An overview of the GCC Unified Water Strategy (2016–2035)

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are situated in one of the most arid regions in the world, with extremely poor endowment of freshwater resources. Despite the water scarcity, the GCC countries have done well in providing water for their ever-increasing population and rapidly expanding economic base. However, this has been achieved only by resorting to relatively very expensive and costly investments in water supply sources and infrastructures manifested by desalination, water treatment, dam constructions, as well as groundwater overdrafting. Being an important vector for socioeconomic development, there is a need for the establishment of an efficient and sustainable water management system to ensure that the water sector can continue to serve the countries' development needs. However, currently the GCC countries are facing several major challenges that are threatening the water sector sustainability. These include increasing water scarcity, increasing costs for infrastructure and service delivery, resources deterioration, increasing environmental and economic externalities, and many others. The main driving forces of these challenges are population growth and changing consumption patterns, low supply efficiencies, lower rates of water reuse and recycling, and low energy efficiency in the water sector. The intensity of these challenges is expected to increase in the future due to the additional driving force of the impacts of climate change. Realizing these challenges, the GCC Supreme Council has issued in its 31st summit (2010) the directive of "serious and speedy steps should be taken and endorsed by the GCC Supreme Council toward a long-term comprehensive Gulf water strategy". In 2016, a GCC Unified Water Strategy, 2016-2035 (GCC UWS) has been finalized by the GCC Secretariat General and approved by the GCC Supreme Council. This paper presents the main challenges facing the sustainability of the water sector in the GCC countries, the formulated GCC UWS (main themes and strategic objectives and their policies, key performance indicators and targets), the potential financial, economic, and environmental benefits from its implementation, and its expected overall contribution to the water sector sustainability in the GCC countries.

Sustainable development in the Arab world – is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region fit for the challenge?

“…Rentierism is one reason behind the high per-capita rates of energy and water consumption as well as waste generation in the GCC. The heavy subsidisation of water by the governments has contributed to one of the highest per capita levels of water consumption worldwide, with average daily water consumption per capita between 200 and 600 litres (Al-Zubari et al 2017). The accessibility of these basic amenities provided by GCC governments is not universal, as in some areas, for example Saudi Arabia and Oman, some households, particularly in rural areas, still depend on wells and tankers.…”

Nanofiltration as a cost-saving desalination process

“…There is a severe deficiency of water for drinking, domestic use, and agricultural purposes in these countries, while Qatar is the most severe one due to almost no supplies of good-quality terrestrial water. The total water consumption in GCC countries has been reported as 26,150 MCM, which is 95% (Bahrain 167%, Kuwait 118%, Oman 140%, Qatar 150%, Saudi Arabia 84%, and UAE 131%) increase during the decade 2000-2010 [2]. The project water demand of GCC will increase by 40 in 2030% and further 40% by 2040, mainly due to increase in population [3].…”

Tackling the Trickle: Ensuring Sustainable Water Management in the Arab Region

“…In this sense, educational policy is a key factor to empower citizens to contribute to sustainable water management and win public acceptance for water policies, including wastewater reuse (Amery & Haddad, 2016). Although surveys of the region's population indicate high levels of awareness of the region's water issues and excessive consumption (Saab, 2015), unsustainable behavior and consumption patterns persist, as indicated by high levels of food waste (Abiad & Meho, 2018), water losses, and high per capita water consumption in the high‐income countries (Al‐Zubari et al, 2017). In this context, educational policy is a key instrument to move toward sustainable water management and regional experience demonstrates that it successfully leads to positive water‐related outcomes, notably water conservation.…”