TapWaterGuide
Worldwide water safety reference

Tap Water Safety in Middle East

The Middle East runs almost entirely on desalinated seawater, and the engineering is world-class — Israel, the UAE, and Qatar produce water that meets WHO standards at the plant. The catch is the last mile: rooftop storage tanks and building plumbing mean many residents still prefer bottled water, and travelers will find bottled water is the cultural default nearly everywhere.

City Guides in Middle East