Gulf water link gets urgency amid rising regional threats

22/08/2026

Gulf water link gets urgency amid rising regional threats

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 22: The Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) organized a workshop titled “Studying the Feasibility of Building Water Interconnection Projects among GCC Countries,” in cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretariat. The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy participated in the workshop as the representative of Kuwait, along with the representatives of relevant authorities and experts in the fields of water, infrastructure and water security from other GCC member states.

The workshop program included a presentation by the consulting firm about the results of the first phase of the study. This presentation covered the current condition of the water supply infrastructure and water interconnection among GCC countries, in addition to the required data to complete the subsequent phases of the study.

Former Minister of Electricity and Water Eng. Mohammad Boushehri confirmed that Gulf water interconnection is an urgent need due to the current circumstances in the region. He explained that achieving Gulf water security requires diversifying water sources through the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Sea in Oman, instead of relying on a single water source -- the Arabian Gulf.

He stressed that serious steps are being taken towards Gulf water interconnection, including a study on a comprehensive Gulf water interconnection project conducted by a French company. He added that a decision had earlier been issued to start with a bilateral interconnection between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and then with the remaining member states, between 2016 and 2017. He indicated that the decision of GCCIA to hold the workshop is in compliance with the directives issued by the leaders of the GCC countries at the 19th Consultative Meeting.

On the other hand, environmental activist Dr. Fnees Al-Ajmi stressed the need to push for the implementation of the Gulf water interconnection project, taking into consideration the current regional circumstances, particularly the heinous attacks on the GCC countries. He asserted that the success of the Gulf electrical interconnection project is an affirmation of the ability of the member states to realize the Gulf water interconnection ambition in order to overcome challenges posed by the climatic conditions in these countries, particularly temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius and the arid regions that constitute most of the geographical area.

He said the Gulf water interconnection is an important project that contributes to diversifying water sources and ensuring the success of seawater desalination projects, on which the member states depend primarily. He revealed that the concerned authorities, especially the Ministry of Electricity and Water, are exerting tremendous efforts to provide the public with safe drinking water through the desalination plants and Kuwait Water Company. He then suggested the construction of dams or rainwater reservoirs to utilize water from these sources in times of urgent need and lessen reliance on costly water produced by desalination plants

By Mohammad Ghanem Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff