Working Paper

September 2020

An overview of Water Policy in Qatar: Current sectoral

practices and Policy recommendations

Context to the study

• To provide an overview of water consumption in Qatar, given that water scarcity is an acute challenge that the country may
face in the next decade
• To assess and highlight current water policies, legal tools and strategies related to water conversation
• To suggest policy intervention that could promote Green Growth principles in Qatar

Summary of findings
• Limitations and inadequacy in legal tools, water conversation policies and uncompleted plans
• Factors such as economic development, population growth, urbanization, and climate change hinder efforts in water
sustainability ambitions
• Policy interventions are needed at international, national, and household levels

1. Introduction 2. Water Consumption by Sectors

Water demand is increasing as much as the economic activity

goes on. Water demand is expected to increase in the same
pace within the coming a few years. Total water consumption
in Qatar rose to 637m cu meter in 2018, according to Kahramaa
data, up from 195m cu meters in 2005 (Kahrama 2018), whereas
per capita consumption of water estimated to be around 500
liters a dat. According to group of researchers from QEERI
(Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, this is higher
than other high-income countries such as UK (150L), France
(164L) and Australia (290 L) (OBG, 2018). According to the
World Resources Institute analysis which based on multiple
factors such as: economic development, population growth, Figure 1: Water use by economic activity (million m3) from 2006 – 2017 (Note: Industry
> Commercial > Government > Agriculture > Household)
urbanization, and climate change forecast. This put Qatar at risk
of an extreme water shortage by 2040. Different reports have The bar graph shows the average of water consumption by
highlighted that Qatar sizeable water subsides given the state sectors in Qatar from 2006 – 2017. It is worth noting that
high rates of water consumption and technical losses. Water is data availability is a common challenge as data is
fully subsided for citizens and highly subsidized for non-citizens. sporadically available from authorized agencies. It is
Desalinated water supplies at least 50% of the country’s expected that these data have increased significantly after
demand. In addition to energy subsidy, the outbreak of the year 2017, whereas the political rifts have led Qatar to
coronavirus has led the Qatari government to take preventive consume more water, particularly in the agriculture sector
which has been boosted after the blockade. Water
measures to protect the economy. Exempt the following sectors
consumption is represented in the following sectors:
from electricity and water fees for a period of six months:
Industry, Commercial, Government, Agriculture and
hospitality and tourism sectors, the retail sector, the small and
Household. Water consumption may also have increased
medium industries sector, and commercial complexes, in during construction and preparation for the 2022 World
exchange for providing services and exemptions to tenants Cup, and large projects including (Doha Metro, Hamad Port,
(PSA, 2020). and Hamad International Airport) which has led to an
increase in demand to meet the requirement of the growth.

Al-Sulaiti, M. R. (2020)
2.1. Water Production by Sources

Figure 2: Total water production and re-use by source of water (million m3) from 1990 -
2014

Due to its harsh climate, natural renewable water resources: rainfall and groundwater are depleted in Qatar. Desalinated
water supplies at least 50% of the country’s demand. Reused TSE source is subjected to many concerns, and it has not been
widely acceptable. Thermal desalination and reverse osmosis (RO) methods represent the primary desalination technology
applied in Qatar. Currently, the older thermal desalination method dominates, making up 75% of the market. However, its
energy consumption is relatively high compared to RO. Collaboration agreement was signed between QEERI and QEWC for
a period of 20 years.

2.2. High-level’s General Statement

The governmental system is qualified to steer the country’s building toward green growth strategies. In contrast to a
representative democracy or republic, where many competing interests and voices imped the green growth, the Qatari
government is centralized (Turby, 2019). For this, most of the Emir statements depicts the current ongoing water projects
and the tone of the speech would always touch upon green growth projects. The following statements are an example of
the leadership in Qatar is centralized and keen to develop various projected in related to climate resilience.

