Freshwater dependency on desalination in 2026: critical regional figures
Analysis shows that many Middle Eastern countries rely heavily on desalination to meet their domestic water needs. Oman and Saudi Arabia, for instance, obtain 90% and 75% of their water through desalination, respectively. In contrast, Iran depends on desalinated water only by 3%, despite being criticized for attacks on desalination facilities that are vital for US allies in the region.
At the same time, actions by the US and Israel targeting desalination infrastructure are considered misguided not only from a humanitarian law perspective but also in terms of supporting regional partners. Donald Trump's statement referring to Iranians as “some of the most evil people on earth” further highlights tensions in the area.
Further escalation of the conflict may worsen the water crisis for many desalination-dependent countries and pose new challenges to security and stability in the Middle East.
