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Executive overview
Key findings
1,160 million m³: desalinated water produced in 2023 by the plants supplying EWEC's Abu Dhabi system, including the two Fujairah plants outside the emirate, and including exports to the Northern Emirates (actual)
2.15 million m³ a day: average bulk supply to the Abu Dhabi transmission area in 2023, against 0.74 to Al Ain (actual)
+46%: growth in reverse osmosis (RO) production in 2023 over 2022, while multi-stage flash fell 19.3% (actual); EWEC projects RO at 85% of installed water capacity by 2029 (projection)
AED 2.09–2.60 and AED 7.84–10.41 per m³: residential tariffs for UAE nationals and expatriates, from 1 January 2025
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Desalination and membrane suppliers entering the emirate
Track EWEC's RO plants, from Taweelah's 909,000 m³/day to the 273,000 m³/day Future RO plant targeted for 2027, with owners and stage.
Contractors bidding for network and wastewater work
See which buyer procures what: EWEC for desalination, TAQA Transmission and Distribution for networks such as the Mirfa–Liwa scheme, and TAQA Water Solutions for STEP and the emergency lagoon.
Investors and lenders new to Abu Dhabi utilities
Understand the single-buyer and price-control model, the RC2 WACC of 4.9% and the AED 50 billion revenue limit announced by the DoE before the successor control from 1 January 2027.
Consultants and analysts briefing on the capital's water system
Use one table of city-relevant figures, each labelled with its geography, from the 2,823,340 Abu Dhabi Region population to 2.15 million m³ a day of bulk supply.
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Decision scope
Questions answered
How much water does Abu Dhabi produce?
The plants supplying EWEC's Abu Dhabi system, including two in Fujairah outside the emirate, produced 1,160 million m³ of desalinated water in 2023, including exports to the Northern Emirates; the Abu Dhabi transmission area received an average of 2.15 million m³ a day.
Who runs water in Abu Dhabi?
The Department of Energy regulates, EWEC is the single buyer, and TAQA Transmission, TAQA Distribution and TAQA Water Solutions run the networks; Etihad Biwater and Veolia Besix manage about 75% of wastewater treated.
What do households pay for water?
From 1 January 2025, UAE nationals pay AED 2.09–2.60 per m³ and expatriates AED 7.84–10.41 per m³; social-card holders receive free water up to 9,804 or 2,801 litres a day.
Which desalination projects are under way?
Shuweihat 4 (318,225 m³/day, AED 1.60 billion at financial close) is in construction and commissioning; Saadiyat holds only a letter of award, and its Hudayriyat component was cancelled.
What is the groundwater position?
Groundwater supplied about 60% of all water used in the emirate (EAD, 2021), pumping runs up to 20 times recharge, and the DoE reports a target to cut abstraction by 500 million m³ by 2030.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Snapshot
1. City Water Profile
2. Water Resources and Supply
3. Institutions and Utilities
4. Infrastructure and Major Projects
5. Tariffs and Finance
6. Climate and Resilience
7. Outlook and What to Watch
Source Register
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Public preview
What to watch next
2. Water Resources and Supply
RO's share of output in the next DoE Annual Technical Report.
4. Infrastructure and Major Projects
Shuweihat 4 commercial operation; whether EWEC confirms, re-tenders or cancels Saadiyat; the Mirfa–Liwa bid date of 5 January 2027.
5. Tariffs and Finance
The RC2 successor; any 2027 tariff schedule.
6. Climate and Resilience
New downscaled projections for the emirate; DMT reporting after the next major storm.
Section 4: the desalination, transmission and wastewater project table, with owners, conflicting capacity figures and stage as of 11 November 2026.
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Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 12 pages, 9 sections, 9 tables and a register of 31 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
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Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The profile draws on the Department of Energy's 2023 Annual Technical Report, RC2 price-control decision and tariff and consumer rules; EWEC's capacity statement and plant pages; SCAD population and water statistics; EAD groundwater statements; TAQA results and tariff schedules; and project and procurement reports checked to 11 November 2026.
Sources
31 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 11 November 2026. Principal data periods: 2023 sector data (DoE Annual Technical Report); 2024 population; tariffs from 1 January 2025; project and regulatory status as of 11 November 2026. Currency: UAE dirham (AED); US dollars (US$) where sources report them..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
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Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
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Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
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Abu Dhabi City Intelligence Profile
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 99
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- City Intelligence Profile
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_ABU_DHABI_CITY_INTELLIGENCE_PROFILE_a1eb55b5423a
- Evidence current to
- 11 November 2026
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