Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all - Read about the UAE's efforts to fulfill the SDG 'Clean water and sanitation' on the UAE's SDGs portal.
The UAE produces annually 2.52 billion cubic metres of underground water consumed mainly in the agriculture sector, 2.02 billion cubic metres of desalinated seawater consumed by the urban sector, and 0.53 billion cubic metres of treated wastewater used for irrigation of parks, green areas and afforestation trees. (Source: the UAE state of environment report 2020 - Arabic)
In 2010, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment developed the National Strategy for Preserving Water Resources to adopt policies for rationalisation of water use.
The UAE's National Innovation Strategy puts water as one of its key seven pillars. As part of the strategy, the UAE aims to be a global leader in rain enhancement science and technology and build up the UAE's credentials as an international scientific leader and an innovation powerhouse.
In September 2017, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure unveiled the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, which aims to ensure sustainable access to water during both normal and emergency conditions in line with local regulations, standards of the World Health Organisation, and the UAE’s vision to achieve prosperity and sustainability.
The overall objectives of the strategy are to reduce total demand for water resources by 21 percent, increase the water productivity index to USD 110 per cubic meter, reduce the water scarcity index by three degrees, increase the reuse of treated water to 95 percent and increase national water storage capacity up to two days.
The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science was initiated. It aims to advance the scientific and technological base of rain enhancement, where technology is used to stimulate and increase rainfall.
Since its inception with a total of USD 5 million in annual grant, the programme has attracted interest from researchers around the world, year after year.
Suqia - UAE Water Aid is a non-profit organisation established to support international efforts to provide potable clean water to people in need around the world and to contribute to finding permanent, sustainable and innovative solutions to water scarcity.
Read more about the sustainable development goal 'Clear water and sanitation'.
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To match with the steep rise in sewage generation as a direct effect of increase in the UAE's population, the government is investing in upgrading and extending sewer systems to ensure a sustainable sewage disposal and treatment system. Some of these projects are mentioned below by emirate.
Abu Dhabi
In 2009, Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions Company (AD-SWS) launched an AED 5.7 billion (USD 1.6 billion) Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP), which includes building 41 km of deep sewer tunnels.
In 2014, an ambitious environmental plan was revealed to treat and re-use all of the emirate's wastewater to irrigate farms and parks within four years.
Dubai
Dubai is planning to get a new deep tunnel sewerage system costing AED 12.5 billion in the next five years, to replace more than 121 sewerage pumping stations. The new deep tunnel system makes use of gravity for the collection of sewage.
In addition, a project to expand the Jebel Ali sewerage plant has been approved and will cost AED 1.3 billion. When it is completed, it will serve 1.35 million people and will bring the plant's capacity to 675,000 cubic metres daily, which is double its current capacity.
Northern Emirates
Sharjah has a sewerage treatment plant in the Al Sajaa area. It was constructed at a cost of AED 227 million. The treated water will be used to irrigate plants and green spaces in the city of Sharjah. The plant will undergo ecpansion in order to increase its capacity of treating waste from 30,000 cubic metres to 50,000 cubic metres daily.
Ajman had its first sewerage treatment network in 2009, which was built by Ajman Sewage Company, one of the first sewage projects' PPPs in the region.
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