In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), desalination has also helped compensate for the lack of natural fresh water. The first desalination plant was established in the UAE in 1960, producing 56,250 litres of fresh water a day. As the demand for fresh water has grown, so has the importance of desalination. Experts forecast that in 2015, 2.7 bilion litres of fresh water will be required daily in the UAE, the majority of it being produced by desalination.