Dubai’s Water Challenge: Living Without a Natural River
Mar 23, 2025·By Tonna Beneto
Dubai, despite its rapid development and modern infrastructure, has no natural freshwater rivers to rely on. The city’s water supply is primarily sourced from underground aquifers and seawater desalination plants. The latter process millions of gallons of seawater daily, turning salty water into potable, drinkable water.
In fact, Dubai is one of the largest producers of desalinated water in the world, with its plants providing around 98% of the city's drinking water. This reliance on desalination makes Dubai highly dependent on technology and energy-intensive processes to meet the needs of its ever-growing population, contributing to the city's innovative approaches to water management in one of the world’s driest regions.