Increase in water production in UAE

Between the fourth quarter of 1999 and the middle of 2001, the desalinated water production in the UAE will be increased by 30%. Several desalination projects have been started on a “fast track” mode with record completion time. Various new techniques have been adopted, from the technical or financial aspects, for these fast track projects. The largest seawater MED plant (2×3.5 MIGD) was commissioned in Abu Dhabi in November 2000 and the largest MED project (50 MIGD) has recently been awarded for Al Taweelah A1. In Sharjah 2×5 MIGD MED plants are now under construction with a target completion in June 2001. While the unit size of MED plants has been steadily increasing (3.5 MIGD plants successfully commissioned in Abu Dhabi and 5 MIGD plants under construction at Sharjah), MSF plants are also increasing in unit size. Most of the major projects recently constructed or under construction in the UAE comprise large MSF plants, output ranging from 7.5–12.5 MIGD. This paper aims at describing these projects and reviews the technological innovations and project implementation methods employed in the projects.

Continuous efforts have been made by the desalination industry towards the targets of making water from desalination plants a mass consumer good. Particularly in the last three years several innovative ideas have been implemented in desalination projects and sensible price reductions have been obtained in the selling price of water. Strong market competition and the enormous potable water demand have given impetus for seeking new frontiers to desalination technology. In response the desalination industry has promoted research into innovative technical solutions, in both MSF and MED technologies. With the ever-increasing demand for water demand in the Gulf region and elsewhere, desalination projects with more exacting time schedules and lower costs will become a necessity. The recent projects in the UAE will hopefully become trendsetters for a whole new breed of desalination projects in the Gulf region.