UAE report examines how to power AI in a water-scarce world

A new report from the UAE Foreign Ministry explores how artificial intelligence (AI) and water management intersect in a world facing water scarcity. As AI grows, demand for water and energy increases, but the technology also offers solutions to improve water management. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the need for integrated planning and governance to ensure AI advances sustainably without exacerbating water scarcity.

The report maps out water use throughout the AI value chain, from semiconductor manufacturing to electricity generation and cooling infrastructure. It notes that indirect water use, especially in power generation and chip production, can often surpass direct consumption at data centers. By 2030, data center water use is projected to nearly double, reaching 9.32 trillion liters. The United Nations has even declared that some regions are in "water bankruptcy," meaning their water depletion is irreversible.

However, the report also highlights that political factors can impede AI growth. Examples from the US, Malaysia, Chile, and Ireland show how concerns over water access and electricity demands can delay or reshape large data center projects. Despite these challenges, the report identifies significant opportunities for AI to enhance water management.

Projects in the UAE, like MaiWater, demonstrate how AI can be integrated with renewable energy and water planning, including advanced data center cooling and strategic water storage.

Sheikh Abdullah stressed that AI can help solve the age-old challenge of ensuring safe and reliable access to water for all, provided it is used wisely. The report proposes five recommendations for future AI development: international cooperation on responsible AI water use; integrating AI infrastructure into water and energy planning; requiring transparent reporting of resource use; promoting low-water and low-energy technologies; and incorporating water and climate risks into corporate strategies.

Ultimately, the report stresses the importance of integrated governance, viewing water, energy, infrastructure, and data as interconnected systems that must be planned together.

The UAE and Senegal will co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, presenting an important platform to translate responsible AI development into a global agenda.