The Federal Electricity and Water Authorities (FEWA) SWRO plant in Ghalilah, United Arab Emirates began operation in February 2005. Among the SWRO plants that use advanced energy recovery technology, this plant is the largest SWRO installation in the Arabian Gulf producing three MIGD (13,650 cubic meters) of potable water per day. The Ghalilah plant, designed and built by Fisia Italimpianti, employs ERI Pressure Exchanger technology to save energy and reduce power consumption. The authors describe the challenges and solutions associated with the design, commissioning and operation of the plant, particularly those aspects associated with energy efficiency and energy recovery. Actual performance is compared to predicted performance under various operating conditions.