The United Arab Emirates has agreed to supply portable desalination plants to Cyprus at no cost, addressing the island’s urgent water needs as reservoir levels are nearly depleted. Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou announced that the plants will collectively produce 15 000 cubic meters (530 000 cubic feet) of potable water daily, critical for the tourism-dependent nation this summer.

Panayiotou did not specify when the desalination units will arrive or start operations. However, she emphasized that UAE authorities understand the immediate requirement as the summer tourism season intensifies and water demand peaks. The agreement follows months of negotiations aimed at addressing Cyprus’s water crisis, which worsened when a fire disabled one of the island’s five static desalination plants, leading to reduced agricultural water supply.

The disabled plant, which normally produces 235 000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily, is not expected to be operational until August. The portable units from the UAE will help compensate for this loss, according to Panayiotou. Technical staff are currently assessing the optimal locations for these portable units, although their return date to the UAE has not been disclosed.

In addition to its desalination capabilities, Cyprus relies on a network of 108 reservoirs with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Recent data shows that water levels across these reservoirs are below 25% of their capacity, following the second-driest winter in a decade. As of 2024, reservoirs were reported to be at 47.2% capacity.

During an interview with local TV station ANT1, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides highlighted the UAE deal as a result of Cyprus’s strengthened diplomatic efforts and improved relations, particularly with the Emirates and neighboring countries.

Panayiotou also mentioned that beyond the UAE’s assistance, the government is advancing its medium- and long-term plans to permanently resolve the island’s water shortages. This includes acquiring four additional mobile desalination plants, each capable of producing 30 000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily, expected to begin operations in late autumn. Additionally, plans are in place to construct two static desalination plants with a daily output of 140 000 cubic meters (5 million cubic feet) each.

Last month, Panayiotou revealed a government initiative to subsidize the construction of private desalination plants at hotels, recognizing the importance of tourism, which constitutes 13.5% of Cyprus’s GDP. The island saw over 4 million tourist arrivals last year, setting a new record.