Hydrodynamic and Environmental Impact of Constructing a Closure Dam Near Seawater Intakes of a Power and Desalination Plant

Model investigation on the impact of Raha Beach development on Umm Al Nar Power and Desalination Plant

Corrosion experience data bank system for desalination and power plants (corex)

The members of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf have typically addressed water scarcity problems by building energy-intensive desalination plants. Few efforts have addressed water scarcity through metering, pricing, and other efficiency measures to reduce demand. This paper examines how decreased leakage in the water distribution system and decreased residential water use in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, could decrease air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from desalination plants. We developed a probabilistic model to predict the effects of water use reductions on pollutant emissions from Abu Dhabi's major independent water and power plants, which use a combination of multi-stage flash distillation and multi-effect distillation to produce fresh water from seawater drawn from the Arabian Gulf. We examine three categories of scenarios for reducing water use: increasing the price signal to residential users, instituting demand management programs among residential users, and reducing water loss in the distribution system. Our analysis suggests that water conservation price incentives could reduce air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions by 1% to 5%, depending on assumptions about how households respond to the incentives. Demand-side management programs curbing per capita water use to levels typical of the Singapore or the UK would curb emissions by 10% or 11%, respectively. Reducing water loss during distribution from the current high level of 35% to 15% (similar to loss rates in other developed nations) could cut emissions by more than 3%. Overall, our analysis suggests that high per capita water use contributes to ambient air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Abu Dhabi.

Reinventing the Sheikhdom: Clan, Power and Patronage in Mohammed bin Zayed’s UAE

Minimize the negative impact of oil contamination on Abu Dhabi power and desalination plants

Increasing population and growing demands from both agriculture and industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) necessitate the need to provide inexpensive fresh water. The only feasible source of such water is desalination. The coastal area of the United Arab Emirates especially in Abu Dhabi is formed of a series of hypersaline (47%°) lagoons surrounded by salt-encrusted flat sabkhas. Such water bodies may be used as salinity gradient solar ponds (SGSPs) to generate clean electricity that can be used in desalination plants. The geologic and climatic conditions of this region are compared with El Paso, Texas, USA where there is a well-established SGSP technology. It is concluded that the water and air temperature, solar radiation, and geologic setting support the possibility of using this technology in the UAE and especially in Abu Dhabi. Cost analyses also suggest that the generation of electricity and its use in desalination plants are economically feasible. © 2008 ASCE.

Privatization of dual-purpose seawater desalination and power plants — structures, procedures and prospects for the future

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an oil-rich country located in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate in the country, and Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE. The country has the one of the highest per capita rates of CO2 emission and water consumption in the world. Most of the water consumed is produced in desalination plants, which are energy intensive. The leadership of the country has made the bold decision to establish a renewable energy (RE) sector to diversify its energy sources and the economy as a whole. The Masdar Initiative was established to promote this objective. The government has established its first RE policy; the goal is to have 7% of power come from RE sources and technologies by 2020. This paper highlights the different RE projects of the Masdar Initiative, with particular emphasis on the power sector, and examines the new concentrated solar power (CSP) plants developed as part of the initiative.

The Gulf Coast countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have the lowest supplies of fresh water per capita in the world. The groundwater extraction rate has become unsustainable, and desalinated water has become the main source of drinking water, either through piping (tap water) or as bottled water in the UAE. The product water from desalination is generally of high quality but may contain some contaminants, including microbial contaminants, chemicals that may cause acute illness, chemicals that may cause cancer, and radiological contaminants. Chemical disinfectants destroy microbes and prevent their growth in water, but they also produce unwanted chemical by-products that could affect health, including by causing cancer. Water traveling from the desalination plant can be recontaminated within the distribution system via infiltration, corrosion, and bacteria associated with biofilms. Past intermittent service and concerns about having sufficient water in the event a major desalination plant is taken offline due to a technical issue, oil spill, or hostile act have led to the widespread use of rooftop and in-ground storage tanks. These vented tanks are often outdoors and are subject to high temperatures, intense sunlight, animal activity, and windborne contaminants. It is unclear how well these tanks are cleaned and maintained. Our model focuses on the health effects of microbial contamination and disinfection by-products. Drinking water quality data at the point of use for the UAE could not be found, which made it necessary to rely on data from the published literature on samples from Kuwait. Comparisons of water quality data from water treatment plants and distribution networks in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi suggest that Kuwaiti data on water quality at the consumer’s tap are a reasonable proxy for Abu Dhabi tap water quality. Data collected by the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company and provided for this study for comparison to Kuwaiti data included 471 samples from 79 stations at endpoints in the distribution system sampled throughout 2008. Based on this assessment, the burden of disease attributable to drinking water in the UAE appears to be small, with a mean estimate of 12 deaths from all causes. This study estimates 340 health-­care facility visits each year due to drinking-water-related cancer and 46,000 visits due to gastroenteritis.

