Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has commissioned a new water reservoir in Enkhali, adding 120 million imperial gallons (MIG) of storage to Dubai's water network. The project cost AED 287.8 million and marks a significant step in DEWA's ongoing push to strengthen the emirate's water infrastructure.
DEWA Enkhali Reservoir: Project Overview
The Enkhali reservoir has a storage capacity of 120 MIG and has been formally connected to Dubai's water distribution network. With a construction cost of AED 287.8 million, it is one of several large-scale reservoirs DEWA is developing to meet the city's rising demand for desalinated water.
"Water security is a national priority for the UAE," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. "The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 aims to ensure sustainable access to water during normal and emergency conditions and address water security challenges in the long run."
Boosting Dubai's Total Water Storage Capacity
The Enkhali reservoir is part of a coordinated programme that also includes new facilities in Lusaily, Hassyan, and Hatta. Together, these projects are designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of Dubai's water supply networks, increase water availability, and expand storage reserves to keep pace with the city's growth.
Upon completion of all four facilities, Dubai's aggregate desalinated water storage capacity will rise from the current 1,001.3 MIG to 1,121.3 MIG. DEWA's Executive Vice President for Water and Civil Abdullah Obaidullah described the Enkhali reservoir as one of the company's world-class infrastructure projects.
UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 and the ASR Project
The new reservoirs are complemented by DEWA's Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project for desalinated water, of which the first phase has already been completed. Once the second phase is finished by 2025, the ASR project is expected to become the largest of its kind in the world, capable of storing up to 6,000 MIG of potable water that can be retrieved during emergencies.
DEWA says both the reservoir programme and the ASR project are directly aligned with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, which sets out a long-term framework for securing adequate water supplies under normal and emergency conditions alike.
