Dubai, UAE, 29 October 2018: With water demand largely driven by population growth, industrialisation and increasing standards of living, Fady Juez, Managing Director, Metito, said that the company, which provides a broad spectrum of water-based solutions, sees significant growth potential in the United Arab Emirates. “With oil prices coming back to good levels, I’m sure there will be a huge number of new projects coming up in Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Fady Juez, Managing Director, Metito

Juez also commended the United Arab Emirates for its concerted effort to advance the penetration of District Cooling and the increasing use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) as make-up water for cooling towers. Juez added that growth in TSE is not only owing to environmental consciousness, but also with techniques available to ensure its quality, it is more cost-effective, especially compared to using seawater, which is costly for the equipment. These factors, Juez said, continue to drive demand for TSE in the United Arab Emirates.

Juez said that the upcoming Expo 2020 will only further drive demand for similar water-based solutions, as the highly anticipated event is set to bring in new projects and people, which will create a gap in the necessary supporting infrastructure. Juez said that there is a lot of activity that can be observed in other emirates as well, sharing that a number of desalination plants have been developed to support growth in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. He said that Metito is extremely active in Sharjah, which has a requirement for treatment plants, adding that the emirate is inviting the private sector to work with them in waste-water recycling initiatives.

Speaking on the group’s presence across the Middle East, Juez says Metito has a strong presence in Egypt, which serves as gateway for numerous projects across North Africa, adding that sub-Saharan Africa is showcasing growing demand for reliable utility infrastructure.

The Levant region, Juez said, also offers huge potential for growth, particularly Iraq, which is undergoing a huge process of rebuilding, after being devastated by wars. Larger projects are yet to be initiated, Juez said, though he believes that with the new government and the right prices of oil helping the cash flow, the country provides stakeholders with a lot of opportunities. This, he added, will allow Metito to leverage its long history in the country as it moves forward.

Hannah Jo Uy is Assistant Editor at Climate Control Middle East magazine. She may be contacted at hannah@cpi-industry.com