The UAE leads the world in per capita consumption of bottled drinking water with some 265 litres per year, the UAE Health Minister Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Midfa has said.
“Many factors, including the spurt in tourist arrivals and economic prosperity as well as the presence of excellent local brands of bottled water, have contributed to this,” Al Midfa told the second Global Water Congress in Dubai.

Recognition of high standards of hygiene and maintaining quality standards has been the hallmark of the UAE’s progress and the bottled water industry has been no exception,” the minister added.
More than 150 delegates representing over 30 countries worldwide were present at the congress, which Al Midfa opened.
Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, CEO of Mashreqbank and chairman of Masafi Mineral Water Company LLC, welcomed the gathering. Masafi was the host sponsor of the event in collaboration with organisers Zenith International, specialist consultants to international food and drink industries.
On the first day, the participants were taken on a special tour of the state-of-the-art Masafi plant at Ras Al Khaimah. The tour ended with a desert safari and a Bedouin-style dinner.
 Masafi was awarded the ‘Best Consumer Press Marketing Campaign’ at the 2005 bottled water design awards ceremony organised by Zenith International. Ashraf Abushady, the company’s general manager, received the award on behalf of his company. More than 113 entries representing 36 countries were in the fray for a select 26 award categories.