How Gulf governments are planning for hotter summers
Asma Al Mousa ·
Power, water and working hours: what rising temperatures mean for public policy and for business.
Summer temperatures above 50°C are no longer rare in Kuwait, and the effects reach far beyond the weather report.
The first pressure is on the grid. Air conditioning drives peak demand, so ministries are investing in new generation capacity, solar projects and campaigns that ask households to save power in the afternoon peak.
Water is the second. Almost all drinking water in the region comes from desalination, which uses a great deal of energy. Plans to cut leaks and reuse treated water matter as much as new plants.
Work rules are the third. Midday bans on outdoor work during the hottest months protect labourers, and companies plan building schedules around them.
For business, the message is practical: energy-efficient buildings, heat-safe work plans and water savings are becoming part of every serious tender.