Newsroom
In a timely boost to Cyprus’s water woes, the United Arab Emirates has begun shipping 15 mobile desalination units to the island, after a swift deal struck between the two countries. The first units are expected to leave the UAE within hours, while a team of Emirati engineers will land in Cyprus next week to help get everything up and running.
The agreement was sealed in Dubai by Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kompos and his UAE counterpart, Sultan Al Shamsi. It comes as Cyprus faces growing pressure on its water supply, especially in the Paphos and Limassol districts.
Photos shared by President Nikos Christodoulides on social media showed the container-style desalination units being loaded for transport. The president hailed the move as “strategic cooperation with tangible results,” highlighting the close ties between Cyprus and the UAE.
Water when we need it most
Each unit can produce 1,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day. In total, that’s 15,000 cubic meters daily—enough to cover demand even during the hottest, driest days of summer.
The government plans to prioritize Paphos and Limassol. In Paphos, the units will help make up for lost water production after a fire damaged a key desalination plant. In Limassol, they’ll help meet growing demand from the district’s booming development.
The mobile desalination units are expected to stay in Cyprus until at least 2026, giving the country a much-needed buffer as it works on more long-term water solutions.
Konstantinos Kompos with the Assistant Minister for Development Affairs and International Organisations of the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Sultan Al Shamsi
