3:43 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…
Top stories
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…
Deep dive with
our insights
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,…
All stories
**United Arab Emirates**: Noatum Maritime, part of AD Ports Group, has purchased a 100% electric Artemis EF-12 foiling pilot boat and two electric Damen RSD-E tugs to enhance sustainable port operations. The initiative supports zero-emission goals and the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 target. Artemis Technologies, headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has announced that Noatum Maritime, a division of AD Ports Group, will acquire a state-of-the-art, 100% electric Artemis EF-12 foiling pilot boat. The vessel is set to be operated in the United Arab Emirates, reinforcing Noatum Maritime’s commitment to sustainable maritime operations in the region. The purchase of the…
**Dubai**: The Dubai Taxi Company has signed a deal to add 200 BYD electric saloons to its fleet, challenging Tesla’s dominance and supporting Dubai’s goal of a fully electric taxi fleet by 2040 as part of its carbon neutrality ambitions. In recent years, Elon Musk has become nearly synonymous with automotive innovation, particularly through Tesla’s role in bringing electric vehicles (EVs) into the spotlight. Tesla’s bold and high-performance models reshaped global expectations for sustainable mobility, establishing the company as a major icon of the energy transition. This success even compelled established automotive giants to reconsider their strategies swiftly. However, the…
**Gulf Cooperation Council states:** The GCC Railway Project aims to link six member states with a 2,177km network to boost intra-GCC trade and environmental goals, but political, financial, and coordination challenges have delayed progress since 2009. Experts propose governance reforms, phased construction and funding strategies. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Railway Project, an ambitious transnational initiative launched in 2009, aims to connect all six GCC member states—Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman—via a 2,177-kilometre rail network. The planned railway, stretching from Kuwait City to Muscat, is intended to support both passenger and freight transport,…
**Dubai**: The Dubai Taxi Company plans to introduce self-driving taxis by 2026, aiming for autonomous trips to make up 25% of journeys by 2030. Collaborations with global firms and regulatory efforts support Dubai’s leadership in smart, sustainable urban mobility. The Dubai Taxi Company has announced plans to incorporate self-driving taxis into its extensive fleet as part of a broader initiative supporting Dubai’s smart autonomous mobility strategy. The strategy aims to have autonomous trips account for 25% of all journeys within the emirate by 2030, signalling a substantial shift towards automated transportation. Mansour Rahma Al Falasi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Company,…
**Dubai**: Omniyat Holdings launches its inaugural US dollar-denominated green sukuk, marking a strategic move into sustainable finance. The three-year sukuk aims to fund eco-friendly projects and attract global Sharia-compliant investors, supported by major regional banks amid the UAE’s growing green finance market. Dubai-based luxury real estate developer Omniyat Holdings has taken a significant step into the sustainable finance market by initiating the issuance of its first US dollar-denominated green sukuk. This three-year fixed-rate senior unsecured sukuk, structured under Regulation S, is designed to attract global investors interested in Sharia-compliant green investment opportunities. The company has appointed a consortium of international…
**Abu Dhabi**: The 4th Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit (EVIS) 2025 concluded at ADNEC with over 200 exhibitors and thousands of attendees revealing cutting-edge EVs, smart infrastructure, robotics, and renewable transport technologies, underlining the UAE’s leadership in sustainable mobility across the MENA region. The 4th edition of the Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit (EVIS) 2025 concluded after three intensive days from 21 to 23 April at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone in the Middle East and North Africa’s electric mobility sector. The summit showcased a diverse range of advancements in electric transport, smart infrastructure, robotics, and sustainability,…
**North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany**: UAE Minister Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi met NRW’s Minister-President to strengthen trade and cooperation in technology, green energy, and manufacturing. Non-oil bilateral trade rose 41% since 2022, highlighting expanding economic ties and investment flows between the UAE and Germany. Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Trade, held significant discussions with Hendrik Josef Wüst, the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, focusing on deepening trade ties and cooperation in strategic sectors including technology, advanced manufacturing, and the green economy. The talks took place recently in NRW, one of Germany’s most economically…
**Washington:** Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi revealed the company’s expansion of autonomous taxi services in the UAE via a partnership with WeRide, highlighting deployments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This strategy focuses on collaboration, regulatory advantages, and gradual integration alongside human drivers to reduce costs and support innovation. At the Semafor World Economy Summit 2025 held in Washington, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi discussed the company’s latest advancements in self-driving vehicle initiatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Highlighting Uber’s strategic partnership with Chinese autonomous vehicle technology firm WeRide, Khosrowshahi underlined the significant progress made in deploying driverless car services across the…
**Abu Dhabi**: The new Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub, launched in collaboration with SPARK, EYouth, and Google.org, aims to enhance tourism skills across the region through free courses and workshops. It supports the UAE’s National Tourism Strategy 2031 by promoting sustainable and innovative tourism development until 2025. Abu Dhabi has recently launched the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub, an initiative aimed at strengthening the tourism sector across the region through targeted training and capacity-building. This project is a collaboration between SPARK and EYouth, with support from Google.org, signalling a broad commitment to developing sustainable and innovative tourism practices. The launch…
**Dubai:** A study explores eleven design scenarios for a school building, using advanced modelling to reduce energy use, cut carbon emissions, and ensure indoor comfort in Dubai’s hot climate, achieving significant cost savings and enhanced sustainability. A comprehensive study has been conducted to optimise the energy consumption and environmental impact of a school building in Dubai, focusing on architectural design, material selection, and climatic factors. This study leveraged advanced modelling tools and extensive scenario analysis to propose an energy-efficient and sustainable building design tailored for the unique conditions of Dubai. The research began by investigating eleven different design scenarios, each…
