11:33 pm - October 19, 2026Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has begun a four-week Dubai autonomous transit trial at Bluewaters, testing driverless electric pods on a dedicated guideway that could shape future clean mobility links across the emirate. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on 11 October the start of a four-week trial of…
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority will host the emirate’s first Dubai electric vehicle exhibition and conference from 10 to 12 November, with more than 300 participants and 10,000 visitors expected at the trade centre. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on 4 October that it will organise the inaugural…
Holcim UAE and 44.01 have formally commissioned the UAE’s first industrial Fujairah carbon capture pilot, which stores cement plant CO2 in underground rock and gives heavy industry a working template for Net Zero 2050. Holcim UAE and carbon storage company 44.01 officially commissioned the UAE’s first live-condition carbon capture and…
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi has introduced mandatory emissions verification rules requiring high-emitting facilities to register, report and use accredited verifiers under a new digital tracking system. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has issued a resolution making emissions verification compulsory for facilities in the emirate’s highest-emitting sectors,…
UAE green sukuk issuance fell to zero in the first half of 2026, Moody’s said, down from 1.7 billion US dollars a year earlier, as GCC issuers pulled back and awaited a second-half recovery. UAE green sukuk issuance dropped to zero in the first half of 2026, according to a…
Emirates Water and Electricity Company projects Abu Dhabi carbon emissions falling by more than 45% by 2035, as solar capacity expands to over 35 gigawatts and battery storage reaches up to 15 gigawatts. Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) announced on 21 September a forecast cut in Abu Dhabi carbon…
Nasdaq-listed Beam Global has signed a memorandum of understanding with Masdar City Free Zone to bring off-grid EV charging and energy storage technology into the Masdar City ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. Beam Global (Nasdaq: BEEM) and its regional arm, Beam Middle East, have signed a memorandum of understanding with Masdar…
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Abu Dhabi solar capacity is set to expand by 3GW a year, the emirate’s energy chief says, as its clean energy share hits 47% and desalination shifts to reverse osmosis by 2035. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy has set out plans to add 3GW of solar capacity a year, backed by round-the-clock battery storage, as part of a decade-long shift that has already lifted the emirate’s clean energy share, including nuclear, from 1% to 47%. In a 17 September interview, department chairman Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan said the emirate would keep expanding Abu Dhabi solar capacity while pushing almost all…
Emirates Biotech and United Arab Emirates University have opened a pilot plant near Al Ain that converts food waste to biogas and compost, testing whether packaging waste can be processed alongside it too. Emirates Biotech and United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) have launched a joint pilot project to convert food waste to biogas and compost at what they describe as the UAE’s first integrated organic-waste valorisation plant. Sited near UAEU’s Al Ain campus, the plant will process up to 40kg of organic waste a day. The partnership was launched at UAEU with value-chain stakeholders including the Emirates Environmental Group, Hotpack,…
Dubai Municipality has launched an Existing Buildings Greening Guide, giving owners, operators and investors a practical framework for green building retrofits that cut energy and water use and emissions. Dubai Municipality has launched an Existing Buildings Greening Guide across the emirate on 16 September, giving building owners, operators, consultants and investors a practical roadmap for green building retrofits that improve environmental and operational performance. The civic body said the guide supports its wider objectives for sustainable urban development and a better quality of life across Dubai. The guide sets out best practice for green building retrofits while balancing sustainability requirements…
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has signed a two-year partnership with the World Economic Forum to accelerate UAE water innovation and connect solutions with the financing and markets needed to scale them. The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative announced on 15 September that it has signed a partnership agreement with the World Economic Forum to speed the adoption and deployment of practical water solutions, extending the Abu Dhabi initiative’s reach into the global water innovation ecosystem. The agreement runs for two years, through September 2028, and centres on closing a persistent gap between promising water technologies and the financing,…
Khalifa University has launched a UNESCO Chair on Global Water Resilience, uniting research, policy and industry to strengthen UAE water security ahead of the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi this December. Khalifa University has established the UNESCO Chair on Global Water Resilience, Innovation and Sustainable Solutions, a UAE-anchored platform intended to connect scientific research with policy and industry on water treatment, desalination, wastewater reuse and governance. The university announced the Chair on 30 June, framing it as a direct contribution to UAE water security ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE co-hosts with Senegal in Abu…
Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei told WAM the UAE has lifted its combined nuclear and renewables target to 35% by 2030-2031, saying new plants and private competition will deliver it.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development wants to mobilise $2bn by 2030 through its Global Water Platform, half of it the Fund’s own money, to reach 10 million people with safe water. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has named the Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform as the main…
Hub71’s renewed Initiate programme draws over 5,500 applications, highlighting growing demand for structured early-stage startup support in Abu Dhabi, with new ventures like Prism56 exemplifying regional innovation and AI adoption. Hub71 is expanding its Initiate programme after attracting over 5,500 applications from founders in the very early stages of building…
Researchers at United Arab Emirates University have created a sustainable catalyst using desert sand, biochar from date pits, and nickel, offering a local solution for clean-energy technologies and resource efficiency. Researchers over at United Arab Emirates University have come up with a pretty interesting green catalyst. It’s made from desert…
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Startups in Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 ecosystem have raised more than $2.7bn since 2019, with its ClimateTech vertical part of a specialist strategy as the emirate works to diversify its economy. Startups based at Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s government-backed technology ecosystem, have raised more than $2.7bn (AED 9.9bn) since the platform opened in 2019, according to figures published on 8 June in the hub’s 2025 Impact Report. The same companies generated $1.5bn (AED 5.4bn) in revenue over the period. The totals mark a milestone in the emirate’s drive to build a diversified, innovation-led economy. The figures point to a startup base with…
Marafiq is set to build a new industrial desalination plant in Duqm, underscoring the growing importance of integrated water services for Oman’s emerging low-carbon heavy industry sector and supporting Meranti Green Steel’s ambitious project aiming for mid-2029 completion. Marafiq is gearing up to build a new industrial desalination plant in Duqm, which really highlights just how crucial water infrastructure has become for the region’s emerging low-carbon heavy industry sector. The Centralised Utilities Company for the Special Economic Zone at Duqm will handle the financing and development of this facility, and it’s meant to serve Meranti Green Steel’s upcoming iron project,…
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Abu Dhabi: NIO has opened the UAE’s first Power Swap Station at Yas Marina Circuit, enabling fully automated battery replacement in just three minutes. This revolutionary technology slashes charging times by 99%, boosting EV adoption and aligning with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030’s sustainability goals. NIO is revolutionising electric vehicle (EV) charging in the UAE with its innovative Power Swap Station technology, which allows users to replace their vehicle’s battery in just three minutes. This approach significantly addresses two pressing barriers to EV adoption: prolonged charging times and sparse charging infrastructure. According to the company, this system delivers…
Dubai: Schneider Electric opens its inaugural Impact Building at The NEST, using EcoStruxure technology to reduce energy use by 37%, cut 572 metric tons of CO₂, and support the UAE’s net-zero target with a new Global Innovation Hub and training centre. Schneider Electric has unveiled its inaugural Impact Building in Dubai, launching a significant initiative aimed at enhancing sustainability within the commercial real estate sector. As part of its broader Impact Buildings Program, the company aims to leverage cutting-edge EcoStruxure solutions—encompassing advanced software and services—to transform its facilities into model environments for energy management and automation. Located at The…
UAE: Emsteel partners with Finnish Magsort to produce decarbonised cement using steel slag, aiming for significant CO2 reductions. The initiative complements UAE’s net-zero target and includes green hydrogen projects to decarbonise steel, positioning Emsteel at the forefront of sustainable industrial innovation. EMSTEEL has marked a pivotal advancement in its decarbonisation endeavours by forming a strategic partnership with the Finnish company Magsort to produce decarbonised cement. This collaboration builds upon a recent successful pilot project implemented at EMSTEEL’s Al Ain facility, which processed 10,000 tonnes of innovative materials aimed at carbon reduction. By incorporating steel slag into the production process,…
