Introduction: Water is an essential resource for preserving life on earth and maintaining body homeostasis. So, adhering to the recommended daily water intake (RDWI) of 2L or more limits many health hazards. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine the level of awareness and practices of water intake among Sharjah citizens in UAE. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among Sharjah citizens in the period between February and March 2014. A total of 360 participants (150 males and 210 females) above 18 years old were selected randomly in public places using nonprobability convenience sampling method to participate in an interview administered questionnaire. SPSS version 22 was used to analyze questionnaires’ results. Results: Of the total 360 participants, 29% consumed the RDWI of 2L or more. Further, 36% of males and 23% of females met the RDWI. The mean daily water intake in our sample is 2 liters. 38% of participants with chronic diseases were adhering to the RDWI, which was significantly higher than healthy participants (p-value=0.009). About 77% of the total participants were aware that 2L or more is the RDWI. 37% of people who reported carrying their own water bottle were drinking adequate amount of water compared to 21% of those who didn’t carry water bottles (pvalue=0.001). Conclusion: The majority of the participants tend to ignore their RDWI of at least 2L/day despite being well aware of the amount and importance of adequate water intake. We therefore recommend initiatives to promote practices related to water intake.
