The UAE Ministry of Energy has denied reports that icebergs will be towed from Antarctica to the Arabian Gulf, calling them "rumors."
"As the authority in charge of water affairs, it would like to confirm that such news is just a rumor," the ministry said in a statement, according Al-Arabiya.
The ministry also denied reports that said water was being imported via "an underground pipeline from another country."
At the beginning of May, National Advisor Bureau Limited, an Abu Dhabi-based eco firm, announced plans to bring icebergs to the UAE starting next year. Abdullah Mohammad Sulaiman Al Shehi, the firms managing director, said the ice would be harvested for drinking water and would drastically change the UAE's climate
On May 2, Gulf News reported that officials declined to comment but said they were aware of Shehi's project.
Shehi said his firm had run simulations and even released a video, explaining the transportation process. He suggested the presence of the ice could transform the 'Empty Quarter' desert into a green oasis with rivers and also be a draw for tourists.