Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority unveiled the world's largest reserve of artificially desalinated water. The reserve exists in an aquifer under the Liwa desert at the southern edge of the country, about 160 km away from the desalination plants located at the coast. Abu Dhabi Emirate within the United Arab Emirates – the coastal city Abu Dhabi itself as well as the inland oases Al Ain and Liwa – receive their drinking water supply entirely from desalinated seawater.

Most people (residents and visitors alike) prefer to drink bottled water. Some people will advise you not to drink the tap water in Abu Dhabi. It is desalinated seawater so does not taste pleasant, but it is safe to drink.

Although most desalinated water is soft, the water here is actually hard (which means soap won't lather properly in it) and it's pumped full of chlorine. The weather is also an aggravating factor

Filtering tap water will remove any chemicals that are used to kill bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungus. A water filter is required to remove naturally occurring or disinfection tastes and odours from water. To remove chemicals and bacteria, a reverse osmosis or distiller system would be required.