Arabian Business Exclusive: Dubai’s groundbreaking air-to-water bottling facility

In the heart of Dubai, A1RWATER is achieving what once seemed impossible: creating premium drinking water daily from desert air. Our state-of-the-art facility has captured the attention of Arabian Business, which recently featured an exclusive look at how we’re revolutionising water production in one of the world’s most challenging climates.

This coverage underscores both the ingenuity behind our technological achievement and its critical role in addressing one of today’s most pressing challenges—water scarcity. In an era of increasing water shortages, our facility provides businesses and consumers with a unique alternative: premium, air-sourced water that redefines quality and sustainability.

Inside the feature

Arabian Business’s exclusive showcases our 90,000-square-foot facility in Dubai Industrial City, where we’re addressing one of the fastest-growing consumer categories—bottled water—through groundbreaking innovation.

Our water is sourced using our A1R3000 atmospheric water generators, which extract moisture from the air before undergoing multi-stage filtration and mineralization to ensure consistent quality. Our facility uses advanced systems to meticulously wash, clean, inspect, fill, and package bottles, ensuring they meet the rigorous standards expected by our customers— the UAE’s most recognized hospitality brands.

The facility produces both still and sparkling water—available in bottles and soon in cans—crafted to suit a variety of consumer preferences, supporting the UAE’s hospitality sector with premium, eco-conscious options.

Dave Cupit, CTO of A1RWATER, shared with Arabian Business the journey from concept to reality: “We spent a few weeks designing the plant, fine-tuning it, and then built this through 3D modelling in May.”

After spending six years developing atmospheric water generators (AWGs), Dave began envisioning a way to bottle air water roughly two years ago—a concept many said was impossible at scale. Undeterred, and driven by his love of a challenge, Dave started where he always does: with a sketch.

Advanced robotics and fully automated production lines integrate seamlessly with an on-site quality control lab and dedicated filtration rooms, ensuring that every bottle meets our uncompromising quality standards. Equipped with a 450,000-litre storage tank, the facility is designed to efficiently meet the growing demand across diverse markets, setting a new benchmark for sustainable and premium water production.

Sustainability and environmental impact in hospitality

To reduce environmental impact, our circular solution processes thousands of returned bottles per hour, promoting reuse and minimising waste. Offered in reusable glass bottles and recyclable cans, our water helps hospitality brands meet sustainability goals, eliminate single-use plastics, and enhance operational efficiency. By sourcing water locally, we address inefficiencies in traditional supply chains while lowering CO2 emissions and aligning with global initiatives like the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision.

Vision backed by strategic partnership

As a DeepTech venture capital firm, Tau Capital supports science and technology entrepreneurs tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Their involvement has been instrumental in helping us transform our vision into actionable impact.

Andrea, Managing Partner Tau Capital, shared, “Transformative ideas need the right strategy to scale. A1RWATER has the technology, vision, and execution capabilities to disrupt water-intensive industries and meet the demands of both businesses and consumers.”

Bill added, “Water is foundational to life. Having seen the challenges of climate-stressed regions firsthand, I recognize the urgency of sustainable solutions. A1RWATER offers more than a necessity—they’ve enabled access, quality, and sustainability in one solution.”

Advancing possibilities

The feature also highlighted our growing presence at high-profile venues, including the recent Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. At the event, we showcased both the A1Rtower, a freestanding unit that dispensed over 2,000 litres of mineral water daily, and our premium water in aluminium A1Rcans. Together, these innovations demonstrated our commitment to quality, versatility, and meeting diverse consumer needs in dynamic settings.

As we advance the future of water through innovation and product development, we are driven by the shared vision of our partners, teams, and supporters. The future of water begins in the air—and this is just the start of what’s possible.

Read the full story in Arabian Business’s exclusive or get in touch to reserve your water.