EWEC and Masdar formalise collaboration to fast-track UAE’s 2035 renewable energy goals

EWEC and Masdar have recently agreed on a new framework aimed at speeding up the next phase of the UAE’s clean energy expansion. This move signals a deeper level of collaboration between two of Abu Dhabi’s major energy players, especially at a time when the country is doubling down on decarbonisation, ensuring power stability, and boosting industrial growth.

The Collaboration Framework Agreement is designed to make it easier for the Emirates Water and Electricity Company, which handles planning and procurement for power and water capacity in Abu Dhabi, and Masdar, the country’s flagship renewable energy developer, to move large utility-scale projects from the initial idea stage all the way to completion. Basically, this means tighter coordination on aspects like planning, procurement, and execution, particularly for solar photovoltaic installations and battery storage systems.

According to the two companies, this isn’t just a one-off deal but rather a structure meant for ongoing cooperation. They draw on an already impressive track record that includes major projects such as Al Dhafra, Al Ajban, and Khazna, as well as what Masdar describes as a gigascale solar and battery storage project capable of providing round-the-clock power. The aim of this new arrangement is to turn that experience into a steady, systematic pipeline of future projects.

Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, the CEO of EWEC, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, the CEO of Masdar, were the ones who signed the agreement. They said that this partnership would help diversify the UAE’s energy mix, improve supply security, and foster local industry development. They also pointed out the importance of In-Country Value, a policy initiative across the Gulf that promotes the use of local suppliers, contractors, and services in major infrastructure projects.

Timing’s pretty crucial here. Abu Dhabi has set a goal to source 60% of its total energy needs from renewable and clean sources by 2035. To hit that target, EWEC plans to expand solar capacity to over 30 gigawatts and pair it with at least 8 gigawatts of battery energy storage. This combo, well, it’s pretty important. While solar energy is plentiful in the UAE, large-scale storage is necessary to smooth out the power supply and keep the grid stable when sunlight isn’t available, like after sunset or during dusty weather.

That storage component also signals a broader shift in the region’s energy approach. Gulf countries have traditionally relied heavily on gas-fired power plants to balance the intermittency of renewable energy. But now, huge batteries are allowing solar to play a larger role during peak demand hours, and cutting down on the need for fossil fuel backup. In this sense, the EWEC-Masdar partnership isn’t just about adding more renewables; it’s about making that clean energy usable around the clock.

Both companies also linked the deal to the UAE’s wider goal of hitting net-zero emissions by 2050. Abu Dhabi’s clean-energy plans are increasingly framed within a broader, longer-term transition that touches on electricity, industry, transportation, and water. That’s pretty significant, especially considering how much the power sector still contributes to emissions, particularly in a country where desalination, which is energy-intensive, is vital.

Furthermore, EWEC and Masdar shared that their partnership would support cleaner water production too. Desalination consumes a lot of energy, and both firms are committed to reducing reliance on fossil fuels in that process, helping the UAE move closer to near-emission-free water production by 2030. It’s easy to overlook the water angle when talking about energy, but in the Emirates, the two are very closely linked. Any progress made in decarbonising power also impacts water sustainability.

There’s also an industrial and workforce component to this. Both sides said they want to boost opportunities for Emirati talent, which suggests the deal isn’t just about building assets but also about strengthening domestic skills in engineering, project management, and operations. This aligns with the broader UAE economic strategy, which aims to develop local expertise while still welcoming international partners and funding.

Take, for instance, the earlier Al Ajban solar project. EWEC awarded the 1.5 GW AC project to a consortium that included EDF Renewables, Korea Western Power Company, and Masdar as a local shareholder. Masdar later announced that the project had reached financial close and would use about 3 million solar panels, enough to power roughly 160,000 homes, with a projected reduction of around 2.4 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually in Abu Dhabi. The plant is slated to go operational in the third quarter of 2026.

This project, like Al Dhafra before it, demonstrates how Abu Dhabi is now comfortable deploying large-scale projects. It also highlights why having a formal collaboration framework can be so useful. As projects grow bigger and more technically complex, a standing arrangement can reduce friction between procurement and development, leading to fewer delays and more consistency.

For Masdar, this agreement reinforces its key role in realizing the UAE’s renewable ambitions, both locally and abroad. For EWEC, it provides a strategic pathway to convert policy ambitions into a structured flow of projects. And for Abu Dhabi, it bolsters the idea that the emirate can rapidly expand clean energy capacity without sacrificing reliability.

The message here is clear: the UAE is moving beyond isolated renewable projects and aiming for a more integrated model, where solar, storage, water, and industrial policy are planned together. This latest framework hints that Abu Dhabi intends to accelerate that transition while minimizing the gaps and seams between the institutions involved in delivering it.