NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus is set to receive portable desalination facilities from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a complimentary basis to address the island’s pressing water needs during the summer season, according to government officials. With water reserves nearly depleted, these desalination units will help support the tourism-dependent nation as it faces heightened demand amid the high season.
Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou shared with the state broadcaster that the UAE has agreed to provide Cyprus with an unspecified number of desalination units, at no cost, capable of producing 15,000 cubic meters (530,000 cubic feet) of drinkable water each day. While the precise arrival and operational timelines for these units remain undisclosed, Panayiotou emphasized the UAE’s awareness of the urgency, especially as peak tourist season intensifies and water demand escalates.
The deal stems from covert discussions over recent months aimed at alleviating Cyprus’s water crisis. The situation became dire after a fire disrupted one of the island’s five static desalination plants, forcing reductions in agricultural water supplies. These permanent facilities collectively generate 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. The compromised plant is not expected to resume operations until August; thus, the UAE’s portable units will compensate for the shortfall, as per Panayiotou.
Efforts are underway by technical staff to determine the optimal locations for deploying these portable units to ensure maximum efficiency, Panayiotou noted, although she did not specify when the units would be returned to the UAE.
In addition to its desalination plants, Cyprus depends on a comprehensive reservoir network that can hold up to 330 million cubic meters of water. However, due to the second-driest winter in a decade, the current water levels across the 108 reservoirs—which outnumber any other European country when adjusted for population—are below a quarter of their potential. Official statistics from 2024 indicated that reservoirs were at 47.2% capacity.
President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus announced the UAE deal during an interview on a local television channel, ANT1, lauding the agreement as fruit of Cyprus’s extensive diplomatic outreach and strengthening ties with the Emirates and other regional nations.
Regardless of the assistance from the UAE, the government is advancing its strategic planning for permanent solutions to the island’s recurrent water shortages, stated Panayiotou. This strategy involves acquiring an additional four mobile desalination plants scheduled to commence operations in the late autumn, each capable of delivering 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of potable water daily.
Furthermore, in the long term, Cyprus plans to construct two more static desalination plants, each expected to produce 140,000 cubic meters (5 million cubic feet) of water every day. Last month, Panayiotou announced a government initiative to subsidize the installation of private desalination units at hotels, given the tourism sector’s significant contribution to the economy, constituting 13.5% of Cyprus’s GDP. Last year’s record-breaking tourist numbers, exceeding 4 million visitors, underscore the essential nature of these efforts.