Saudi Arabia has more desalination capacity than the entire US
Share of world desalination capacity by country, 2018. Saudi Arabia ranks first; three Gulf states hold almost 30%.
In 2018 Saudi Arabia held the world's largest share of desalination capacity, ahead of the entire United States.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait together ran almost 30% of global capacity.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar discharge more than half the world's desalination brine.
the numbers
| Share of world (%) | Capacity (m m³/day) | |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 15.5 | 14.8 |
| United States | 11.2 | 10.7 |
| United Arab Emirates | 10.1 | 9.6 |
| China | 7.5 | 7.2 |
| Spain | 5.7 | 5.4 |
| Kuwait | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| All other countries | 46.3 | 44.2 |
source notes & method
Shares of global operational capacity (95.37 million m³/day, 15,906 plants, GWI DesalData 2018 version). Million m³/day values are derived (share × 95.37) and rounded. 'All other countries' is derived (100% minus the six named). Data is from 2018, the latest peer-reviewed global country breakdown we could verify; capacity has grown since. A 2025 Frontiers in Water study using GWI 2022 data reports Saudi Arabia at ~17 and the UAE at ~11 million m³/day, so the Gulf lead has widened. MENA holds 48% of world capacity (2018).
Published 23 Oct 2026
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