In December 2015, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Ras Al Khaimah utility Utico was putting AED 1.2 billion (US$ 326.7 million) into power and water schemes across the Emirates. Through Al Hamra Water Company, its venture with Grupo Cobra, Utico planned a 100,000 m³/day desalination plant for AED 719 million, about US$ 196 million, due in 2018. Work had started on an AED 410 million pipeline and storage link from Ras Al Khaimah to Sharjah. Utico targeted over 500,000 m³/day of desalination within six years.
The report showed how a private utility combined desalination, pipelines and solar power in one package to keep pace with population growth in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.