"It is absolutely incomprehensible that in many regions of the world, water is handled as if it were in inexhaustible supply. Water is in fact irreplaceable and quickly becoming a scarce resource," Horst Enzelmuller, the chief executive officer of German firm Techem AG says.

"It will eventually become more expensive than oil, for which alternative energy supplies are increasingly common," he said addressing the ongoing Working Buildings Middle East 2008 conference in Abu Dhabi.

In Dubai for example, both commercial and residential properties charge a fixed rate up to a certain point, so there is little incentive to save; additionally, the notion of environment friendly initiatives is relatively new in the Gulf region.

With many Arab countries likely to face severe water shortage by the year 2025, practical solutions to the problems are urgently being sought by the government to limit consumption.

A number of 'green initiatives' are already underway; for example the LEED certification system is now applicable to all new developments, which requires them to fulfill a variety of criteria in order to satisfy minimum standards.

Enzelmuller said that one of the most effective ways to save energy and water lies in measuring individual consumption.

"The lynchpin is always the issue of whether a true price for water exists, so that costs increase in line with consumption. However, if costs rise every time you, for example, water your lawn, you start to use this precious element sensibly," he said.