Pharmacy profession is evolving steadily in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This article presents a brief overview of the profession, and highlights some of the advances and challenges that face pharmacy in the UAE. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries of the Middle East. It is a constitutional federation that was established in 2nd of December 1971. The UAE constitutes seven Emirates; Abu Dhabi (the capital), Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al‐Qaiwain, Ras Al‐Khaimah and Fujairah. It lies between Oman and Saudi Arabia, and has coastal borders on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The UAE is a rich country and has a gross domestic product (GDP), per capita, of around $49,116 (PPP US$) [1]. Nearly one third of the GDP is attributed to petroleum, oil and gas [2]. The UAE has a diverse and expanding population, estimated to be around four and a half million. UAE citizens however are considerably outnumbered by expatriates (non‐citizens), they constitute approximately only one fifth of the overall population. Seventy four per cent of the UAE population aged between 15‐64 years are expatriates [1]. Expatriates make up the majority of the work force in the country and mostly come from other Arab countries, Iran, South and South East Asia (predominantly from India, Pakistan and the Philippines). The country’s total expenditure on healthcare as a percentage of GDP is 2.6% [3]. It is estimated that 71.6% of that expenditure is provided by the Government and 28.4% is private expenditure. The majority (77.9%) of private expenditure on health is attributed to out‐of‐pocket expenditure [3]. The continuous increased demand due to the large influx of expatriate workers into the country, especially in the past five years, and rising costs of technology are believed to have over‐loaded the publicly funded healthcare services and increased the UAE Ministry of Health’s budget by 4.5% per year [4]. This instigated the Government to invest in the private health sector and mandate medical insurance for expatriates in Abu Dhabi, the largest Emirate in terms of size and population (1.7 million) [5]. Abu Dhabi’s new health insurance program includes three types of policies; basic, enhanced and emergency health policies [5]. By 2007,1.3 million expatriates residing in Abu Dhabi were covered by health insurance [5]. The remaining six Emirates continue to follow the previous health system in delivering healthcare. Whereby, expatriates are required to purchase annual healthcare cards to receive subsidised healthcare services (not including pharmaceuticals). Privatehealth insurance in the remaining six Emirates is voluntarily available to whoever can afford it. Also in recent years, new health authorities namely the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi and the Department of Health and Medical Services of Dubai emerged taking on the management and regulation of health services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. This role includes licensing pharmacies and registering pharmacists. The new authorities collaborate and have formed partnerships with several international institutions. For example the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi functions in partnership with Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic among other institutions [6]. Health and pharmacy services in the remaining five Emirates continue to be under the mandate of the UAE Ministry of Health.

The research aim of the article is to assess the impact of a large industrial facility on the environment: Jebel Ali Power Plant and Desalination Plant located in the United Arab Emirates. We use AHP and Leopold Matrix principles and techniques to assess the impact of power plants on the environment. The combination of the two methods AHP and Leopold's Matrix ensures that decision-makers make informed choices towards sus-tainable solutions. The analysis shows that the Jebel Ali power plant and desalination plant have lit-tle negative impact on the environment. Nevertheless, noticeable impacts on the hydrosphere and atmosphere were observed. The burning of fossil fuels has a direct impact on the atmosphere by emitting harmful substances. Desalination of salt water and returning by-products to the sea also has a direct negative impact on the hydrosphere. The combination of both factors also affects the biosphere.The power plant is of great importance in solving the problem of water shortages in the region. The problem is solved by combining power generation and water desalination. Keywords: risk assessment, AHP Method, Leopold Matrix, Energetics

Awareness of Effective Interventions for Autism among Practicing Pediatricians in the UAE

In 2013, Masdar launched a renewable energy desalination pilot program to research and develop energy-efficient, cost-competitive desalination technologies that are suitable to be powered by renewable energy. The long-term goal is to implement renewable energy-powered desalination plants in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the wider MENA region and to have a commercial scale facility operating by 2020. Through a competitive tender, four commercial partners—Abengoa, Suez, Sidem/Veolia and Trevi Systems—were selected to support the development of the program. Each of them was to develop and operate a next-generation pilot seawater desalination plant. The four plants are to test a range of innovative approaches in boosting operational efficiency. The program consists of two stages: Pilot phase (2013–2016): Based in Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, the commercial partners constructed four small-scale desalination pilot plants. They are to operate continuously for at least 18 months. The performance of the plants will be assessed, rigorously monitored and tested by Masdar. Implementation and development (after 2017): Scaling-up of technologies that meet predefined criteria as commercially viable, large-scale seawater desalination plants. The plants will be entirely powered by renewables. The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology conducts four research projects that operate alongside and, in addition to, the pilot program. The desalination project is sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Government, with co-funding provided by the industry partners. Masdar is leading the project management and coordinating the program with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), Regulation & Supervision Bureau (RSB), Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD), and Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC).

Estimating the social carbon costs from power and desalination productions in UAE

A capacity expansion planning model for integrated water desalination and power supply chain problem