperation Council region in 2022, by country (in million cubic meters per year)." Chart. May 12, 2024. Statista. Accessed September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/800286/gcc-production-volume-desalinated-water-by-country/
GCC-Stat. (2024). Production volume of desalinated water in the Gulf Cooperation Council region in 2022, by country (in million cubic meters per year). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/800286/gcc-production-volume-desalinated-water-by-country/
GCC-Stat. "Production Volume of Desalinated Water in The Gulf Cooperation Council Region in 2022, by Country (in Million Cubic Meters per Year)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 May 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/800286/gcc-production-volume-desalinated-water-by-country/
GCC-Stat, Production volume of desalinated water in the Gulf Cooperation Council region in 2022, by country (in million cubic meters per year) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/800286/gcc-production-volume-desalinated-water-by-country/ (last visited September 01, 2024)
Production volume of desalinated water in the Gulf Cooperation Council region in 2022, by country (in million cubic meters per year) [Graph], GCC-Stat, May 12, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/800286/gcc-production-volume-desalinated-water-by-country/