On June 19, false reports of an Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant sparked alarm across the Gulf. Though denied by Israeli officials, the claim traces back to a warning from Qatar’s prime minister of a potential catastrophe in the event of nuclear contamination — no water, no food, no life — due to the Gulf’s reliance on desalinated seawater. Gulf governments moved quickly to reassure the public that no radiation had been detected, but the episode underscored the region’s growing sense of vulnerability. A regional approach to water security could help to mitigate such risks. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was founded on the principle of regional cooperation to address shared challenges. Yet, despite this spirit of collaboration, one of the region’s most pressing challenges — water scarcity — has largely remained a national rather than a collective concern. With all GCC members except Oman classified as extremely water-scarce, and water needs met largely through energy-intensive desalination, the region faces mounting threats from rising demand, climate change, and geopolitical risk. This article explores the missed opportunities for regional water cooperation, the reasons behind this fragmented governance, and the strategic case for a united response.
The Gulf’s water crisis: Why cooperation is crucial — and complicated | Middle East Institute
