News
Water news
Developments in water across the Middle East and North Africa. Every item lists the sources it rests on.
Egypt signs private operation contracts for 11 desalination plants
Egypt's Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities announced on 18 October the signing of operation and maintenance contracts for 11 seawater desalination plants with a combined design capacity of 485,000 cubic metres a day.
Saudi water bodies win awards in Kuala Lumpur
Sharakat, the Saudi water PPP company (the Saudi Water Partnership Company, SWPC), said on 17 October that it won three prizes at the Asian Water Awards 2026, run by Asian Power magazine: Water Agency Excellence, and PPP Project Initiative of the Year for the Rabigh 4 independent water project (about 600,000 cubic metres a day, Makkah region) and for the Rayis-Rabigh water transmission project (about 500,000 cubic metres a day, Madinah region).
Tehran's five dams hold 383 million cubic metres in mid-October
Mehr News Agency reported on 18 October, citing national water statistics, that the five main dams supplying Tehran held 383 million cubic metres on 11 October.
South Lebanon water utility opens a control centre funded by the Red Cross
Lebanon's Ministry of Energy and Water reported on 9 October that the South Lebanon Water Establishment had inaugurated a SCADA control and management system, under the patronage of Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi.
Two pumping stations restore supply for about 2 million people near Damascus
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the state news agency, reported on 8 October that two pumping stations on the southern axis of Damascus, at the Eighth and Fifth Intersections, were put into service to improve drinking water supply for around 2 million people in Damascus countryside and southern Damascus.
Israel stockpiles desalination membranes after the algae shutdown
Calcalist reported on 6 October that Israel's state bought replacement membranes for the privately owned desalination plants, at an estimated NIS 45 million (about US$15 million) by its own analysis.
Desalination output in southern Gaza falls to its lowest level, UN reports
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its situation report of 2 October that water production at the two seawater desalination plants in southern Gaza had fallen to its lowest output, for lack of spare parts and equipment.