Region faces up to the urgent need for increased water production and strengthened infrastructure

Water coverage is also limited, with the potable water network reaching an average of 75% of the population in MENA countries. Conventional water availability has remained virtually static while demand continues to increase sharply due to rapid population growth, increase in household income and irrigation development.

At the same time, many of the MENA countries have the highest consumption rates per capita in the world. For example, in the UAE consumption per person (around 570 litres per person a day) is over three times the world average. Industry experts project that by 2025 regional average water availability will be just over 500 cubic meters per person per year compared to the world average of 7,000.

The immediate need to increase the production and supply of potable water is a key focus for governments across the region, generating massive investment and creating demand for global expertise plus the latest advanced systems and technologies. As a result of the urgent requirements of the industry, IIR Middle East, organisers of the Middle East Electricity exhibition and conference staged annually in Dubai, have added, for 2007, a further dedicated section of the show that focuses specifically on water related products, technology, systems and services.

"Feedback from both the industry and our governmental contacts showed that the addition of water to the show was essential, as it gives the region's key decision makers access to all of the world leaders from the water sector," said Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director Exhibitions, IIR Middle East.

"Our commitment has always been to develop the show in line with the needs of the region, and this follows on from the introduction of areas for power generation, new & renewable energy, gas and lighting, all of which have been extremely well received by the energy industry as a whole."

High consumption rates mean that groundwater resources have been rapidly depleted, with non-renewable reserves that were accumulated over hundreds (even thousands) of years will be depleted in around twenty years at current usage rates. There is an increased dependence on desalinated water, but this can cost up to three times as much as groundwater, and in most of the GCC states, it accounts for more than 50% of domestic water use.

In the period up to 2015, the countries of the MENA region are expected to spend US$24 billion in desalination costs, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE together accounting for nearly US$13 billion of the total.

"Governments in the Middle East are increasingly turning to the private sector to develop and deliver their water production and conservation capabilities," added Woodbridge. "In addition to providing the latest technologies, increasing efficiency through the application of best practice and expertise, and helping governments ensure continuous access to quality water, private organisations also often provide the capital needed to bring aged infrastructures into line with latest standards."

Morocco, Jordan, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are all undertaking privatisation projects, and the latest estimates indicate that MENA governments will spend in excess of US$100 billion on their water sector infrastructures over the next five years - out of this, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE will spend US$57 billion.

Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz recently inaugurated a seawater intake structure and pumping facility capable of delivering 200,000 cubic metres per hour of seawater, waste water systems and a water distribution system. Infrastructure at Jubail will be further boosted with the upgraded production of 800,000 cubic meters per day of desalinated water by 2009.

Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait depend almost completely on the desalination of seawater, and along with the other MENA countries, are looking at creative solutions. Qatar undertook a feasibility project that looked at importing fresh water via a pipeline across the Arabian Gulf from the Zagros Mountains in Iran, and the use of secondary sewage effluent as irrigation water is being considered by the Qatari Agricultural Department. In Kuwait, a small scale irrigation system using secondary sewage has been developed by The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and in Bahrain, the expansion of potable water production capacity at Ras Abu Jarjur reverse osmosis desalination plant, due for completion this year, involves adding another 3 million gallons by installing two more units at a total cost in the region of US$26.5 million.

"The situation in the Gulf region is unique, as while it is the richest in the world in terms of oil and gas resources, it is among the poorest for water resources." said Woodbridge. "Most of the region's potable water is produced in desalination plants, which are quite often linked to electricity plants powered by natural gas, and so the continued population growth and development in the region will place increasing demands on severely limited water resources. Efforts to increase water supplies will directly lead to a further increase in overall energy requirements, and this will require the efficient use of all energy resources, including renewable sources, especially in those countries that have no oil or gas reserves."

Middle East Electricity, which has a successful track record that covers over 30 years, is globally acknowledged as the power behind the Middle East energy industry. Feedback from both exhibitors and visitors rated it as the top energy show of its kind anywhere in the world. The 2006 show - the biggest ever staged - featured 803 exhibitors from 51 countries, including 18 country pavilions, and attracted 24,321 visitors from 88 countries, an all time record. 84% of these visitors were key decision makers, and exhibitors found the number and quality of visitors exceptional, 97% stating that the quality of visitors met or surpassed their expectations.

"The continued expansion of the regional market increases the strategic significance of Middle East Electricity, which consistently enhances its international reputation, as being the place to meet the right people, achieve business objectives and get a real return on investment," concluded Woodbridge. "94% of visitors this year said that it positively enhanced their business effectiveness and 74% of exhibitors see it as a crucial component of their marketing activity in the region."

Over 91% of 2006 exhibitors have already confirmed their participation at Middle East Electricity 2007, which will take place from 11-14 February at DIEC (Dubai International Exhibition Centre).