3 May 2026 8:58 am

AI Data Centers And The Thirst For Water

AI Data Centers And The Thirst For Water

Apr 9, 2026

A modern server room featuring network equipment with blue illumination.  Ideal for technology themes. by Panumas Nikhomkhai via pexels

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AI Data Centers And The Thirst For Water In MENA

Author: Fanack Water Editorial Team

Artificial intelligence needs vast computing power, and that power now depends on water. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), one of the world’s driest regions, this creates a serious new pressure on already scarce resources.

Why AI Data Centers Need Water

AI data centers generate intense heat as servers train and run large models. Operators often rely on water-based cooling, either through evaporative systems that directly consume freshwater or through chillers and towers that use large volumes indirectly. Water is also embedded in the electricity that powers these facilities, because many power plants themselves need water for cooling.

Recent research shows how quickly this adds up. Training a single large model can consume millions of liters of water when you include both onsite cooling and the power supply. One study estimates that answering 20 to 50 AI queries can use the equivalent of a 500‑milliliter bottle of water, when you count the full water footprint of the data center and grid.

A Thirsty Technology In The World’s Driest Region

MENA holds about 6.3% of the world’s population but only around 1.4% of its renewable freshwater, making it the most water‑stressed region on Earth. Of the 17 most water‑stressed countries globally, 11 are in MENA, and some forecasts warn that almost the entire population could face acute scarcity by 2050 if trends continue.

At the same time, Gulf states and other regional economies are racing to become AI and cloud hubs. New data centers are rising in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and beyond, often in areas where rainfall is minimal and summer temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius. Analysts expect regional data center water use to grow rapidly this decade as AI clusters demand denser, more water‑intensive cooling.

Desalination, Energy And The Water–Energy Nexus

Because natural freshwater is so limited, many MENA countries depend heavily on desalination. In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalinated sources; in Oman it is around 86%, in Saudi Arabia nearly 70%, and in the UAE more than 40% of municipal supply. The region already accounts for roughly 42% of global operational desalination capacity, with thousands of plants producing tens of millions of cubic meters per day.

Desalination is lifeline and burden at once. It is energy‑intensive and can harm marine ecosystems through brine discharges, so each extra unit of water for cooling AI infrastructure can also mean more emissions and coastal impacts if powered by fossil fuels. Experts argue that integrating solar and wind power into desalination and water treatment is essential to keep this nexus from becoming a vicious circle.

Emerging Solutions For Water‑Smart AI

There are promising technical responses. In the MENA, some large data centers now use closed‑loop systems and onsite treatment that recycle up to 96% of process water. Mega‑campuses in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf are pairing photovoltaic‑powered desalination with advanced cooling designs, using underground thermal storage and waste‑heat recovery to cut both water use and energy demand.​

Globally, major cloud providers are also rethinking their strategies. Microsoft’s own projections showed that its annual water use for data centers could more than triple by 2030, before it revised designs and targets to curb the increase. Independent reviews still find sharp year‑on‑year rises in water consumption for Microsoft and Google, underlining how fast AI is outpacing earlier efficiency gains.

Policy And Transparency Gaps

Despite the scale of the challenge, water data for AI facilities in MENA remains patchy. Many companies do not disclose their withdrawals or consumption, because regulation has not yet caught up with the speed of investment. This lack of transparency makes it hard for communities and policymakers to judge trade‑offs between digital growth and local water security.

Some governments and regional bodies are starting to respond. New water‑energy strategies, desalination partnerships and water security task forces in the Gulf link future infrastructure to renewable energy, wastewater reuse and stricter efficiency standards. To keep AI compatible with a liveable future in MENA, these efforts need to go further—making water‑smart cooling, regenerative desalination and full public reporting standard features of every new data center, not optional extras.

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How Euro Systems is Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Growth

How Euro Systems is Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Growth

Apr 7, 2026

Explore the striking skyline and modern architecture of Jeddah Waterfront, Saudi Arabia’s urban gem. by Afiography . via pexels

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How Euro Systems is supporting Saudi Arabia’s next generation of sustainable development

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Euro Systems’ Riyadh showroom serves as a technical hub for innovative architectural solutions as Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 initiatives
By Staff Writer
Euro Systems
Highlights by Level 4 AI

Saudi Arabia’s construction landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with projects that span commercial workplaces, healthcare facilities, hospitality destinations, educational institutions, government buildings, and retail developments. Amid this growth, Euro Systems has established its Al Olaya showroom in Riyadh as more than a display space. It functions as a technical hub where design and project teams can engage directly with specialists, explore solutions, and collaborate on complex developments. The presence of strong and dedicated teams on the ground ensures that expertise is always close at hand, supporting the delivery of projects that meet both design ambition and technical performance.

