Electricity and Water Authority

EWA Bahrain, also known as the Electricity and Water Authority, is the national utility responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and the production and distribution of desalinated water throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain. It supplies power and water to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the country. The authority operates a portfolio of power generation plants and water desalination facilities that together meet the domestic demand for these essential services. Its mandate includes ensuring the reliability and security of the electricity grid and water supply network. The organisation functions under the oversight of the Ministry of Electricity and Water of Bahrain.

As a state‑owned entity, EWA Bahrain is wholly owned by the Government of Bahrain and operates as a public corporation. It holds a unique position as the sole provider of both electricity and water services, giving it a monopolistic role in the utility sector within the country. This dual‑service responsibility distinguishes it from many other utilities that typically focus on only one commodity. The authority’s operational activities are guided by national policies aimed at sustainable resource management and infrastructure resilience. In June 2019, EWA Bahrain was among several government bodies and critical infrastructure providers targeted in a cyberattack that caused system shutdowns and operational disruptions, with U.S. intelligence assessments attributing the incident to suspected Iranian actors. The event highlighted vulnerabilities in the authority’s command and control systems and underscored the persistent cyber risks facing civilian infrastructure in the region.