1:31 pm - October 20, 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**: The UAE capital unveils a 1,200 sq km Coral Garden project featuring 40,000 eco-friendly artificial reefs from 2025, aiming to restore marine life, boost fish stocks, combat climate change, and drive eco-tourism and food security by 2030. Abu Dhabi has officially inaugurated its Coral Garden initiative, heralded as the largest project of its type in the Middle East, aimed at restoring marine life and protecting the biodiversity of UAE waters. This ambitious endeavour plans to create extensive coral gardens across 1,200 square kilometres in the capital city, utilising 40,000 artificial reef modules constructed from eco-friendly materials to facilitate…
**Middle East and North Africa:** Leading energy firms including TotalEnergies and Nippon Energy have launched major solar projects and manufacturing facilities, boosting solar capacity by gigawatts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Morocco, UAE, and Dubai, with substantial investments in solar panels, modules, and glass production. TotalEnergies and Zahid Group have announced a significant step in solar energy development in Saudi Arabia through their joint venture, Safeer. They have formalised a power purchase agreement with Golden Chicken to design and implement a solar power project with an operational capacity of 5.18 megawatts (MW). This initiative will feature the installation of 8,160 solar…
**Dubai**: Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan reviews 57 major RTA projects aimed at easing traffic and promoting sustainability, including road expansions, autonomous taxis by 2026, and pedestrian-friendly models to support Dubai’s growing population and environmental goals. Dubai’s Crown Prince, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, recently reviewed the advancement of several infrastructure projects aimed at improving traffic flow and mobility throughout the emirate. These initiatives, spearheaded by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), are designed to manage the demands of a rapidly growing population and to support sustainable urban mobility. The initiatives are part of the strategic development…
**Abu Dhabi**: A 20-year NASA satellite study reveals significant declines in nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide levels across the Middle East since mid-2010s, credited to tighter air quality regulations, adoption of renewables and improved emissions monitoring, despite continued power demand growth. Scientists in Abu Dhabi have reported a notable decrease in air pollution levels in the Middle East, attributing this improvement to stricter air quality regulations, a shift towards renewable energy, and enhanced monitoring of vehicle emissions. A recent study conducted by researchers at Khalifa University (KU) in Abu Dhabi utilised satellite data from NASA, assessing pollution levels from 2003…
**Dubai**: Olive Green Academy debuts as the UAE’s first influencer school combining AI with sustainability education. Certified courses empower creators to drive authentic environmental awareness, aligning digital influence with global climate goals and reinforcing Dubai’s leadership in innovation and climate action. A new educational initiative in the UAE, the Olive Green Academy (OGA), aims to transform the landscape of social media influencers by focusing on environmental advocacy through a unique blend of education, innovation, and sustainability. Officially launched at the SEE Institute in The Sustainable City, Dubai, OGA is notable for being the region’s inaugural influencer academy that integrates artificial…
**Dubai**: SEE Holding partners with UAE-based Micropolis to embed AI and robotics into The Sustainable City 2.0, aiming for smarter, adaptive urban living with net-zero emissions and enhanced community wellbeing, building on a decade of sustainability success in the region. SEE Holding, a pioneering entity in sustainable urban development, has announced a strategic partnership with Micropolis, a UAE-based innovator specialising in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). This collaboration is aimed at integrating sophisticated AI and robotics infrastructure into The Sustainable City 2.0 (TSC 2.0), SEE Holding’s advanced smart city initiative designed to achieve net-zero emissions while prioritising human-centric design and…
**Dubai**: Dubai Municipality reveals strategic projects including a 30 billion-dirham stormwater system and the “Home is a Priority” housing programme, aligning with Dubai Plan 2033 and Urban Master Plan 2040 to cement the city’s role as a global urban development model. In a recent meeting hosted by the Dubai Government Media Office, key officials from Dubai Municipality outlined the emirate’s progress and future plans aimed at enhancing its status as a global leader in various sectors. Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, Engineer Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, highlighted the achievements that have placed Dubai at the forefront of global competitiveness…
Abu Dhabi: The AIM Congress brought together municipal leaders and developers to explore sustainable urban greening investments, emphasising regional water-saving innovations, public-private incentives, and policies to enhance green spaces while preserving desert ecosystems across key Arab cities. Abu Dhabi was the focal point for an international investment conference aimed at exploring urban greening opportunities, as the city hosted the annual AIM Congress. This significant event brought together municipal executives and real estate developers from various countries to discuss the integration of environmental sustainability into urban planning. The AIM Congress was particularly geared towards examining how urban green spaces can be…
**Abu Dhabi**: The Integrated Transport Centre is expanding its Autonomous RoboTaxi service through collaborations with Autogo and Baidu-owned Apollo Go, aiming for a full launch by 2026 to boost smart, safe, and sustainable urban mobility across the Emirate. The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) has announced the expansion of its Autonomous RoboTaxi service as part of a strategic collaboration with Autogo, a leader in autonomous mobility solutions and a subsidiary of Kintsugi Holding. This initiative also includes a partnership with Apollo Go, which is owned by China’s Baidu, recognised globally for its advancements in autonomous vehicle technologies. This development…
**UAE:** TAQA Water Solutions unveils advanced water recycling and smart management innovations at the World Utilities Congress, targeting 100% recycled water by 2030 and expanded projects in Central Asia amid rising water security challenges. TAQA Water Solutions is set to present its latest innovations in water technology at the World Utilities Congress, taking place from 27 to 29 May. The company’s emphasis on water recycling and smart management systems reflects its commitment to addressing the escalating water security challenges faced globally. In a conversation with MEED, CEO Ahmed Al-Shamsi discussed the emerging opportunities and trends within the water sector. He…
