Is Dubai water hard or soft?
Soft. DEWA's own 2025 figures give the drinking water from its Jebel Ali plant a typical total hardness of 60.7 mg/l, within a specification of 40 to 120 mg/l. Abu Dhabi's network is much the same, at an average of 53.8 mg/l. Scaling problems usually start above 200 mg/l.
Dubai vs Abu Dhabi water: the numbers
Both cities drink desalinated seawater, with minerals added back before it goes into the network. These are the official figures. All are in mg/l, which is the same as ppm, except pH, which has no unit.
| Measure | Dubai, typical (DEWA 2025) | Dubai, DEWA specification | Abu Dhabi, network average (2017) | Abu Dhabi, legal limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total hardness (as calcium carbonate) | 60.7 | 40 to 120 | 53.8 | 300 maximum |
| Calcium hardness (as calcium carbonate) | 39.7 | 25 to 65 | 47.4 | 200 maximum |
| Total dissolved solids (TDS) | 254 | 100 to 450 | 125 | 100 minimum, 600 maximum |
| pH | 8.21 | 7.9 to 8.5 | 8.35 | 7.0 to 9.2 |
| Chloride | 101.8 | 25 to 250 | Not published | 250 maximum |
DEWA's figures are for water leaving its Jebel Ali plant. The Abu Dhabi averages are from 6,493 network samples, the latest the emirate has published. DEWA's typical water also carries 15.9 mg/l of calcium and 5.1 mg/l of magnesium. In other units, 60.7 mg/l is about 3.4 °dH, 4.2 °Clark or 6.1 °f.
How soft is 60 mg/l?
Australia's drinking water guidelines set out clear hardness bands. Dubai and Abu Dhabi both sit at the soft end, far below the level where scale becomes a real problem.
| Hardness (mg/l as calcium carbonate) | What it means | Where the UAE sits |
|---|---|---|
| Under 60 | Soft, but possibly corrosive | Abu Dhabi average, 53.8 |
| 60 to 200 | Good quality | Dubai typical, 60.7 |
| 200 to 500 | Increasing scaling problems | Not DEWA mains water |
| Over 500 | Severe scaling | Not DEWA mains water |
Soft water is not a health issue, but it can be harder on metal pipes and fittings. That is one reason DEWA adds minerals back after desalination, and why Abu Dhabi sets a minimum for dissolved solids as well as a maximum.
So why does Dubai water seem hard?
Many people in Dubai see white marks, crusty shower heads and scaled kettles, and blame hard water. Usually something else is going on.
Dried salts, not scale
When water dries, everything dissolved in it stays behind. DEWA's water carries a typical 254 mg/l of dissolved solids, but only 15.9 mg/l is calcium. Chloride alone is 101.8 mg/l. In Dubai's heat, splashes dry fast and leave that residue on glass and chrome.
The building, not the network
DEWA's figures stop at your building. After that, water sits in ground and rooftop tanks and runs through pumps and pipework, which can add sediment and rust. Our guide to drinking tap water in Dubai covers the building's side.
Water that is not from DEWA
Some farms, villas and industrial sites use well water or tanker deliveries. That water is not covered by DEWA's figures and can be far harder. If your site is not on the mains, get an analysis from your supplier or an accredited laboratory first.
Do you need a water softener in Dubai?
On DEWA mains water, usually not for scale alone. The water is already soft. What helps depends on the problem you actually have.
| Your problem | What helps | From our range |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine taste or smell, or sediment from building tanks | Filtration | Regent filters |
| Better drinking water for staff or guests | A filtered, mains-fed tap or dispenser | RoyalFlow taps |
| Coffee, ice or steam ovens that need the same water every day | Reverse osmosis, set to the maker's feed-water limits | Sovereign RO |
| Well or tanker water that tests hard | Softening, or reverse osmosis for high dissolved solids | Regal softeners |
| Bacteria after storage tanks | UV disinfection | SovSafe UV |
For businesses, our site survey is a paid visit. We look at where your water comes from, your tanks and your equipment, then recommend only what the site needs. Every system is priced by quote.
Dubai water hardness questions
Is Dubai tap water hard or soft?
Soft. DEWA's 2025 sustainability report gives a typical total hardness of 60.7 mg/l (as calcium carbonate) for the drinking water from its Jebel Ali plant, against a specification of 40 to 120 mg/l. Scaling problems usually start above 200 mg/l.
What is the ppm of Dubai tap water?
For hardness, about 61 ppm, because mg/l and ppm are the same thing for water. For total dissolved solids (TDS), DEWA's typical figure is 254 mg/l, within a specification of 100 to 450 mg/l. Those figures are for water leaving the plant. What reaches your tap can change inside the building.
Is Abu Dhabi water harder than Dubai water?
No, they are very close. Abu Dhabi's network averaged 53.8 mg/l total hardness across 6,493 samples in the latest published statistics (2017), against Dubai's typical 60.7 mg/l. Both are desalinated seawater with minerals added back.
Why do I get white marks on glasses and taps in Dubai?
When water dries, everything dissolved in it is left behind. DEWA's water carries a typical 254 mg/l of dissolved solids, but only 15.9 mg/l of that is calcium. Much of the residue is salts such as chloride, which dry fast in the heat. The marks are not proof of hard water.
Do I need a water softener in Dubai?
Usually not for DEWA mains water alone, because it is already soft. A softener can make sense where a site runs on well or tanker water, or where an equipment maker sets a feed-water limit that mains water does not meet, for example on some steam ovens and boilers.
Is Dubai tap water safe to drink?
DEWA says its water meets World Health Organization standards up to your building. After that, tanks, pumps and pipework are the building owner's responsibility. Our guide to drinking tap water in Dubai explains what to check.
Further reading
Sources
- DEWA, Sustainability Report 2025, page 58: Jebel Ali Power Station potable water specification and typical figures
- Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi, Water Statistics 2017, table 1.3: Abu Dhabi network averages from 6,493 samples, source Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority
- Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, Water Quality Regulations 2021, schedule 1: Legal limits for hardness, TDS, pH and chloride
- Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, hardness (as calcium carbonate): Hardness bands from soft to severe scaling
Not sure what your site needs?
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