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Project in Umm Al Quwain shows how coastal structures, reverse osmosis membranes, and controlled disposal systems support one of the largest desalination operations in the United Arab Emirates, with direct impact on the potable water supply of the Northern Emirates.
The NAQA’A plant in Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates, operates with the capacity to produce up to 681.9 million liters of potable water per day from seawater. The plant uses seawater reverse osmosis, technology known by the acronym SWRO, and integrates marine intake, treatment, storage, and controlled brine disposal.
The reported volume for the unit is 150 MIGD, equivalent to 681,900 cubic meters daily. This capacity places the project among the largest reverse osmosis desalination structures in operation, playing a significant role in the supply of the Northern Emirates.
Located south of the border with Ras Al Khaimah, in Umm Al Quwain, the plant occupies a coastal area near the E11 highway. The position allows connecting the seawater intake to the industrial infrastructure and the supply system operated in the project.
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Intake channel brings saltwater to the plant
At the beginning of the process, an open intake channel of 600 meters conducts the seawater to the treatment structure. NAQA’A reports that the project also includes a pumping system, screening, and filtering before the main desalination stages.
This preparation is necessary because reverse osmosis membranes depend on a pre-conditioned flow. By passing through filters and retention systems, the water reaches the subsequent phases with a lower presence of particles capable of affecting the operation of the equipment.
The SWRO technology separates usable water from dissolved salts through pressure and membranes. The stream that passes through the system proceeds to treatment and storage as potable water, while the saline concentrate needs to be managed by the plant’s own infrastructure.
Besides the intake channel, the main components of NAQA’A include the reverse osmosis plant and potable water storage tanks. This set forms the operational base that transforms the Gulf’s saltwater into large-scale supply.
Submarine outfall returns the brine
Another central element of the project is the 3.6-kilometer tubular outfall, used for the return of the concentrated stream to the sea. The structure is part of the main components disclosed by NAQA’A and accompanies the operation of the desalination system.
The presence of the outfall shows that a plant of this size is not limited to the production of fresh water. The process also requires a solution for the brine, an inevitable byproduct of salt separation, as well as structures capable of operating continuously in the coastal environment.
With integrated intake, pumping, filtration, reverse osmosis, and storage, the plant functions as an industrial line for the production of potable water. Seawater enters through the maritime system, goes through the treatment stages, and proceeds for use after reaching the project’s operational standards.
Investment and Commercial Operation
ACWA Power reports that the total investment in the project is approximately 3 billion United Arab Emirates dirhams. The company also points out that the unit was developed with sponsorship from Etihad Water and Electricity, responsible for purchasing the water under a 35-year contract.
According to ACWA Power, the company holds a 40% stake in the project. Argaam also reported that the Saudi company announced, on August 10, 2022, the start of NAQA’A’s operation in Umm Al Quwain, with a capacity of 681,900 cubic meters per day.
On the project’s page, ACWA Power records August 5, 2022, as the date of commercial operation. The difference between this date and the announcement published on August 10 reflects the distinction between the operational start informed by the company and the disclosure to the market.
Water Security in the Northern Emirates
ACWA Power describes the Umm Al Quwain unit as the second-largest SWRO desalination plant in the world, with a total area of 23.5 hectares. The facility is located next to the E11 highway and features a maritime intake and discharge system.
In arid regions, such structures help reduce dependence on natural sources of fresh water. Desalination transforms the sea into a regular supply source but relies on technology, energy, maintenance, and operational control to function on a large scale.
In the case of NAQA’A, the combination of a 600-meter intake channel, 3.6-kilometer outfall, reverse osmosis, and storage tanks explains the scale of the enterprise. The project brings together coastal works and industrial systems to produce potable water in volumes compatible with large supply networks.
The unit also represents part of the United Arab Emirates’ strategy to enhance water security. By producing hundreds of millions of liters per day, the plant reinforces the role of desalination as one of the main solutions adopted by countries with dry climates and coastal access.
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