Kuwait
With limited natural groundwater resources, increasing demand for water supply and unclear plans for water management, Kuwait is at high risk of experiencing a water crisis before 2025. The Government of Kuwait has declared its commitment to working towards reducing per capita water consumption and investing in wastewater management and desalination projects.
Opportunities for the sector in Kuwait
Kuwait offers opportunities to the Dutch water sector related to improving Non Revue Water/water losses and smart networks, adopting cost-effective desalination technologies and expanding the capacity of desalination plants. In addition, opportunities can be found in water efficiency improvement and maximising treated sewage effluent reuse.
Source: Market Report Gulf region water sector – 2018, commissioned by Netherlands and You. Netherlands and You is initiated by the Dutch economic network in the GCC to connect business needs in the region with Dutch solutions.
Water & the Gulf countries
The Gulf, in which Kuwait is located, is among the most water-stressed areas in the world. At the same time, it is also one of the highest water-consuming areas. The agricultural sector is by far the largest consumer of water in the Gulf countries, accounting for around 85 percent of fresh water, nearly all of which comes from non-renewable underground sources.
Opportunities for the sector
In light of the UAE’s ambition to ensure its food security and its need for potable water, many opportunities for cooperation in the water, energy and food sectors are arising. The Dutch water sector is becoming increasingly present in the region, especially in the domains of water technology.
It is expected that the coming years will offer more opportunities for the Dutch water sector to expand its activities in the region, mostly through the EXPO2020 Dubai and the strategy of the Government of the Netherlands to focus on water-energy-food in the Gulf.
Collaboration
Together with the Regional Business Development Team of the Dutch Embassies in the Gulf countries, NWP is actively involved in various initiatives that lead to collaborative projects between the Dutch water sector and counterparts in the Gulf countries. NWP’s activities include providing market information about the Gulf countries to the Dutch water sector, organising (virtual) trade missions and tailor made events; and the facilitation of partnership building.
Interested to know more about Kuwait and other countries in the Gulf? Contact our Project Manager MENA, Sabrina Kraaijenbrink-Doetjes.