Sheikh Mohammed visited key water and power projects in the northern emirates.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the allocation of Dh5.8 billion ($1.57 billion) for water and electricity projects in the Northern Emirates.

He approved a Dh2.4-billion project to build dams and a federal water network that connects the water resources of the Northern Emirates with those of Abu Dhabi and Dubai; as well as projects to build a Dh1.2-billion solar power station in Umm Al Quwain, and a water desalination station with a capacity of 150 million gallons per day. These projects are set to be completed within the next two years.

Sheikh Mohammed also visited the 541,000-cu-m Kalba Dam in Sharjah and reviewed a 150-million-gallon water desalination station project in Umm Al Quwain that is set to start production in 2021.

He was also briefed about the national strategic water security plan (2019-2036), which seeks to build storage tanks, pipelines and networks managed by the federal water and electricity authority at a total investment of Dh2.4 billion. These will be completed within two years.

Sheikh Mohammed was also briefed about future projects that form part of the national strategic water security plan aimed at saving Dh75 billion. Up to Dh9 billion is also expected to be saved through water desalination projects.