Author: Fanack Water Editorial Team Beirut’s Water Crisis Needs a Solution Lebanon faces severe water shortages, made worse by years of drought and declining rainfall. Millions in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon have to rely on expensive private tankers or ration their water. Now, the Second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project (SGBWSP) is moving forward. Backed by […] The post Second Greater Beirut Water Supply Project appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious water infrastructure plans have taken a major step forward with the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) securing US$ 650 million in financing to modernize two key desalination plants in Jubail and Khobar. As reported by Smart Water Magazine, this financing will facilitate the conversion of the Jubail Phase I and Khobar Phase II […] The post Saudi Water Authority Secures $650 Million for Desalination Upgrades appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Author: Frederik de Haan The Arabian Gulf is one of the driest regions on earth, where freshwater resources are limited and natural replenishment is minimal. Against this backdrop of extreme water scarcity, countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have turned to desalination as a lifeline. A recent article by the Atlantic Council explores this […] The post Desalination in the Gulf: A Double-Edged Sword for Water Security appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
In this in-depth interview, Glada Lahn of Chatham House discusses the rising urgency of water security in the Middle East, linking it to oil, conflict, climate change, and regional geopolitics.| Fanack Water
The post Financing the Water Transition in the MENA Region: Unlocking $500 Billion with Green Bonds and PPPs appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Author: Ines Strohschein, Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative One Water: From life-giving force to scarce resource There is a finite volume of water on our planet and always has been—whether it was there at Earth’s inception as water molecules embedded in the rock that became earth 4 billion years ago, was later […]| Fanack Water
Advertorial by Energy Recovery Unrivalled Performance in Harsh Environments New Research Demonstrates a 30-Year Design Life for Energy Recovery Pressure Exchangers Seawater desalination is an essential solution for mounting freshwater needs, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region where water scarcity is commonplace. While desalination is an energy-intensive process, innovative technologies have […] The post Durable and energy efficient seawater desalination appeared fi...| Fanack Water
Fanack Water attended the Global Water Summit in Paris 12-14 May 2025. While there, Matt Luna with Fanack spoke with Henk Ovink, the Executive Director of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, and former Water Envoy for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Mr. Ovink shared his views on investment, innovation, and needed cooperation […]| Fanack Water
Author: Matt Luna / Fanack Water Water scarcity is a familiar theme for those working in the water sector. It is even more familiar for people without access to clean water, as they are struggling to live in these conditions. Solutions and technology to tackle water scarcity were presented, promoted and connected at the International […]| Fanack Water
Rising temperatures are also increasing the amount of moisture held in the atmosphere, resulting in drier summers in regions such as the Mediterranean. However, more vegetation leads to more rain, so converting forests to agricultural land can have a significant impact on regional rain patterns. The post ‘From satellites to sandbags’ Investing in a Cooperative Future at the UN Water Conference appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Cities Alliance’s new brief Empower a Woman with Water and She Can Change Her City, provides an overview of the situation in the region, and share expert views on the issue in countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Palestine. The document showcases some of the grassroots initiatives that are enabling women to play a role in water management and makes recommendations for improved women’s engagement in this field. The post Empower a Woman with Water and She Can Change Her City appea...| Fanack Water
A range of challenges were presented: the region is water scarce, and the two main river systems, the Nile and the Tigris/Euphrates, are drying up which will lead to transboundary supply issues. Simultaneously, there are many demand issues resulting from increased water use for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes. The post MENA in Focus: Key Takeaways from the UN 2023 Water Conference appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
The 2023 UN Water Conference, organized by the Netherlands and Tajikistan, created a space for sectors to collaborate on strategy for new demands on water resources and security. The months leading up to COP 28 may reveal whether this opportunity was truly a starting point. The post 2023 UN Water Conference: Pathway to Water in Climate Action at COP28 appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
In short, a scorching future seems unavoidable if warming is not limited quickly and drastically. Hotter summers are only the beginning. Rainfall is diminishing, which, together with the heat, is causing rivers and marshes in southern Iraq to dry up and contributing to the desertification of farmland. The post In the Middle East, temperatures are soaring. Will the region remain habitable? appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
