The global water desalination equipment market was valued at US$ 13.0 Bn in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2025 to 2035, reaching approximately US$ 32.3 Bn by the end of 2035. Market expansion is primarily driven by escalating global water scarcity, climate change impacts, rapid urbanization, and increasing industrial water demand.

Analysts’ Viewpoint on Market Scenario

The desalination equipment industry is witnessing steady growth as freshwater shortages intensify worldwide. Reverse Osmosis (RO) remains the dominant technology, accounting for nearly half of global revenues due to its lower energy consumption, scalability, and suitability for both municipal and industrial applications.

Thermal desalination technologies such as Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) and Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) continue to play a significant role in large-scale power-water cogeneration projects, particularly in the Middle East. Regionally, the Middle East & Africa (MEA) leads the global market with nearly 50% share, driven by mega infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. North America and Asia Pacific are rapidly expanding investments to address drought conditions and urban water security challenges.

Technological advancements—including next-generation membranes, energy recovery devices (ERDs), hybrid systems, and enhanced pre-treatment processes—are significantly improving efficiency and reducing operating costs, positioning desalination as a long-term water security solution.

Global Water Desalination Equipment Market Overview

Water desalination equipment refers to systems and components that convert saline or brackish water into potable or industrial-grade freshwater. These systems are essential in arid and water-stressed regions to augment municipal supplies, meet industrial demand, and support agricultural activities.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the most widely adopted technology. It uses semi-permeable membranes and high-pressure pumps to separate salts and impurities from seawater or brackish water. Thermal technologies such as MSF and MED utilize heat to evaporate and condense water, commonly integrated with power plants in Gulf countries.

Other technologies—including Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC), Electrodialysis (ED), and Nanofiltration (NF)—serve niche applications, particularly for brackish water treatment and industrial processes.

Continuous innovation in membrane materials, hybrid configurations, and energy-efficient designs is transforming desalination into a more sustainable and economically viable water solution.

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Market Drivers

Escalating Global Water Scarcity and Rising Demand for Freshwater

Water scarcity is one of the most critical global challenges. According to the United Nations, over 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries, and global water demand could exceed supply by 40% by 2030. This widening supply-demand gap is driving significant investments in desalination infrastructure.

In the Middle East, desalination supplies more than 70% of municipal water in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait. The Saline Water Conversion Corporation produces over 7.5 million cubic meters of desalinated water daily, relying heavily on RO and thermal equipment.

In India, cities like Chennai increasingly depend on desalination plants with cumulative capacities exceeding 750 million liters per day, reflecting growing adoption in emerging economies.

Expanding Industrial and Municipal Applications

Industrial sectors such as power generation, oil & gas, petrochemicals, and manufacturing are major consumers of desalinated water. The oil & gas industry, particularly in the Gulf region, uses desalinated seawater for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), requiring large-scale RO and MSF systems.

Municipal applications account for nearly 60% of global desalination capacity, according to the International Desalination Association. Cities such as San Diego and Barcelona have invested in large-scale RO plants to enhance drought resilience and secure long-term water supply.

Reverse Osmosis: Leading Technology Segment

Reverse Osmosis dominates the global desalination equipment market due to its modular design, lower operational costs, and reduced environmental footprint compared to thermal processes.

Notable large-scale RO facilities include the Sorek Desalination Plant in Israel, with a production capacity of 624,000 cubic meters per day, and the Carlsbad Desalination Plant in California, producing 50 million gallons per day.

Hybrid plants such as Ras Al Khair in Saudi Arabia combine RO and thermal technologies, demonstrating the adaptability of modern desalination systems.

Regional Insights

Middle East & Africa remains the leading region, supported by large-scale projects such as the Jebel Ali Desalination Plant and Ras Abu Fontas in Qatar. Asia Pacific ranks second, driven by industrial growth and expanding coastal populations in China and India.

North America and Europe continue to invest in desalination to address climate variability and water stress, further strengthening global demand for advanced equipment.

Competitive Landscape

Major companies operating in the global water desalination equipment market include Veolia Water Technologies, Suez Water Technologies & Solutions, Aquatech International, IDE Technologies, Toray Industries, Inc., LG Chem, and Alfa Laval.

Recent developments include Veolia’s Mirfa 2 RO plant project in Abu Dhabi and Aquatech’s partnership for the Corpus Christi seawater RO facility in Texas, highlighting continued innovation and large-scale investments.

Overall, the water desalination equipment market is poised for sustained growth through 2035, supported by rising global water stress, expanding municipal and industrial applications, and ongoing technological advancements enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability.