Water scarcity is a critical issue affecting millions around the world. This challenge is particularly severe in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, which includes countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Bhanu Choudhrie, a director at desalination technology company Alpha Utilities, plays a key role in tackling this issue.
Choudhrie’s private equity firm C&C Alpha Group launched Alpha Utilities in the mid-2000s. Based in Sharjah, a constituent emirate of the UAE, the company has become a leader in small-scale desalination technology.
The rapid growth of the GCC region’s population and climate change have intensified the need for effective water solutions in the Middle East. Alpha Utilities’ desalination solutions are more essential than ever for securing a sustainable water future in the GCC.
The importance of desalination in the GCC
Since industrialisation in the early 20th century, temperatures worldwide have risen dramatically, a trend strongly associated with climate change. The GCC region, with its already severe climate, faces higher risks from these escalating temperatures.
Despite their location in the Arabian Peninsula’s desert, GCC countries do receive rainfall. In 2022, the region saw about 214 billion cubic metres of precipitation, with Saudi Arabia getting the largest share due to its vast size.
The UAE experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years in April 2024, receiving the equivalent of 18 months’ worth of rain in 24 hours. (On average, the UAE had about 18 days of rain in 2022.) The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology attributed the extreme weather to the broader effects of climate change.
Despite receiving varying levels of rainfall, providing drinkable water remains a significant challenge for the GCC region. With a combined population of over 54 million – up from 26.2 million in 1995 – the demand for potable water is high, especially given the region’s scarce sources of fresh surface water, like rivers and lakes.
Desalination offers a potential solution to the region’s water needs. This technology converts seawater, primarily taken from the Persian Gulf, into fresh water.
Currently, the GCC countries produce roughly 40% of the world’s desalinated water through more than 400 plants. Desalinated water accounts for around 90% of drinking water in Kuwait, 70% in Saudi Arabia, 86% in Oman, and 42% in the UAE.
By 2025, Saudi Arabia plans to reach a desalination capacity of 8.5 million cubic metres per day. This would supply daily water needs for about 34 million households — four times the current number. Achieving this will require multi-billion-dollar investments over several years.
The science behind desalination
Desalination means removing salt from seawater to make it safe to drink. There are various desalination methods, including distillation, reverse osmosis, and gas hydrate formation:
- Distillation involves boiling seawater to separate salt from water. Cooling and condensing the steam produces pure water.
- Reverse osmosis involves pushing water through a semipermeable membrane under high pressure. The membranes’ tiny pores allow water molecules through while blocking most larger molecules.
- Gas hydrate formation involves combining water with a gas under high pressure and low temperature to form solid crystals. This process naturally excludes salts and impurities. Increasing the temperature releases the gas and leaves behind purified water.
Alpha Utilities: advancing desalination technology
Alpha Utilities operates desalination plants that produce a combined 3.7 million gallons of water daily. Its products include potable, sweet water with low-total dissolved solids (TDS), remineralised water, and demineralised water.
Additionally, Alpha Utilities customises water to specific recipes and mineral requirements. The company offers high-quality solutions for both drinking and industrial applications, including use in hospitals.
Alpha Utilities also specialises in developing small-scale ‘build, own, operate, and transfer’ (BOOT) desalination plants. These facilities enable clients to access water resources without the burden of substantial upfront costs or the need for in-house construction expertise.
Choudhrie and Alpha Utilities’ other directors take pride in the company’s accomplished team of desalination, engineering, and operations experts. These professionals manage both BOOT and BOO (build, own, and operate) projects and provide maintenance services for desalination plants.
Alpha Utilities also collaborates with technical consultancies. These partnerships help advance new projects and enhance existing capabilities.
Four strategies to reduce the GCC’s water security threats
The GCC increasingly recognises the need for comprehensive and sustainable water management strategies. Focusing on these four key strategies could effectively reduce water security threats:
- Increasing and diversifying the water supply. For example, by reusing treated effluent for non-drinking purposes and groundwater replenishment. Currently, the Gulf reuses about 40% of wastewater, but the World Bank estimates this could reach 90%. Rainwater capture can also help replenish groundwater in some GCC countries.
- Cutting down water demand with smart policies and conservation awareness campaigns. Key measures include recalibrating agricultural practices, promoting efficient irrigation, and reconsidering water subsidies. Reasonable tariffs and regulatory measures, like green building standards and water-efficient utilities, can also help manage demand pressures.
- Investing in research and development to decarbonise desalination and mitigate the environmental impact of its brine by-product. Priorities include commercialising desalination facilities powered by renewables and improving overall desalination efficiency. Research into cultural, social, political, and religious perspectives on diverse water resources is also important, especially for wastewater reuse, which faces considerable cultural resistance.
- Greater collaboration amongst GCC countries. By pooling experiences and best practices these nations can address common issues more effectively and develop culturally appropriate solutions. Science and technology can also serve as diplomatic tools in this regional collaboration.
Navigating water security with Bhanu Choudhrie and Alpha Utilities
As the GCC faces a projected 30% population increase over the next decade, securing its water future is becoming increasingly vital. This looming water crisis threatens to impact everything from economic stability to political dynamics. However, it also brings opportunities for innovative solutions.
Choudhrie’s involvement with Alpha Utilities underscores his commitment to advancing desalination technology and water sustainability in the GCC. He emphasises that these challenges can drive both technological and economic advancement.
‘Demand for desalinated water is increasing rapidly and is essential for industries in the region,’ Choudhrie noted in a 2020 interview. ‘Global warming poses a significant threat to human health, but it also has the potential to become the single biggest driver of economic transformation.’
Choudhrie’s view of the dual nature of the climate crisis – bringing both risks and rewards – aligns with the GCC’s approach to navigating environmental challenges. Supported by companies like Alpha Utilities, the region’s focus on innovative solutions and sustainable practices marks a major step towards managing water scarcity in the region.
About Bhanu Choudhrie
Bhanu Choudhrie is the founder and director of C&C Alpha Group. Based in London, this private investment firm supports exceptional entrepreneurial teams in developing and expanding their businesses.
Choudhrie also serves as a director of Alpha Utilities, a leading desalination company in the Middle East. The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority has recognised Alpha Utilities as one of its top three service providers for three years running.
In his various leadership roles, Choudhrie helps guide companies and clients towards their strategic goals. His investment strategy insights support business leaders who want to realise their venture’s potential and maximise growth.
Bhanu Choudhrie’s education and awards
Choudhrie studied international business and marketing at Boston University. He graduated from Harvard Business School’s Owner / President Management programme in 2016. His achievements include receiving the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award at the UK’s Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards in 2008.