What is causing the increase in drought and water scarcity in both countries? We could point at climate change as a main cause, due to higher temperatures and reduced rainfall. However, do water management, policies and human behaviour not play a bigger role? The post Summer of Drought: Lessons from Iran and Turkey? appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Traditional water systems in the MENA were used for collecting, transporting or storing of water. Several of these techniques have lost their relevance with the introduction of new techniques. However, in several MENA countries traditional water systems are still relevant and used today. The post Traditional Water Systems in the MENA Region appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Ongoing disagreements over technical and legal issues concerning the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile led to new talks being initiated between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia The post Potential Water Scarcity is Fuelling the Conflict Between Egypt and Ethiopia appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
The year 2018 was marked by a severe drought in Iraq, a formerly water-rich country. The water crisis is complex, however, with multiple causes and the potential for future conflicts. A group of young Iraqi activists is trying to raise awareness about the issue. The post Meet the Iraqi Activists Who Are Standing Up for the Environment appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
The negative consequences of Middle Eastern regional conflicts for Jordan find an echo in climate change, which also aggravates the country’s water problems: it causes less rain to fall and feed the Jordan River and the Yarmouk River (the two rivers are shared with Israel and Syria). This situation forces people to rely on groundwater reserves, and they are increasingly depleting. The post To Prevent Water Shortages, Jordan must Act without Delay appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
The Middle East Desalination Center (MEDRC), headquartered in the capital Muscat, was founded in 1996. MEDRC is working in alignment with the government strategy to address significant regional or transboundary environmental challenges. Furthermore, it plays a significant role in boosting water-related research and innovation in Oman The post Oman Steps Up Research and Innovation Efforts to Solve Water Problems appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
This article provides a summary of a five-day dialogue programme of meetings, presentations, discussions and field trips entitled ‘Innovations in water and waste management: Models of transferability to the MENA region’, The post Dialogue on Water and Waste Management in the MENA Region appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Fanack Water interviewed the ambitious al-Bulushi during the event, asking her about her project, her aspirations and vision. The post Interview with Manal al-Bulushi, Winner of the Omani Young Water Researcher Award appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Mohammad al-Hmaidi explains the challenges and achievements of the newly established Water Sector Regulatory Council (WSRC), an institution that began its work in 2016 under the new Water Law in Palestine. The post Interview with Mohammad al-Hmaidi, CEO of the Palestinian Water Sector Regulatory Council appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
With much of its land an arid, inhospitable desert, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, one of the world’s driest countries, threatens to die of thirst. Analysts have long warned that Jordan, saddled with shrinking renewable resources and a quickly growing population, faced a reckoning. In recent years, however, the challenges confronting this parched kingdom have accelerated. The post High and Dry with the Hashemites appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with an estimated 4,500 inhabitants per square kilometre. The population has increased more than 20 times since 1948 The post Gaza Strip Residents Face Daily Struggle for Water appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Fanack Water speaks to Tawfiq Habashneh, Secretary General of the Water Authority of Jordan, about supplying water to a growing population. The post Q&A with Tawfiq Habashneh, Secretary General of the Water Authority of Jordan appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Fanack Water speaks to Professor Elias Salameh of the University of Jordan about possible solutions to Jordan’s water crisis The post Q&A with Professor Elias Salameh of the University of Jordan appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
If the water issue is not urgently addressed, the outlook for the future is catastrophic. Gaza’s growing population needs water and the aquifer can no longer meet demand. It will take decades to reverse the damage to the aquifer, but we must to everything we can to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The post Q&A with Dr Ahmad Yaqubi appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
Gaza’s water crisis has been steadily worsening over recent decades. The area’s only source of fresh water is the Coastal Aquifer, a groundwater basin that runs the length of the Gaza Strip and along part of the Israeli coast. The post Why Gaza is Running Out of Fresh Water appeared first on Fanack Water.| Fanack Water
