The Setting Water is a vital resource in all economies. In those societies which have to be managed in arid environments where indigenous water is limited, the challenges are particular. Middle Eastern countries need in the middle of the last decade of the century twice as much water as is currently available. By 2025 it is possible that they will need four times as much as is available in indigenous natural resources.
Water is used in all economic and in many municipal and domestic activities.
The production of food is the most water-intensive economic use, requiring about 1000 cubic metres per year per person. Domestic and municipal uses can be met with about 100 cubic metres per person per year. Drinking requirements run at about one cubic metre per person per year. Only Turkey and the Lebanon amongst Middle Eastern countries have the water resources to meet current and all future water needs including those of agriculture. All other countries, including some of the major economics such as Egypt and Israel, need more than twice as much water as currently available to them in surface flows and renewable groundwater.