 multiplying the yield of an oasis abu dhabi may be a desert country but its daily water consumption per person is higher than that in most places in the world at about 650 liters or 170 gallons in the united states for example daily consumption is 300 liters per person and in many european countries it is less than half that the desalinated water is used for golf courses agriculture and car washes as much as half is used to water public spaces more  source the new york times  