Dubai's DEWA accelerates shift to renewable-powered seawater desalination with new Hassyan capacity

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is planning to add another 120 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) capacity throughout 2026, as part of its broader push toward cleaner, lower-emission water production methods in the emirate.

In its first-quarter 2026 financial results, DEWA mentioned that it has already commissioned Block A of the Hassyan SWRO plant, which boosted its capacity by 60 MIGD. An additional 60 MIGD is expected to come online later in the year, the company noted.

This development marks a significant stage in a project that’s become central to Dubai’s long-term water plans. DEWA explains that the Hassyan SWRO plant is being delivered under an independent water producer (IWP) model, with the goal of reaching 180 MIGD in the initial phase. Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power is developing the project, with engineering, procurement, and construction handled by a consortium of SIDEM, part of Veolia, and SEPCO III from PowerChina.

Back in January, DEWA stated that construction on phase one was already about 90% complete. They’ve also repeatedly mentioned that all phases are scheduled to be finished in the first quarter of 2027, so there’s a clear timeline.

Positioned as one of the world’s largest SWRO projects, and notably, DEWA’s first independent water producer venture, the Hassyan scheme aims to bolster Dubai’s water security, aligning with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 and Dubai’s Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy 2030. The project’s total investment is AED 3.377 billion, roughly $914 million.

This move is especially important for Dubai, given that desalination remains the backbone of the city’s water supply, considering its rapid growth and limited natural freshwater sources. But the technology approach is shifting, while thermal desalination has historically played a dominant role across the Gulf, reverse osmosis is slowly gaining favor because it tends to be more energy-efficient when paired with cleaner power sources, leading to lower carbon emissions.

DEWA reports that seawater reverse osmosis currently accounts for about 23% of its total water capacity, which stands at 555 MIGD. Its longer-term target is to increase that to 303 MIGD by 2030. Previously, ACWA Power indicated that Dubai’s overall desalination capacity aims to grow from 490 MIGD to 730 MIGD by the end of this decade.

That ambitious goal reflects the high demand pressures Dubai faces, think about the constant construction, population growth, and economic expansion, all driving ongoing investments into water infrastructure. Plus, policymakers are eager to reduce the environmental footprint of water production. Using pressure-driven filtration like SWRO, instead of heat-based evaporation, can significantly cut energy consumption compared to traditional thermal systems.

The Hassyan project also carries a symbolic weight. DEWA and ACWA Power signed a 30-year water purchase agreement for phase one back in 2023, after ACWA was named preferred bidder, and DEWA announced that financial close was achieved in 2024. At that point, the utility described the deal as a vital part of their broader plan to expand desalination capacity using the independent water producer model.

Recently, Zawya Projects reported that DEWA had extended bid submission deadlines for two major water transmission pipeline packages linked to phase two of Hassyan SWRO. This suggests the overall project is still progressing through procurement and development stages, even though the first module has already begun operating.

Getting the first phase online early in 2026 gives DEWA some operational gains for the year. But, honestly, the bigger story here is about the direction things are heading. The utility isn’t just increasing capacity; it’s also fundamentally shifting the technology mix behind Dubai’s water supply. If the rest of Hassyan comes online as scheduled, Dubai will be making a substantial move away from thermal desalination altogether, favoring reverse osmosis powered by renewable energy sources, DEWA claims.

For the wider climate tech community across the UAE and the Gulf, this change is pretty significant. Water security remains one of the region’s most pressing adaptation challenges, and large-scale desalination is unavoidable in the near future. What’s evolving now is how that water is produced. Projects like Hassyan serve as real-world test cases, whether Gulf utilities can meet growing demand while simultaneously reducing energy use and emissions.

If DEWA manages to stick to its timetable, 2026 will be remembered more as a year of tangible progress rather than just planning or construction milestones. With nearly 90% of construction already completed by January and another 60 MIGD expected before the year ends, Hassyan is shifting from a construction story into an operational asset that’s strategic for Dubai’s future water supply.