Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos signed a bilateral agreement in Dubai on Thursday with Assistant Minister for Development and International Organisations of the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Al Shamsi, for the transfer of mobile desalination units to Cyprus.
According to a statement from the foreign affairs ministry, the agreement will allow Cyprus to increase its daily production of desalinated water by 15,000 cubic metres, significantly strengthening the country’s water resilience.
The ministry expressed its gratitude to the UAE authorities for their swift response to Cyprus’s request, highlighting that this collaboration reflects the strategic partnership between the two nations.
It also emphasised the shared focus on practical initiatives that directly impact citizens’ everyday lives.
Sources confirmed to the Cyprus News Agency that preparations for the shipment of the units are already underway, with their departure expected within hours.
Furthermore, a specialised team of engineers from the UAE is scheduled to arrive in Cyprus next week to oversee the technical coordination and installation of the equipment.
Last week, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said there will be “no risk” of any water cuts in Cyprus this summer, with the delivery of mobile desalination units from the United Arab Emirates having put paid to any such risk.
He said the agriculture ministry is “evaluating the issue” of where the units will be placed, while also “progressing with plans” for a more permanent solution to be found to Cyprus’ water shortages.
He added that at present, around 30 per cent of the agriculture ministry’s budget is spent on dealing with the issue of water supply, with the government having in recent years initiated “national action plans”, set to run until 2030, to deal with the matter.
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