Abu Dhabi: Al Dahra plans to expand irrigated farmland from 150,000 to 500,000 hectares by 2030, boosting regenerative farming to 80% while halving emissions. The agribusiness is harnessing digital tech and regional strategies to meet rising global food demand sustainably. Abu Dhabi agribusiness giant Al Dahra is on an ambitious quest to become the world’s largest irrigated farming platform by 2030. Guided by group chief executive Arnoud Van den Berg, the company envisions a paradigm shift in agricultural practices that combines technological innovation with sustainability. With operations in over 20 countries and a current management of approximately 150,000 hectares…
Qatar: The Global Carbon Council unveils a robust carbon market platform in July to operationalise Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, following COP29’s landmark agreement on global carbon credit rules aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing emissions fraud. The Global Carbon Council (GCC), headquartered in Qatar, is set to launch a comprehensive and interoperable carbon market and registry infrastructure aimed at expediting the implementation of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. This initiative is expected to debut in July and seeks to streamline processes for carbon credit transactions, enhancing transparency and efficiency within the carbon market. The infrastructure will…
United Arab Emirates: The UAE has become the first Middle Eastern country to enforce federal climate legislation requiring emissions measurement and reduction across all sectors. The law supports the nation’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, aiming for 100% emissions cuts by 2050 while boosting green jobs and sustainable economic growth. In a landmark move for the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially enacted a federal legislative framework aimed at combatting climate change, positioning itself as the first country in the region to implement such binding legislation. This new law, which came into effect today, mandates all institutions…
Nairobi: The UAE has been elected to its first presidency of the UN-Habitat General Assembly, sharing the role with Malaysia. This milestone recognises UAE’s leadership in sustainable urbanisation and high-impact housing initiatives such as the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, enhancing its influence on global urban policy. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently achieved a significant diplomatic milestone by being elected to the presidency of the UN-Habitat General Assembly, alongside Malaysia. This victory not only marks the UAE’s first presidency of this important body but also secures its place on the Executive Board of UN-Habitat, a testament to its…
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Federal Youth Authority have launched the Emirates Youth Council for Agriculture, aiming to engage young Emiratis in sustainability and innovation, coinciding with the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition under Sheikh Mansour’s patronage. In a significant move to empower the next generation of agricultural innovators, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), in collaboration with the Federal Youth Authority, has launched the Emirates Youth Council for Agriculture. This initiative aims to involve young Emiratis in key areas such as sustainability, agricultural innovation, and the overarching goal of…
Abu Dhabi: Aldar Properties collaborates with EMSTEEL to use hydrogen-based steel rebar in the region’s first net-zero carbon mosque on Yas Island, cutting emissions by 95%. The project exemplifies cutting-edge sustainable building practices in support of the UAE’s 2050 climate goals. Aldar Properties has embarked on a pioneering venture, positioning itself as the first developer in the MENA region to integrate hydrogen-based steel rebar into its construction processes. This announcement is part of a collaborative project with EMSTEEL, which aims to facilitate the use of this innovative low-carbon steel for the construction of Abu Dhabi’s inaugural net-zero carbon mosque.…
Abu Dhabi: The Department of Energy and Global Climate Finance Centre have signed a key MoU to develop innovative funding tools, including green bonds, accelerating energy and water efficiency projects. This partnership bolsters the UAE’s sustainability strategy as it prepares to co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference. The strategic collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) and the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC) aims to enhance financing solutions for energy and water efficiency, a pressing focus as preparations ramp up for the 2026 UN Water Conference. This agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding during the 2025…
