Septech taps into region’s scarce resource

Nearly 15 years ago, David Heffernan left one water-deficient country, Australia, to launch a business in another, the United Arab Emirates.

Back then, the country’s property development was in its early throes. Mr Heffernan set up Septech Holdings, a water management company that provides systems for housing developments, golf courses and marinas.

Although regional in its outlook, the bulk of the company’s work was in the UAE as one development after another sprang up. But since the global economic crisis, which hit the UAE particularly hard, Septech has seen a significant shift in its business.