Across the region, facilities associated with water and electricity, such as desalination plants, are under threat or experiencing damage due to Iranian attacks aimed at locations outside traditional areas.
A single attack is unlikely to sever the gulf’s water supply. The system can manage isolated interruptions, but prolonged or multi-site assaults could quickly put pressure on supply.
“In the Gulf, desalination is engineered with sufficient buffer capacity so that the loss of one facility doesn’t instantly impact the availability at the tap,” remarks Rabee Rustum, a professor of water and environmental engineering at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.
In Kuwait, Iranian drone strikes have damaged power and desalination facilities and ignited fires at oil sites. Other regions, including Fujairah in the UAE, may also be at risk.
“Attacking desalination facilities would be tactical but could cross a line,” observes Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London.
Water infrastructure is unique. “It’s not merely another utility,” Krieg emphasizes. “In regions that depend on desalination, it underpins civilian survival, public health, hospital functions, sanitation, and fundamental state credibility.”
International humanitarian law provides specific protection to civilian assets essential for survival. “This is why assaults on water systems carry significant legal and ethical consequences,” Krieg further states.
These occurrences highlight a structural reality: Desalination is crucial for water supply in the gulf, and any disruption swiftly impacts everyday life.
How the System Manages Disruption
Initially, desalination appears at risk. Shutting down a facility diminishes supply. In actuality, the system features multiple layers of redundancy.
Plants are dispersed across several sites, enabling output redistribution if one slows down. Water is stored at various network points, including central reservoirs and tanks, creating a buffer for delays.
Veolia, an environmental services provider that oversees nearly 19 percent of the region’s desalination, indicates the water supply is diversified through numerous facilities along the coast.
The company further notes that distribution systems are interconnected, allowing plants to assist and substitute for one another, thereby ensuring service continuity.
In the UAE, storage can last around a week, while in other regions, it’s restricted to two to three days, according to Veolia.
This indicates that the system can temporarily manage disruptions. Once reserves are exhausted, water supply relies on the capability of plants to generate enough to satisfy demand.
The System That Generates Water
Unlike many regions, the Gulf does not depend on rivers or precipitation. It relies on desalination plants along the coast, continuously converting seawater into drinkable water.
Seawater undergoes processing through reverse osmosis or thermal methods, eliminating salt and impurities. The resulting water is distributed, stored, and sent to homes, hospitals, and industries.
It is a rigid system, designed for ongoing operation, supporting cities, industries, and services. Gulf states produce approximately 40 percent of the world’s desalinated water, with over 400 plants in operation.
Dependence varies but remains high across nations. In the UAE, desalination comprises 41 to 42 percent of total water usage, 90 percent of Kuwait’s drinking water, and around 70 percent in Saudi Arabia.
When Disruption Becomes Apparent
For residents, disruption isn’t immediately perceived—water continues to flow.
Rustum notes that buildings contain internal storage and pumps, concealing early changes in supply. Water pressure usually remains stable as the system adapts.
