Water Scarcity Threatens AI Growth in the Gulf
The Gulf region is locked in a multitrillion-dollar pursuit to build global leadership in AI. Yet this ambition faces a formidable obstacle—access to water. Data centers supporting AI in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and neighboring countries are guzzling massive volumes of water. The region is projected to need roughly 426 billion liters each year by 2030—turning water shortages into a serious limitation for tech growth. The UAE alone is expected to consume roughly 61 billion liters each year. According to the World Resources Institute, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are ranked among the most water-stressed nations globally. Daily water…