How Kuwait quenched its thirst
By Mahmoud Zakaria
Freshwater sources in ancient Kuwait were extremely scarce, as the country is a desert land with no rivers. In earlier times, Kuwaitis depended on rainwater and underground wells to meet their needs. But when rainfall declined sharply in 1907, they began importing fresh water from the Shatt Al-Arab in Iraq. Every day, 49 large dhows transported around 80,000 gallons of water to Kuwait.
With rapid urban development and a growing population, the need for reliable water sources became urgent. In response, Kuwait commissioned its first desalination plant in 1953, with a capacity of one million gallons of fresh water per day.
Before desalination, water distribution in Kuwait was an essential and complex task. When water ships arrived from Iraq, it was distributed through various means. Water porters roamed the streets with tanks, while vendors carried water on donkeys or camels, shouting through neighborhoods to announce their arrival. One traditional method of transport was the kandar — a long pole with tin cans (qawati) hanging from either end. Anyone who carried water was commonly called al-hammar.
People collect rainwater outside the walls of Kuwait, in 1938.
A natural water well in the Kuwaiti desert near Ahmadi.
A water fountain donated by the late Abdulaziz Al-Duaij in Mubarakiya in 1965.
Water vendors deliver water in qirab — leather containers — laden on donkeys.
Water porters roam the streets with the kandar — a long pole with tin cans hanging from either end.
Kuwait also had numerous freshwater wells. The Shamiya area was especially famous for the quality of its water, and in 1933 alone, it contained 600 wells.
The central hub for water trade was known as the 'Water Market', located in the northeastern corner of the Money Changers' Square, near the entrance to Ibn Duaij Market and just east of Sheikh Mubarak's Kiosk. This market bustled with activity, as donkeys delivered water in qirab — leather containers — from areas beyond the old city walls such as Shamiya, Kaifan, Hawally, Nugra and Dasma.
Adjacent to the Water Market stood a public fountain donated by the late Abdulaziz Al-Duaij. The area was a lively commercial zone, home to one of the city's earliest cafés — Shaaban Coffee — which was among the first to feature a radio.
In 1939, Kuwait established its first water transport company to help meet rising demand. By 1951, the government purchased all private wells, coinciding with the opening of the first seawater desalination plant — marking the beginning of a new chapter in Kuwait's water history.
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