Euro Systems has contributed to several LEED-certified projects that set new benchmarks for sustainable development in the Kingdom. These include Red Sea Airport, which achieved LEED Platinum certification, PIF Tower, awarded LEED Platinum for Operations and Maintenance, and Hafawa Lounge, by Riyadh Air at King Khalid International Airport, delivered to set the standards for commercial interiors that are energy-efficient, environmentally responsible, and healthy for occupants (LEED v4 ID+C). Beyond these, the company has successfully executed government-directed projects that honour Najdi architectural heritage and heritage-sensitive developments, demonstrating its ability to manage large-scale mega- and giga-projects to exacting standards. By integrating BASWA acoustic systems into projects with technical precision, and with design intent, creating environments that are both functional and refined. Sustainability and cultural compliance are consistent threads across every project, influencing decisions that shape comfort, energy efficiency, long-term operational performance, and the preservation of Saudi Arabia’s architectural identity.

Euro Systems

As Saudi Arabia charts a bold path toward sustainable urban development, innovative architectural solutions are more critical than ever. Euro Systems is at the forefront, providing next-generation glazing, shading, and acoustic systems that support both performance and aesthetics. These solutions are designed with thermal control, daylight optimisation, and energy efficiency in mind, contributing to the long-term value of buildings across the GCC. Sustainability certifications at the project level reflect the cumulative impact of careful design, engineering, and material choices on each development.

Euro Systems

Collaboration with architects, interior designers, and project consultants lies at the heart of Euro Systems work on Saudi Arabia’s giga projects. The company provides expert guidance across high-performance glazing, acoustic optimisation, sustainability standards, and smart automation integration. With dedicated in-house acoustic consultants, the company maintains full control over design, specification, and performance – offering a level of capability few others in the region can match and setting a new standard for acoustic excellence. Against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation under Vision 2030, the Saudi division plays a pivotal role in delivering high-performance architectural systems for heritage and museum projects. As the Kingdom expands its portfolio of cultural institutions and heritage destinations, Euro Systems is uniquely positioned to provide design-led, high-specification solutions that enhance visitor experiences, optimise building performance, and preserve the integrity of culturally significant spaces.

Through its combination of technical expertise, regional presence, and performance-first approach, Euro Systems is helping shape the next generation of development across Saudi Arabia. By carefully designing and coordinating façades, glazing, shading, and acoustic elements, the company ensures buildings are efficient, sustainable, and comfortable, delivering tangible benefits for both occupants and energy consumption. Drawing from natural fibres and mineral resources, BASWA Acoustic systems transform raw materials into high-performance acoustic surfaces with outstanding NRC values. The fusion of nature and precision engineering creates finishes that are both seamless and sustainable. With BASWA, sustainability is not an added feature, it is the foundation. Prioritising Swiss-engineered, sustainably sourced materials from Europe, Euro Systems delivers durable buildings with superior sound absorption, minimal maintenance, and up to 90% natural and recycled content, reducing environmental impact. At Euro Systems, sustainability is integrated into every system and project, enabling developments that are efficient, resilient, and aligned with the Kingdom’s long-term growth vision.

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Iran War Could Spur Europe to Embrace Renewables

Iran War Could Spur Europe to Embrace Renewables

Apr 3, 2026

Solar panels and wind turbine in a snowy landscape, showcasing renewable energy sources. by Pixabay via pexels

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Iran war could spur Europe to double down on renewables — again

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The Mideast conflict is plunging the European Union into yet another energy crisis. EU officials are once again embracing solar and wind as a result.

By Dan McCarthy

 

The European Union is once again facing an energy crisis due to its reliance on imported fossil fuels — and is once again poised to lean into renewables to blunt the effects.

As the war in the Middle East upends global oil and gas markets, European Union energy chief Dan Jørgensen urged member states on Tuesday to build even more renewable energy, faster.

It’s an uncomfortable but familiar position for the EU. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the bloc rapidly reduced its reliance on Russian gas imports and swiftly built out new wind and solar power to cushion the blow to the region’s electricity sector.

The results speak for themselves. The European Union more than doubled its solar generation between 2021 and 2025. Wind grew at a more modest 24% over that time period, but it was already providing a higher share of the bloc’s electricity generation. Meanwhile, fossil fuel–generated electricity declined. For the first time ever, in 2025 the EU produced more electricity from wind and solar than it did from fossil fuels.

But the region has not ditched gas entirely. The EU got about 17% of its electricity from gas last year, and it imports almost all the natural gas it burns — 86% in 2024.

That means its energy system is still exposed to the historic disruption caused by the Iran war. The war has shut down liquefied natural gas production in Qatar, the world’s second-largest exporter of the fuel, for the past month. Gas prices globally and in the EU have surged as a result.

