Dubai Electricity and Water Authority announced 90% completion of the first phase of its seawater desalination plant at Hassyan Complex, with all stages expected to finish during the first quarter of 2027.

In 2024, the UAE desalinated roughly 1.8–1.9 mn cubic metres of water per day, making it one of the largest producers of desalinated water in the world.

According to the official press release, the AED3.38bn ($920mn) facility ranks amongst the world's largest reverse osmosis seawater desalination projects and marks DEWA's first independent water producer venture, state news agency WAM reported on January 2.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and chief executive of DEWA, inspected progress at the site and said the project embodies the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide advanced infrastructure for energy and water that keeps pace with Dubai's rapid growth.

The facility forms a cornerstone of DEWA's strategy to increase Dubai's desalination capacity using reverse osmosis technology, which requires less energy than multi-stage flash distillation plants, making it a more sustainable choice for water production.

DEWA plans to add 240mn gallons to its daily desalinated water production capacity by 2030 using reverse osmosis technology. The authority aims to produce 100% of desalinated water using a combination of clean energy and waste heat.

The project supports the Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy 2030 and Dubai's water security policy. Officials from Hassyan Water Company A, responsible for implementing the project, provided detailed presentations on construction progress during the visit.

Al Tayer was accompanied by Mohammed Abunayyan, chairman of ACWA Power, and senior DEWA executives including Nasser Lootah, executive vice president for production, and Hussein Lootah, executive vice president for power transmission.