Construction of the first phase of the AED 3.38 billion ($920 million) seawater desalination plant at the Hassyan complex in Dubai is 78% complete, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has revealed.
The plant, being developed under the Independent Water Producer (IWP) model, will have a production capacity of 180 million imperial gallons per day when the first phase is completed in the first quarter of 2027.
It is DEWA’s first IWP project and part of a broader strategy to expand Dubai’s desalination capacity to meet growing demand for potable water in the Gulf business hub.
DEWA chief executive Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer inspected the site recently, accompanied by senior officials and engineers. “The project embodies the vision of Dubai’s leadership to provide advanced infrastructure for energy and water that keeps pace with the emirate’s rapid growth,” Al Tayer said in a statement.
The Hassyan facility is a cornerstone of Dubai’s Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy 2030, which seeks to enhance supply security, diversify sources, and integrate clean energy into production.
DEWA plans to add 240 million imperial gallons per day of seawater reverse osmosis capacity by 2030, bringing total desalination output to 735 million gallons per day. The utility aims to produce all desalinated water using a mix of clean energy and waste heat by that year.
Reverse osmosis technology, which uses high-pressure membranes to remove salt from seawater, is more energy-efficient than traditional thermal desalination methods that dominate in the Gulf. Dubai is increasingly turning to RO to reduce costs and carbon emissions in its water production.
The Hassyan desalination project is being developed by Hassyan Water Company, with officials saying the current pace of work keeps the project on track for its scheduled commissioning.
