- By Bornika Das
- Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Historically, rivers have been the lifelines of civilisations, providing water supply to their people. Water is essential for life and river water till date is used in many countries to fulful the necessary requirements. However, it may come as a surprise that there are certain countries around the world that do not have a single river. These nations depend upon alternative sources of water such as desalination, underground aquifers, and imported water.
Currently, there are 20 countries and 22 territories that lack a permanent natural river, though some have streams or seasonal watercourses like wadis. For all these countries, water security is not only an issue of meeting daily consumption needs but also a long-term economic and environmental problem. With the help of advanced technologies and water-saving methods, these countries are trying their level best for their survival and development in the near future. Here’s a list of five countries in the world that do not have rivers.
Maldives Have No Rivers Within Its Boundary (Image Credits: Canva)
Countries That Have No Permanent Rivers
Saudi Arabia
Located on the Arabian Peninsula, this is one of the largest countries in the world that has no river. Saudi Arabia has developed advanced water management strategies despite being a large desert landscape. Saudi Arabia relied heavily on desalination, which produces around 70 percent of drinking water. Moreover, the country tapped into underground aquifers and invested in wastewater treatment and reuse systems.
Maldives
It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean and has no rivers, owing to its low-lying geography. Maldives faces water challenges, particularly with rising sea levels, often threatening its freshwater lenses. The country relies on rainwater harvesting, desalination, and importation of bottled water to meet its needs. Conservation and sustainable water management strategies are crucial for its survival.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is known for its grand cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This is another country located on the Arabian Peninsula that has no rivers. Desalination is the means to meet water needs, producing about 80 percent of potable water through this method. The country also uses treated wastewater for irrigation and industrial purposes, thus helping to conserve freshwater resources.
Countries Like Saudi Arabia, UAE Have No Permanent Rivers (Image Credits: Canva)
Qatar
A small yet wealthy nation, this country is also located on the Arabian Peninsula, which lacks rivers. The water supply in this country comes from desalination plants, which provide over 99 percent of the potable water. Notably, Qatar has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world, enabling significant investments in water conservation technologies and public awareness campaigns to encourage efficient water use.
Vatican City
The world’s smallest independent state, Vatican City, has zero rivers. The city-state relies on the Italian water supply to meet its needs. The country focuses on sustainable water use, which includes the installation of water-saving fixtures and the promotion of conservation practices among its citizens and visitors.
