CanIDrinkTheTapWater.com now has complete tap water safety coverage across every country in the Middle East — 13 countries spanning the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and the wider region.
The Middle East presents one of the most varied and extreme water safety landscapes of any region on earth. It includes some of the world’s most water-stressed nations, countries that have invested heavily in desalination to overcome geographic water scarcity, and several countries whose infrastructure has been devastated by conflict. Here is a guide to every country now covered.
The Gulf States
The six Gulf Cooperation Council states each rely heavily on seawater desalination to meet their water needs — a necessity given their desert geography and minimal rainfall.
United Arab Emirates tap water is safe to drink in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and meets international standards, though the distinctive desalinated taste means most residents and visitors prefer bottled water. Saudi Arabia operates one of the world’s largest desalination industries and tap water is technically treated throughout the kingdom, though bottled water is universally preferred. Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has world-class hotel infrastructure with safe water throughout, though again desalination taste drives widespread bottled water use.
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman complete the Gulf picture. All three rely on desalination and have treated water that meets standards, but bottled water dominates daily consumption throughout. Oman’s dramatic Hajar Mountains and Musandam Peninsula make it an increasingly popular adventure travel destination — our guide covers water safety across both the urban and remote outdoor contexts.
The Levant
Israel stands out as the Middle East’s clear water safety leader. Israel has invested heavily in water technology and is a global pioneer in desalination and water recycling. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country, including in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and Israeli tap water quality is world-class. Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world and tap water is not recommended for direct consumption, though the country’s infrastructure and bottled water supply are reliable for visitors to Amman and Petra. Lebanon has experienced severe infrastructure collapse driven by economic crisis, and tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in the country.
Iran
Iran has treated municipal water in Tehran and major cities, but most residents and all visitors use bottled water due to concerns about distribution infrastructure and taste. Iran also faces growing water scarcity from aquifer depletion and reduced river flows that is becoming a serious long-term challenge.
Conflict-Affected Countries
Syria, Iraq, and Yemen all have water infrastructure that has been severely damaged or destroyed by conflict. All three are covered with particular care.
Syria’s civil war since 2011 has devastated water systems across the country, with water used as a weapon of conflict and major infrastructure repeatedly targeted. The country is now undergoing political transition following the fall of the Assad government in late 2024, but water infrastructure recovery will take years. Iraq’s infrastructure has suffered through decades of conflict including the Gulf War, the 2003 invasion, and the ISIS conflict — Basra’s 2018 contamination crisis that hospitalised tens of thousands is covered in detail, as is the Kurdistan Region which has comparatively better infrastructure. Yemen faces arguably the worst water crisis of all — one of the most severe water emergencies on earth, with cholera outbreaks on a historic scale driven by contaminated water and a near-total collapse of water infrastructure under years of civil war.
All 13 Middle Eastern Countries Now Covered
Bahrain · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Oman · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Syria · United Arab Emirates · Yemen
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