The aim of this paper is the development of a mathematical model, based on mass transfer, in order to compare the simulation results with those obtained by the model developed by Tahri et al. for the analysis of the seawater greenhouse (SWGH) condenser operating. This last model was depending on heat balance according to the thermodynamic model of Nusselt for simulating the physical process of condensation of the humid air in the condenser of SWGH that is located in Muscat, Oman. The present model was a mathematical one that was based on mass balance development in order to improve the description of phenomena in a humidification-dehumidification seawater greenhouse desalination system. The values of the predicted condensate calculated by the two models were compared with those of the measured values. Using the model developed in this work, the predicted mass condensate rates calculated by mass model was much closer to the measured condensate rates than that calculated by the heat model. Furthermore, the effects of relative humidity, dry bulb temperature, seawater temperature, humid air velocity and solar radiation on condensate values are also discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.