Can I Drink Tap Water In Dubai?

Are you visiting or moving to Dubai and wondering whether you can drink tap water here? I have all the information about tap water in Dubai for you.

Dubai is a busy metropolitan city with a developed healthcare system, high education standards, political stability, and millions of tourists visiting every year. How about the tap water? Does it also meet the highest standards?

Many tourists visiting Dubai would like to know whether they can drink tap water in Dubai. Is the tap water safe or should I buy bottled water?

The Tap water in Dubai is safe to drink if particular requirements are fulfilled. Let me explain in detail.

Can I Drink Tap Water In Dubai?

When traveling to another country or continent, we always check the safety measures, one of them being how safe is the tap water.

There are many misconceptions and myths about tap water in Dubai and most people do not drink it.

Is tap water in Dubai safe to drink?

According to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the water is safe to drink as it complies with UAE and WHO’s GSO 149 Water standards.

The official statement from DEWA says: “Our water quality across generation, transmission, and distribution networks meets the highest health and safety standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

They also said: “It is the responsibility of the customer or owner and the maintenance companies to carry out regular maintenance of the internal networks and water tanks after the meter and to ensure that health and safety standards are met.”

What does it mean? Basically, the owners of residential buildings or hotels need to make sure that there is regular maintenance and cleaning of the tanks and pipes where the water is stored and coming through. Otherwise, the pipes can cause corrosion and pollute the water.

Therefore, if you know that the maintenance and cleaning of the pipes and tanks are carried on regularly, the water is safe to drink.

I personally always boiled the water for tea and coffee in Dubai and I have never had any problems. For direct drinking, I used bottled water. When you are coming as a tourist I recommend the same, unless you check with the hotel if the tap water is safe to drink.

Where does tap water in Dubai come from?

The tap water in Dubai and the UAE comes from two sources. Groundwater is only 1% and the rest 99% comes from the sea.

The seawater is piped in from the Arabian Gulf to Dubai Aluminum Company and then to DEWA Jebel Ali Plant which produces energy and desalinates water. It is the largest desalination plant in the world. Desalinization means removing the salt from the water.

Is using filters necessary?

To make sure, you drink clean tap water that is not polluted from tanks or pipes, using filters is a good idea.

Many Dubai residents use filters in their households instead of bottled water to make sure they drink clean water. There are several kinds of filters and companies that people can choose from and in different price ranges.

Filters installed on your tap will remove chlorine, lead, and other contaminants from the water and you can enjoy fresh and clean water.

Nowadays it is becoming more popular to use filtered tap water over bottled water. It is more practical for people as they have clean drinkable water anytime, and they don’t have to carry heavy bottles from the stores.

Taste of tap water in Dubai

Many people do not drink tap water in Dubai and rather buy bottled water because they claim that it doesn’t taste good. However, when proper filters are used, the taste of the tap water is the same as the bottled water.

By filtering the tap water you will get clean and tasty water, which will decrease not only plastic waste but also your expenses for buying bottled water.

How about bottled water?

Many people find it safer and easier to buy bottled water from supermarkets. However, is bottled water really safer than tap water? There is no clear answer to that as plastic bottles can contain microplastics and BPA.

Also with the hot weather in Dubai, you can’t be sure how long the bottles were standing in the heat before someone stored them in the shops.

The myths around Dubai Tap water

Many Dubai residents claim that Dubai tap water causes hair loss, dry skin, or premature aging. The tests have been carried out and proved it is a myth.

The quality of water is different if the water is hard or soft. In Dubai, the water is hard, so if you come from a country where you have soft water, you will see the difference. However, it doesn’t mean is unsafe.

Is drinking tap water more sustainable?

Yes, drinking tap water is more sustainable. It eliminates the huge amount of plastic bottles that destroy the environment. Alternatively, you can use the 5-gallon refillable water bottle.

The UAE was a little bit behind the Western world with recycling waste. However, Dubai authorities trying to raise awareness among people to shift from bottled water to filtered tap water.

There are initiatives raised with several sustainable development projects launched in the whole UAE.

For example:

• Restaurants are supposed to give free tap water to clients, which makes the restaurant’s owners responsible for regular quality testing of their water tanks.
• Stations with free drinking water have been installed throughout the city for people to refill their bottles and eliminate plastic waste
• Building a habit of mindful living by spreading the word about plastic-free options and sustainability.

Final Thoughts: Is Dubai Tap Water Safe To Drink?

When you come to Dubai as a tourist, you can drink tap water in restaurants and double-check with the hotel if the tap water is safe to drink.

Always carry a refillable water bottle that you can refill from any water station throughout the city.

If you are staying in an Airbnb apartment, drink only boiled tap water as you don’t know whether the tanks and pipes are cleaned regularly.

If you are a resident in Dubai, use filters for your tap water, instead of buying bottled water. It is more practical, cheaper, and hassle-free, and you are saving the environment too.

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