This energy shock will be messy and play out in different stages. For Europe, the most immediate and acute effects are being felt in the availability of jet fuel and diesel. But electricity costs will rise too, as nations are forced to buy much-more-expensive natural gas. In certain countries, it will also get dirtier, at least for a time — some EU nations are relying more heavily on coal-fired electricity to get them through the immediate fallout.

But over the longer term, this energy shock is likely to produce the same outcome as the previous one: an even faster transition away from imported fossil fuels and to domestic wind and solar.

© 2026 Canary Media

 

 

2025 Renewables Grew to 50% of Global Electricity

2025 Renewables Grew to 50% of Global Electricity

Apr 1, 2026

Clean energy wind turbine on a sunny, hilly landscape with clear blue skies. by ✨GüGü✨ via pexels

 

Exclusive: Renewables grew to almost 50% of global electricity capacity in 2025 after solar boost

By 

Summary

  • Global renewable capacity reached 5,149 GW in 2025, up 692 GW from 2024
  • Annual renewable growth rate rose to 15.5% in 2025
  • Middle East crisis underscores fossil fuel energy security risks, says La Camera
LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) – Renewable power made up almost 50% of the world’s electricity capacity last year after a record ‌increase in solar installations, data from the International Renewable Energy Agency shared exclusively with Reuters showed on Tuesday.
As the Middle Eastern conflict has led to record monthly gains on oil markets, some in industry have lobbied for more investment in fossil fuels, but ​countries with higher renewable capacity have been insulated from the market shock, some analysts say.

The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.

“The Middle East ​crisis has, in some ways confirmed dramatically energy security is not something we can be ⁠sure of with fossil fuels,” IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera told Reuters.
Global renewable power capacity reached a record ​5,149 gigawatts at the end of 2025, up 692 GW from 2024, the data showed.
Expansive view of solar panels in a rural landscape, showcasing renewable energy.

Expansive view of solar panels in a rural landscape, showcasing renewable energy. by Osman Arabacı via pexels

SOLAR SURGE IS BIGGEST ​CONTRIBUTOR

The growth was led by a leap in solar capacity. which grew by 511 GW in 2025 to 2,392 GW, confirming its position as the world’s largest renewable source.
The figures are far greater than the 116 GW growth in fossil fuel power capacity ​and took the share of renewables in global electricity capacity to 49.4% in 2025, up from 46.3% the ​year before, the data showed.
More than 100 countries at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in 2023 agreed to triple renewable ‌energy ⁠capacity by 2030 as part of efforts to meet global climate targets and La Camera said last year’s additions mean the sector is closer to reaching the target.
“This 700 gigawatts means that we may be quite close in 2030 to the tripling target, not exactly the triple, but very close to it,” he said.
The data shows ​the annual growth rate in ​renewable capacity in 2025 ⁠rose to 15.5% compared with a growth rate of around 15.1% in 2024.
Renewable groups last year said meeting the target by 2030 would require annual growth of ​16.6% from 2025-2030.
New wind energy installations were 159 GW, taking the total installed capacity ​to 1,291 GW.
Capacity ⁠is a measure of the amount of power plants are able to produce but they often generate less than capacity if they are taken offline for reasons such as maintenance or refuelling, or in the case of renewables ⁠during low ​wind and sun periods.
Data from think tank Ember last year showed renewable ​energy sources generated more electricity than coal globally for the first time in the first half of 2025. In all, renewables provided 34% ​of global electricity.
It has yet to publish its full-year data for 2025.
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Ten Years of Partnership: Türkiye and UNDP Impact

Ten Years of Partnership: Türkiye and UNDP Impact

Mar 28, 2026

Close-up of a development agreement document with pen and Scrabble tiles spelling ‘AGREEMENT.’  by RDNE Stock project via pexels

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Ten years of partnership: Türkiye and UNDP shaping regional solutions for a changing world

UNDP.org  –  March 27, 2026

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UNDP established a regional hub in Istanbul in 2015. Since then, the partnership with Türkiye has expanded well beyond a traditional host country relationship. Photo: UNDP Türkiye

Authors

Aylin Sekizkök, Director General for International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Türkiye

Ivana Zivkovic, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States

 

Over the past decade, Türkiye and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN’s development arm, have built a strong partnership across Europe and Central Asia. Together, this cooperation has supported programmes across the region, strengthening institutions and mobilizing resources to respond to major crises and economic challenges.

Since UNDP established its regional functions in Istanbul in 2015, the partnership with Türkiye has expanded well beyond a traditional host country relationship, supporting collaboration on shared development challenges. Today, Istanbul hosts various UNDP teams that work with governments and partners to test new approaches, support reforms and translate development priorities into concrete results.

This cooperation builds on complementary strengths. Türkiye brings diplomatic reach, a dynamic private sector, and strong experience in recovery response and resilience, while UNDP contributes development expertise and a regional network. Together, they have helped build resilience, strengthen institutions, improve crisis response, and advance digital transformation and innovation.

