3:16 am - October 16, 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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Dubai-based Inmā Emirates Holdings has opened applications for a global grant programme targeting private-sector ventures with proven technologies in climate resilience, agriculture, and energy, emphasising measurable impact and scalability in real-world conditions. Inmā Emirates Holdings, a Dubai-based platform founded by Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, has recently opened up applications for a global grant programme. This initiative is targeted at ventures working in areas like climate resilience, agriculture, energy access, and environmental adaptation. The programme is being positioned as a way to support companies that have already moved beyond the initial experimentation phase and can showcase that their technologies are…
The UAE has initiated Naseej, a national programme aimed at reducing textile waste through circular economy principles, engaging policy, industry, and the public in a comprehensive sustainability effort amid rising consumption and pollution concerns. The UAE has recently kicked off a new national effort aimed at tackling a problem that’s been growing, but often tends to fly under the radar , namely, the amount of clothing and other textiles ending up as waste each year. According to the state news agency, Wam, the country produces roughly 220,000 tonnes of textile waste annually. This figure, quite significant in itself, has actually…
Abu Dhabi awards a 2.6 GW gas-fired power project to a consortium led by TAQA, with future-ready, carbon capture-compatible design and long-term plans supporting the emirate’s Net Zero 2050 goal. Abu Dhabi has awarded a major new gas-fired power project to a consortium led by TAQA , and honestly, it’s a pretty significant move for the emirate’s electricity grid. It’s not just about adding more capacity, but also keeping the door open for potential carbon capture down the line. According to EWEC, which is basically the sole buyer and supplier of water and power in the emirate, the Taweelah C…
Global South Utilities launches a 12-megawatt solar plant paired with a 70-megawatt-hour battery system in Berbera, marking a major step in Somaliland’s transition away from diesel dependence and towards a resilient, renewable-powered grid. Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities has kicked off work on a 12-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, which will be paired with a 70-megawatt-hour battery system in Berbera. This marks an important step forward in the second phase of a broader plan aimed at shifting the Somaliland port city away from its reliance on diesel generation. According to their announcement, this project is really part of a bigger…
The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi has formalised a landmark alliance with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, signalling a shift from project-based work to a strategic role in global environmental governance, backed by high-level support. The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) has strengthened its longstanding ties with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) by signing a new Framework Partnership Agreement. This move really cements the emirate’s environmental priorities within IUCN’s global agenda, in a way that’s quite significant. The announcement came out in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, and the signing took place under the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan…
Dubai’s Prototypes for Humanity programme advances three international ventures from laboratory concepts to pilot projects and market expansion, reaffirming the city’s position as a regional hub for innovation and sustainable development. Dubai is really stepping up its efforts to push university research further along the path to commercialization. The latest batch of Dubai Future Solutions, Prototypes for Humanity, has successfully moved three ventures from the lab bench into pilot projects and market expansion within the UAE. This initiative, held annually and under the auspices of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aims to bridge the gap between academic…
Despite possessing some of the highest solar and wind resources globally, Arab countries contributed just 1.3% of the world’s solar power in 2023, highlighting a vast untapped potential hindered by limited investments and uneven market development. Arab countries are sitting on some of the world’s most abundant renewable energy resources, yet they still only contribute a small slice to the global clean energy pie, according to a recent study by the Arab Energy Organisation (AEO). Based in Kuwait, the group explained that in 2023, solar power generated in the Arab world was just about 1.3% of the world’s total solar…
The University of Sharjah’s My FarmWell app, which integrates artificial intelligence, environmental data, and farm management tools, has been awarded by the UAE Society of Engineers for its innovative approach to sustainable water use in agriculture affected by water scarcity. A mobile tool created at the University of Sharjah has recently been recognized by the UAE Society of Engineers for its innovative effort to bring together artificial intelligence, environmental data, and farm-level decision support into a single user-friendly platform for agriculture affected by water scarcity. The My FarmWell app snagged the Best Small Project award during the fourth edition of…
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is undertaking a significant upgrade of the emirate’s power infrastructure in 2025, with substantial investments in high-voltage substations and underground transmission, supporting the city’s rapid urban and economic growth. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has really ramped up efforts to upgrade the emirate’s power grid, with new high-voltage substations being commissioned in 2025, all while continuing a substantial infrastructure program quite valued at over AED 8.5 billion. As per a statement on DEWA’s official website, the utility brought into service eight 132kV substations and two 400kV substations throughout the year. This expansion aims…
Dubai-based Emirates Glass launches the EmiCool series, a high-performance range of solar control and low-emissivity glass designed to reduce cooling loads and enhance daylighting in Gulf region buildings amid rising energy efficiency demands. In the Gulf region, tackling the challenge of keeping buildings cool really starts with the façade. Glass tends to be the biggest opening in towers, malls, or office buildings, which makes it a major pathway for solar heat to enter. And, you know, in places where air conditioning isn’t just a luxury but practically a necessity, the choice of glazing becomes pretty critical, since it can influence…
