Commissioned by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and ACWA Power, the plant will be the world’s second largest desalination plant based on reverse osmosis (RO) technology, and the largest desalination plant powered by solar energy.
Located approximately 55 kms southwest of Dubai Creek, the Hassyan desalination plant will have a capacity of 818,000 cubic meters per day (m3/d) — 180 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) — providing a source of drinking water to 2 million people. This project will have an energy consumption rate of 2,9 kilowatt-hours per cubic meter (kWh/m3). The plant will start operating in 2026, with a gradual ramp-up to full capacity in 2027.
The plant is located near the Jebel Ali Wetland Sanctuary, a Ramsar protected site recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity as an ecologically or biologically significant marine area of international importance. To ensure the uninterrupted nesting process of endangered turtles, construction activities have carefully been planned around the breeding season. Additionally, the plant adheres strictly to environmental laws and regulations in terms of composition, temperature and quantity of brine discharged, with discharge areas thoughtfully selected to mitigate any potential impact on the ecosystem.
