The study shows that groundwater levels in the country have dropped at a rate of one metre every year for the past 30 years and may soon dry out altogether. Water extraction far outstrips replenishment as consumption in the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are the highest in the world.

Findings show that the situation has been compounded with the drying up of freshwater wells and contamination of groundwater in coastal areas, particularly at Dibba, Kalba and Fujairah.

According to a Water and environment expert, extraction of UAE groundwater had reached its limit. He explained, "While water is extracted from the ground at random, there has been no significant recharge of the amounts leading to a steady increase in groundwater salinity in water fields throughout the UAE."

The expert said that the estimated annual recharge for groundwater in the UAE was 20 million cubic metres (Mm3) while the rate of groundwater extraction has been around 880 Mm3/year. He said that this grave disparity between extraction and annual recharge of water has reduced groundwater level and caused saltwater intrusion. Population growth had also placed a great deal of pressure on water resources in the AGCC. The current water gap of 15 Mm3 has been projected to reach nearly 31 Mm3 by 2005.

Emphasising the urgent need for water conservation in the country, Saeed Al Raghabani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries said, immediate steps for conservation of water in the Gulf countries should be through proper usage of water and effective management of water resources, using treated and desalination water for agriculture, construction of more dams, and encouraging cultivation of biosaline crops in the region.

He said, the UAE was making all efforts in this direction under the wise leadership of the President, His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Around 114 dams have been constructed, with 57 dams established by the President's Private Department leading to increase in ground water resources in the country. He praised the Shaikh Zayed's Private Department for the establishment of desalination plants in Fujairah, in addition the 57 dams in the Northern emirates.

Mr Raghabani also highlighted the use of modern irrigation system on farms, which is on the rise, covering up to 80 per cent of the farms in the UAE. The new irrigation system has led to preservation of 70 per cent of water used in agriculture in the country.