Beyond the grid and the pipe: The hidden reality of electricity and water access in the Middle East and North Africa region Aziz AtamanovLaura Moreno HerreraDavid MichaudAlmud WeitzAmira Klibi July 27, 2026 This page in: English

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/arabvoices/beyond-the-grid-and-the-pipe--the-hidden-reality-of-electricity- On paper, access to electricity and piped water in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region looks almost universal. In 2022, about 96 percent of people had access to electricity, and 95 percent to basic drinking water. But this headline story is misleading. For millions of households, these services are not reliable. Power cuts and water shortages, particularly during summer peak periods, are part of daily life—and they often hit the most vulnerable the hardest. As this blog argues, bridging the gap between access and reliability will require a broader mix of policy, investment, and service delivery solutions.