20 April 2022 www.bahrainthismonth.com Recently, I have returned from an ecowater exploration journey of the second Arab state in the Middle East that recently signed normalisation agreements with Israel - the Kingdom of Bahrain. I concluded the first year of the Abraham Accords by exploring and building relations across the UAE. Thanks to the Bahrain Embassy in Tel Aviv that connected this writer to professionals and key officials in the kingdom who examine the ocean, water and environment conservation, this enabled exploration of the kingdom in an environmentally focused manner, creating an unmediated encounter with key Bahrainis. I learned firsthand about the historical water-cultural identity, which was lost in some ways to the average Bahraini. It became immediately apparent that the challenge to save the Dead Sea could create empathy with the locals on a deeper level, referring to Bahrain›s lost water treasures and resources which are in great need of protection and rehabilitation. In the long run, a Middle East alliance for water sustainability can have a positive impact on saving the Dead Sea, which is lacking regional cooperation. Just go back to the Israel-Jordan-UAE energy-water deal breaker, which brought the Middle East one step closer to Saving the Dead Sea, impacting its water sources. I arrived in Bahrain on February 14th, which happened to be the day that the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, made a historic visit to the King of Bahrain, HM King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, and the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Bahrain- Between Two Seas Throughout history, Bahrain has been called the «Land of Immortality» or «the Great Paradise››, as it was known for its freshwater springs and palm tree fields. The name of Bahrain in Arabic means ‘between two seas’. Two types of water surround the land, freshwater and saltwater. The Kingdom of Bahrain has deep roots in the past, dating back more than 5,000 years, as it has been home to many cultures as well as a vital link between cultures, making it a commercial center and a sea crossing point between East and West, strategically located in the Arabian Gulf. Bahrain has been well known since ancient times for its pearling industry. Bahrain’s Water Challenges Today Today, Bahrain is among the top ten countries in the world that could suffer from a water crisis in the next 25 years. The Kingdom of Bahrain is an arid state that has been declared by the UN agencies since the 1950s to be accepted as a water-scarce region. The Kingdom of Bahrain, despite being the smallest in the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), contains one of the highest population densities in the world and its population is growing, while it contains the lowest freshwater resources in the world, which affects the availability of freshwater. The share of fresh water among the population of Bahrain is declining. It was fascinating to explore Bahrain›s futuristic urban communities that address some of these challenges. Durrat Al Bahrain is the second largest artificial island in the country and the development of a marina of this project is the first of its kind and the largest in the Middle East! The USD7 billion mega-islands project is expected to accommodate up to 60,000 residents and another 5,000 visitors daily upon completion. Bahrain’s Ocean and Marine Conservation Today, there are no rivers, streams flowing continuously or lakes. The country obtains groundwater from the lateral flow of the Dammam aquifer. Accelerated economic development and population growth along with mega projects built in Bahrain in recent decades, have increased the demand for water, as groundwater is used as the only natural water resource supported by desalination facilities. More water is expected to SAVING THE DEAD SEA Founder and Director of The Dead Sea Revival Project, Noam Bedein, recently completed an ecowater exploration in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He recounts his journey and explains his findings. A Bridge to the Endangered Water Treasures of Bahrain interview
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