“We are striding at a steady pace to achieve water and food security and to secure sufficient electrical energy to push
forward the development drive and meet its requirements. The first phase of the Strategic Water Reservoir Project was
inaugurated, and work is proceeding to commission the remaining phases by the end of this year, with a 155% increase
over the current freshwater stock. Also the Umm Al-Houl station in the Economic Zone has come on stream and will be
officially opened at a later date. This megaproject will increase Qatar’s electricity production by about 30% and water
desalination by about 40%.” - His Highness Speech at the Opening Of The 47th Advisory Council Session

“At the national level, the State of Qatar - in light of its National Vision 2030 - has taken many measures to develop
technologies that are sensitive to climate change, adopt clean energy, and optimal use of water in order to reduce the loss
of desalinated water, encourage recycling and reuse of water, improve air quality, and enhance efficiency. Using gas and
energy, recycling waste, and increasing green spaces.” - Speech of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of
the country, at the Climate Action Summit

Policy Analysis

- Conservation Law No. 20/2015 modifying few items on Conservation Law no. 26/2008.

The law reads: “As per the Conservation Law, using potable water for washing cars or cleaning building yards by a hose or
any other flushing tools, leaving the damaged or broken parts of the water internal inlets (taps, pipes etc) causing water
leak, and leaving the outdoor lights, switched on between 7 am and 4.30 pm constitute apparent violation of the law of the
land with various fines that could reach QR20,000 for the first violation.”

Al-Sulaiti, M. R. (2020)
 - National Development Strategy 2011 – 2016:

Water use is a key component of Qatar's National Development Strategy (NDS) 2011-2016. The NDS has promised that the
National Water Act will grow out of the strategy to replace the existing fragmented rules and laws, bringing together a
comprehensive water policy. However, the National Water Act is still undergoing initial approval from the Cabinet and Shura
Council
- National Development Strategy 2018 – 2022:

Targets set in NDS as follows:

Target 1: Conserve and develop water resources by 2022 by reducing the total (actual + administrative) losses drinking water
and reducing per capita water consumption by 15%. through the national program “Tarsheed”

Target 2: Minimize groundwater depletion and develop the groundwater aquifer by 2020

- Tarsheed campaign:

The aim of awareness campaign is to provide the technical necessary advice to its customers on water and energy
conservation and efficiency. The campaign’s support comes along with spreading awareness in the society about the newly
amended provisions and penal actions in Law number 26 of 2008 promulgated through the Law number 20 of 2015. National
Campaign for the Conservation and Efficient Use of Water and Electricity in Qatar. Tarsheed campaign has currently
implemented various projects which were targeted nationals and non-nationals and were publicized in 7 languages across
different media means. Among 845 schools in Qatar, the campaign mainly targets children and currently implemented in 75
schools. Additionally, an awareness park was built to preview different technologies for conserving water and electricity. In
addition, Tarsheed campaign provides a competition that promote sustainability practices: Tarsheed competitions fall into
7 categories and only one of them is dedicated to water conversation.

Lack of Scientific Data

There is insufficient information about the water sector. The problem of lack of data in Qatar centers on two main axes,
namely confidentiality and lack of commitment to update data. For example, water statistics reports appear intermittently
in the Planning and Statistics Authority website, and so far, the last statistics appeared for 2017. It is worthy to note that
2017 was an important year at the political level, and State of Qatar needed it to intensify its agricultural production to
achieve food sufficiency due to the imposed blockade. Accordingly, the rate of production and consumption of water -
intuitively - has increased from previous years. It can also be noted that, as the time of writing this paper, no data were
obtained regarding the first half of 2020, a period during which household water consumption increased due to the lockdown
and quarantine.

Water Subsidy - Behavioral Change Theory

Theories of behavior change can play important roles in conserving water. Such frameworks can reveal how well the
community can respond to the awareness campaigns (Nimar et al., 2018) Such an advancement can be achieved through
controlling factors including: Knowledge, awareness, motivation, and social learning. The Qatari nationals get water without
any payment, while the expatriates (about 80% of population) pay a highly subsidized price of about $1.2/m3, about 35% of
the real cost (Darwish et al., 2013). Only one study reveals, because of energy subsidies in Qatar, citizens are not intending
to modify their energy consumption behavior through economic means (Al-Marri et al., 2018). The study also added the
absence between the environmental education could hinder the outcome of self-determination theory, whereupon an
individual is more likely to form energy conservation norms.

