Sustainability in Dubai

One major environmental issue in Dubai is potential water shortage. Dubai is among the cities with the lowest levels of precipitation. At the same time, the emirate is ranked among the top three countries in water usage, alongside the United States and Canada. Due to this fundamental conflict, water in Dubai comes mainly from energy-intensive desalination of sea water.[1][2]

As climate change and human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have increasingly caused distorted weather patterns and unpredictable precipitation, farmers cannot access reliable water sources for irrigation. As a result, food prices are affected.[3] Economic boom and population growth resulting from the discovery of oil in the UAE (1958) triggered increased demand for water that has ultimately led to water shortages. In the past, the UAE relied on desalination to respond to this increase of demand.[4] There have been attempts to decrease demand for water in the UAE, such as increased fees for water usage.[4]

In order to limit demand for and usage of electricity and water, prices have increased significantly for residents in Dubai.[5] There are many developments being made in Dubai to maximize the utility of water available, such as The Sustainable City, a housing development where water and waste are recycled and residents pay rent that is similar to other nearby developments.[5] It is also required that new buildings must have solar water heaters.[5] Per capita consumption of water and electricity have been falling as the population of Dubai continues to increase, which is promising for sustainability efforts being made. Recent efforts to address low levels of precipitation include meteorologists at Dubai’s National Center of Meteorology & Seismology monitoring clouds and sending pilots to seed them with salt crystals to maximize their output of rain.[5]

Dubai is a major consumer of electricity. Their main source of electricity is natural gas because it is cheaper than the other alternatives. Many of the isolated buildings depend on large quantities of fossil fuel energy to support their large lighting and cooling needs.[6]

Among the biggest problems facing Dubai is its rapid, unplanned manner of expansion.[7]

In the future, global warming will become a bigger issue and this could be a huge problem for Dubai because the country’s population centres are located along the coast. As sea levels rise, this could lead to flooding. And thus may create issues in the city as it would have low amounts of resources to counter this issue.

• Economy of Dubai

• Oxford Business Group (2008). The Report: Dubai 2008. Oxford Business Group. p. 127. ISBN 1902339053