Advancing regional cooperation

From economic transformation and governance reforms to climate risks, countries across Europe and Central Asia face complex and similar challenges. Cooperation between Türkiye and UNDP helps governments and partners address these challenges together, learning from one another.

Regional initiatives support cross-border collaboration and policy reforms. Platforms such as the Istanbul Development Dialogues and Istanbul Innovation Days bring together policymakers, researchers and business leaders to exchange solutions on governance, climate action and economic transformation. Between 2022 and 2025, the Istanbul hub convened more than 80 regional policy dialogues and events, reinforcing Türkiye’s role as a strategic meeting point for regional cooperation.

Other initiatives, such as the Regional Circular Economy Forum organized in 2025 or the ‘Waste to Wealth’ dialogue organized in 2024, convene governments, businesses and partners in Istanbul to advance climate action and sustainable growth.

Türkiye brings diplomatic reach, a dynamic private sector, and strong experience in recovery response and resilience, while UNDP contributes development expertise and a regional network.

The partnership has also provided platforms to test new ways of tackling complex development challenges by bringing together governments, innovators and investors to design practical solutions. Some approaches developed through this collaboration, such as portfolio-based development methods and innovative financing tools, are now used more widely across UNDP’s work.

Regional cooperation is also strengthened through initiatives that support arms control, local economic development and regional stability, including programmes such as the City Experiment Fund, Aid for Trade and Mayors for Economic Growth.

Partnering with the private sector globally and in Türkiye

Türkiye’s strong institutions and dynamic private sector play an important role in expanding development partnerships. The Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), UNDP’s global centre of excellence, connects private sector capabilities with development solutions in developing and crisis-affected contexts.

Through initiatives such as SDG Investor Maps, which guide investments aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and programmes supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, ICPSD helps mobilize investment and strengthen entrepreneurship.

In Afghanistan, UNDP initiatives supported by ICPSD helped 90,000 small businesses get back on their feet, increasing average revenues by 25 percent and creating new opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The Connecting Business initiative, launched at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, has mobilized more than US$130 million in private sector contributions for crisis response across 22 countries.

At the country level, cooperation between Türkiye and UNDP supports Türkiye’s own digital and green transition. Partnerships with the private sector are expanding opportunities in digital skills, e-commerce and smart agriculture for rural communities, especially women and young people. Climate actions, including cooperation with the Zero Waste Initiative, promote recycling systems and sustainable use of resources and transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.

Recovery, response and resilience

The strength of the UNDP–Türkiye partnership becomes particularly visible when it comes to recovery and building resilience. UNDP has been working with national and local partners to support livelihoods, municipal services provision, and help businesses adapt their operations, leaving no one behind.

Since 2014, UNDP has mobilized significant resources to support Türkiye’s response to Syrians under temporary protection, helping them gain new skills, access employment opportunities and overcome language barriers; thus, addressing the needs of one of the world’s largest refugee populations.

Workers walking in front of a crumbling building

The UNDP–Türkiye partnership includes collaborating on recovery and building resilience. UNDP supported the government-led programme to “build back better” following devastating earthquakes in 2023.

Photo: UNDP Türkiye

Following the devastating earthquakes of 2023, UNDP supported the government-led Türkiye Earthquakes Recovery and Reconstruction Assessment (TERRA), which helped define recovery needs and resource mobilization, with a commitment to ‘building back better’. Building on this work and cooperating with a diverse set of donors and partners, UNDP has supported recovery efforts, from debris recycling and livelihood restoration, including women’s economic empowerment, to the rehabilitation of educational infrastructure and the safeguarding of cultural heritage. Among other, by 2025 UNDP grant programmes supported 4,620 small businesses across all earthquake affected provinces, 42% of them women owned. The experiences with the earthquake response reflect a partnership defined not only by solidarity but by the ability to deliver at scale and under pressure, offering lessons of resilience that resonate far beyond Türkiye’s borders.

Looking ahead

As UNDP begins implementing its Strategic Plan 2026–2029 and the Regional Programme for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, partnerships that combine leadership, regional cooperation and development expertise will become even more important. During Türkiye’s upcoming Presidency of the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference, Türkiye and UNDP will further strengthen their cooperation on climate action to advance regionally relevant solutions, while UNDP will continue to support Türkiye’s national efforts towards its green transition.

The experience of the past decade shows what such cooperation can achieve. By working together, Türkiye and UNDP will continue their support to their partners in strengthening their institutions, responding to crises and unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth.

As development challenges grow more complex and interconnected, partnerships like the one between Türkiye and UNDP will be essential to delivering practical and forward-looking solutions in the decade ahead.

This article was originally published in Hurriyet Daily News.

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