Demand-side Management (DSM)

As its substantial concept, demand-side management, is correctly predicting demand and supply. Researchers emphasized
establishing a control over domestic consumption. Qatar’s energy generation sector entirely depends on natural gas
extraction, which in turn is a major source of revenues for the Qatari economy (66%). Qatar announced to investment plans
to increase its LNG production levels from 77 million tons in 2016 to 100 million tons by 2024 and to 126 million tons by
2027. The paper speculated if the current growth rates continue to exist until year 2024, LNG exports would only increase
by 16% despite the capacity expansion of 30% (Sahin et al., 2019).

Al-Sulaiti, M. R. (2020)
Legal Framework:

The role of the Shura Council in discussing natural resources affairs is somewhat limited. The role of the Qatari Shura Council
is concentrated in seeking advice from specialists and not members, and this may lead to some potential delays in the
legislative process. In addition, uncertainty perceived from the point of view of those providing information to support policy
decisions can hinder the issuance of national act (Walker et al., 2010). Any concerned authority may prepare a bill and send
it to the legislation department of the Secretariat for the council of Ministers for reformulation. Afterwards, it is being sent
to the Shura Council which studies the bill through its subcommittees. Then, the bill sent to the council of ministers for final
formulation. Finally, the council of ministers sends the bill to the Emir for signature. The law is then sent to the Ministry of
Justice for publication in the Official Gazette. Once published, the law comes into effect. When analyzing different roles of
committees in Shura Council, it turned out only a few committees would be specialized to pass a legislation regarding to
natural resources. Thus, the lateness of water legislations is reasonable due capacity building limitations.

Policy Recommendations
➢ In terms of Data Availability: Data needs also to be developed. It is suggested a more precise plotted maps are
required to estimate the water consumption per municipality and unit.

➢ It is strongly suggested that Kahrama costumer’s database linked with the National Address initiative which
controlled by the Minister of Interior, to limit the water overconsumption and strictly implement the conversation
law. Additionally, this can lead to further collaborations from the side of central municipal council to control the
consumptions by their area.

➢ An automated report should be issued along with bill that guide the consumers on how they be can reduce their
water consumption. Such reports can explain where most of the water overconsume, dates and times.

➢ Improving Public Engagement: After examining the current responding to Tarsheed campaign it is suggested to set
a partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for social inclusion goals as well as
demonstration the importance of water conversation for household. Policy makers and media can have significant
impact to promote such partnership.

➢ Accessibility: Initiatives and awareness campaigns website should be more accessible and publicized among
additional age categories.

➢ It is proposed to create a Demand-side management plan to highlight current and post FIFA World Cup needs.

➢ Improving Legal Frameworks: Detailed laws on water conversation should be adopted and adequately enforced.
Increasing number of capacity building particularly in a technical way specialised in green growth and sustainability
along-side with Shura Council, Central Municipal Council. Water overconsumption prevention polices should be
disseminated more widely at all levels.

➢ Improving Technology Transfer: Water infrastructure, including efficient irrigation systems and a wide distribution
of recycled treaded water for agricultural purposes bring undoubted benefits. These technologies include nature-
based as well as engineering based. Global partnerships is a good platform to exchange scientific information (Table
1), this can be done with the foreign ministers.

➢ Improving Economic and Fiscal Tools: Improved tools for understanding the true costs of water production and the
burden that the country holds and provide a simulated scenario for alternative options when everyone shows
responsibilities.

Al-Sulaiti, M. R. (2020)
 Category Policy / Law / Financial / Economic Technology Transfer
Governance Approach

Level
Partnership and exchange Commercial attaché can Partnership that enable
International of experiences that enable play important role to the transfer of advanced
to update water policies activate different tariff- technologies to conserve
with countries such as: system and tax experience water
Norway and South Korea
Enacting the National Provide appropriate Promote Research,
National-Institutional Water Act: strict market incentive for water Development and
regulations for water conservation practices Innovative of adapted
consumption in all sectors technologies
Establish a proper Apply effective pricing Consider more innovative
Household / Community communications system system means: Smart meters
with beneficiaries.
Accessible material for
awareness.
Table 1: Water Policy matrix contextualizing State of Qatar at different levels. Developed by the author but adapted from Policy Brief: Water
Quality Report (2011)

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Al-Sulaiti, M. R. (2020)