Emerging Contaminants in Arabian Gulf Water: Occurrence, Risks, and Management Strategies

Emerging contaminants (ECs), including pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, PFAS, and microplastics, are increasingly detected in aquatic environments due to their persistence, bioactivity, and limited removal by conventional treatment processes. These challenges are intensified in hyper-arid regions where desalination and wastewater reuse dominate water supply, concentrating contaminants and creating unique exposure pathways. The Arabian Gulf is one of the most environmentally stressed marine systems, characterized by hypersalinity, extreme temperatures, dense coastal development, and strong petrochemical influence. Despite its major role in global petrochemical and plastic production, the region lacks coordinated monitoring and regulatory frameworks, creating significant gaps in understanding EC occurrence, fate, and risks. Treatment systems designed for temperate climates often underperform under Gulf conditions, enabling contaminants to persist, accumulate in sediments, and enter marine food webs. This review examines the occurrence, behaviour, and removal challenges of ECs in the Gulf, where concentrations frequently exceed international benchmarks due to wastewater reuse, desalination brine discharge, maritime activities, and oil-related pollution. Regional factors such as hypersalinity, high temperatures, and petrochemical interactions further influence contaminant persistence and toxicity. Conventional treatments show reduced efficiency, while alternatives such as halophyte-based wetlands and brine valorisation show promise. However, key gaps remain in nanoplastics, PFAS speciation, and cumulative exposure, requiring coordinated monitoring and unified GCC regulations.