$7.55 billion: The Size of the Bottled Water Market in GCC Countries

The Statistical Center of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries stated that the bottled water market in the Gulf region reached $7.55 billion in 2024, noting its continued annual growth at a rate of 11%. The Center added in a report it issued on water sector indicators in GCC countries for 2024 that this growth is driven by increased demand for bottled water, rising health awareness, and expanded investments in the sector.

Regarding water resource management indicators in the Gulf, the Center pointed out a 98.4% increase in the volume of collected treated wastewater in 2024, an indicator reflecting the “progress” made by GCC countries in reusing water and supporting circular economy applications, which contributes to conserving water resources and enhancing environmental sustainability. Additionally, desalinated water production in GCC countries rose by 4.8% compared to 2023, with the Center noting that this indicator confirms the “continued reliance on desalination technologies as one of the most important strategic sources to meet growing water demand, especially given the scarcity of natural water resources.”

Conversely, the Center noted that the annual rate of groundwater extraction recorded a 3% decline over the past nine years, coinciding with an increase in the share of renewable water to 25.5% in 2024. It considered this to reflect a “Gulf trend toward sustainable water resource management and reducing pressure on groundwater reserves.”

On the subject of natural resources, the Center highlighted a 43.8% rise in rainfall rates in GCC countries in 2024 compared to the long-term average for the period (1980–2009), “creating opportunities to enhance water security through expanding rainwater harvesting projects, recharging groundwater aquifers, and increasing utilization of traditional water resources.”

The Center concluded its report that these indicators collectively confirm the continued adoption by GCC countries of integrated water management policies based on diversifying supply sources, enhancing reuse, developing desalination technologies, and preserving natural resources, thereby supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals and strengthening the region’s capacity to confront water scarcity challenges.

It is worth noting that the Statistical Center of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, headquartered in the Sultanate of Oman, was established in 2011 to serve as the official body authorized for data, information, and statistics related to GCC countries, in addition to its role in enhancing statistical and informational work among national statistical centers and planning authorities within them.