In March 2019, Middle East Construction News reported that the UAE was earmarking $1.57 billion for water and power schemes in the northern emirates. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved dams plus a federal water grid worth $654 million, plus a $326 million solar plant in Umm Al Quwain. A desalination station rated at 150 million gallons per day was also planned there, due online in 2021. Under the national water security plan, desalination projects were expected to save $2.45 billion.
The report showed the UAE planning desalination in the northern emirates as one part of a state package of storage, networks and generation, tied to its water security strategy running to 2036.
Source: Middle East Construction News