Dubai’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 launches new guide to speed green building retrofits across the emirate
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…
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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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United Arab Emirates: The UAE is advancing its renewable ambitions with a $6bn solar project set to generate 5GW and integrate battery storage, supported by strategic feasibility studies to ensure technical, financial, and regulatory success in its transition to clean energy by 2050. As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) forges ahead in its quest for a diversified and sustainable economy, the spotlight is increasingly turning towards renewable energy solutions, particularly solar and wind power. Spearheaded by strategic frameworks like the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and flagship projects such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the nation has…
Abu Dhabi enforces new regulation to boost environmental emergency readiness and enforcement
Abu Dhabi: The Environment Authority Abu Dhabi has introduced a comprehensive regulation to enhance preparedness and response to environmental emergencies. It mandates risk-based facility classification, emergency plans, and trained personnel, alongside stronger compliance and pollution control measures to safeguard the emirate’s natural environment. The Environment Authority – Abu Dhabi has taken a significant step forward in environmental governance by issuing a regulation aimed at enhancing preparedness and response to environmental emergencies throughout the Emirate. This new regulation, developed in accordance with Law No. 16 of 2005 concerning the reorganisation of the authority, empowers the agency to act swiftly in times…
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Mobility unveils plans to add 1,000 Charge AD stations across Abu Dhabi Island, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra, amid a 60% rise in EV registrations in Q1 2025, supporting the emirate’s goal of 50% electric vehicles by 2040 and accelerating the shift to sustainable transport. Abu Dhabi Mobility has unveiled plans for a significant expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, announcing the installation of 1,000 new charging points at 400 strategic locations throughout Abu Dhabi Island, the Al Ain region, and the Al Dhafra region. Each station will operate under the brand Charge AD, offering…
GCC activated carbon market set to almost double by 2032 with Saudi and UAE leading growth
GCC: The activated carbon market in the Gulf Cooperation Council is forecast to surge from US$195.7 million in 2025 to US$374.1 million by 2032, driven by oil and gas, water treatment, and air purification applications amid rising environmental regulations and sustainability initiatives in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The activated carbon market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is poised for extraordinary growth, with projections indicating a value surge from approximately US$195.7 million in 2025 to an impressive US$374.1 million by 2032. This rapid ascent, anticipated at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%, builds on a previously recorded…
United Arab Emirates: Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlights progress on the national railway project, emphasising environmental benefits, regional GCC integration, and economic efficiencies, while supporting Emirati talent and sustainable transport development. The recent meeting with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan underscored a pivotal moment in the advancement of the UAE’s national infrastructure. Sheikh Hamdan’s commitment to overseeing key national projects illustrates a sustained focus on aligning development initiatives with the UAE’s long-term strategic objectives. The discussions centred around the progress of the national railway network, a project designed to interconnect the Emirates through a modern and efficient…
EWEC partners with Al-Futtaim IKEA to power Abu Dhabi stores entirely with renewable energy
Abu Dhabi: EWEC has teamed up with Al-Futtaim IKEA to supply 100% renewable electricity to its four Abu Dhabi stores through Clean Energy Certificates, advancing the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals and exemplifying corporate leadership in the country’s expanding clean energy transition. The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has taken a significant step towards sustainability by announcing a partnership with Al-Futtaim IKEA, aimed at transitioning the Swedish furniture retailer’s operations in Abu Dhabi to 100% renewable electricity. This collaboration is part of the broader effort to combat climate change and promote sustainable business practices in the UAE, particularly ahead…
Fakhruddin Properties launches Dubai’s first in-building waste management system to divert 90% of waste from landfills
Dubai: Fakhruddin Properties unveils the 90:90 Waste Management Initiative at Trafalgar Central, aiming to divert 90% of building waste from landfills. The system integrates in-building composting and sorting, aligning with Dubai’s Net Zero 2050 goals and supporting the closure of landfills by 2027. Fakhruddin Properties has taken a significant step in the UAE’s environmental strategy with the launch of Dubai’s first in-building waste management system at Trafalgar Central in Dubai International City. Dubbed the “90:90 Waste Management Initiative,” this innovative effort aims to divert up to 90% of building waste from landfills, marking a noteworthy advancement in the emirate’s sustainability…
UAE: The Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure and Dar Alwd Construction have strengthened their collaboration with a visit to a Qatar PRC manufacturing facility, advancing the adoption of durable, eco-friendly materials to support the UAE’s climate-neutral infrastructure goals by 2050. In a significant step towards enhancing sustainable infrastructure in the UAE, the Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (MOEI) and Dar Alwd Construction (DAW) have reinforced their partnership during a visit to a Polymer Resin Concrete (PRC) manufacturing facility in Qatar. This strategic engagement aims to leverage innovative technologies to address the pressing needs of the nation’s infrastructure development. During their…
Sheikh Hamdan unveils visionary plan to elevate Dubai’s healthcare, education, and sustainability by 2033
Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has outlined a comprehensive strategy focused on healthcare expansion, value-based medicine, educational empowerment for Emirati students, family welfare, and smart building policies to position Dubai among the world’s leading cities by 2033. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has articulated a vision for the emirate rooted in continuous innovation, community empowerment, and the proactive creation of future opportunities. Emphasising the fundamental commitment to investing in people, he stated, “The happiness of individuals, families, and society is our ultimate goal and priority from…
Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Baidu’s Apollo Go partners with local firms to deploy the largest fleets of Level 4 driverless vehicles, starting trials in 2025 and aiming for full operations by 2026. The initiative supports UAE smart city ambitions and sustainable urban mobility in the Gulf. Baidu’s Apollo Go is making significant strides in its international expansion by partnering with the UAE-based company Autogo to launch what is poised to be the largest fleet of driverless vehicles in Abu Dhabi. This groundbreaking initiative is set to begin with trials involving dozens of autonomous vehicles across selected areas, with the goal…

