Thermax showcases desalination and water recovery technologies at WETEX 2026
Thermax Limited showcased its seawater desalination, industrial water recovery and wastewater treatment technologies at WETEX 2026, highlighting solutions aimed at improving water security and resource efficiency across the UAE’s industrial sector.
The exhibition was held from October 20 to 22 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Through its digital showcase, Thermax presented technologies designed to support reliable industrial water supplies, reduce freshwater consumption and improve wastewater management.
The company’s participation comes as Dubai expands its desalination infrastructure to meet growing water demand.
According to DEWA’s financial annual report, desalinated water production increased 5.51 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 37.57 billion imperial gallons.
By June 2026, Dubai’s installed desalination capacity had reached 555 million imperial gallons per day, with seawater reverse osmosis accounting for 23 per cent of the total capacity.
Thermax highlights industrial desalination solutions
At WETEX, Thermax presented energy-efficient membrane-based desalination systems that remove salts from seawater to produce water suitable for industrial applications.
The systems are designed according to customers’ water quality requirements and operating conditions, helping industries secure water supplies while reducing pressure on freshwater resources.
The company also showcased portable and containerised desalination systems that integrate key equipment into compact units.
These systems can reduce on-site installation requirements, support faster deployment and allow treatment capacity to expand in line with demand.
Ashish Bhandari, Managing Director and CEO of Thermax Limited, said water security influences industrial investment decisions and competitiveness.
He said businesses require dependable water supplies at sustainable costs, making it important to plan water and energy requirements together and consider performance throughout a plant’s lifecycle.
Advanced reverse osmosis supports water recovery
Beyond desalination, Thermax showcased Advanced Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology designed to recover additional usable water from the concentrated stream generated during treatment.
The technology concentrates the remaining brine, reducing the load on downstream evaporation systems and supporting more efficient industrial wastewater management.
When combined with suitable additional treatment and crystallisation processes, the system can also support salt recovery, creating opportunities to recover resources from wastewater and advance circular water management.
Thermax also presented industrial water treatment, wastewater recycling and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) solutions.
These technologies help industries treat and reuse wastewater for suitable applications, reducing freshwater dependence and supporting more efficient resource use.
Digital platform supports industrial water operations
Thermax’s EDGE Live digital platform was also featured at the exhibition.
The platform uses real-time monitoring, AI-driven analytics and predictive diagnostics to help industrial operators identify potential issues, optimise maintenance and improve operational reliability.
The company said its solutions align with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, which targets the reuse of 95 per cent of treated water by 2036.
Through its regional office in Dubai, Thermax is exploring opportunities in industrial desalination, water treatment and wastewater recycling across the UAE.
The company is targeting water-intensive sectors including oil and gas, chemicals, metals, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals.
Thermax has operated across the Middle East and North Africa since 1993, with more than 1,000 installations across its regional energy and environment portfolio, serving over 30 industries.
