Why is fresh water naturally scarce in Kuwait?

Fresh water is naturally scarce in Kuwait primarily due to the country's arid desert climate and lack of permanent surface water sources.123

The region experiences very low annual rainfall, averaging only 1 to 7 inches (25 to 180 mm). Because the landscape is generally flat and lacks perennial rivers or lakes, most precipitation is lost to evaporation rather than being absorbed into the ground. While there are intermittent water courses known as wadis and some limited groundwater sources, such as those at Al-Rawḍatayn and Al-Shiqāyā, these are insufficient to meet the needs of the population.2145

Consequently, Kuwait has historically relied on importing water and, more recently, on large-scale desalination plants to provide the vast majority of its potable water supply.53