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…
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 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…
Register for Nexus Climate Newsletter
Stay ahead of the curve with our newsletter that includes Editor's Picks – your regular insight into the trends, challenges, and innovations driving UAE climate technology
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
UAE and Malta launch joint committee to strengthen bilateral ties across multiple sectors
**Abu Dhabi**: The UAE and Malta held the inaugural UAE-Malta Joint Committee meeting to enhance cooperation in investment, digital economy, renewable energy, healthcare, security, and more, marking a significant step towards stronger bilateral relations and sustainable economic development. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently hosted the inaugural meeting of the UAE-Malta Joint Committee in Abu Dhabi. This milestone event was co-chaired by Ahmed bin Ali AlSayegh, Minister of State for the UAE, and Dr Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta. During the meeting, Minister AlSayegh…
**Dubai**: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has obtained an intellectual property certificate for its innovative solar-powered electric abra, highlighting its commitment to sustainable transport, legal protection for the design, and supporting Dubai’s vision for advanced and eco-friendly mobility by 2030. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has secured an intellectual property (IP) certificate for its pioneering industrial design: the solar-powered electric abra. This development underlines the RTA’s ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainable progress within the transport sector. The IP certificate was officially granted to the RTA’s Marine Transport Department, part of the Public Transport Agency, by the UAE…
DP World advances sustainability with major green investments and renewable energy achievements
**Global:** DP World has sourced 65% of its electricity from renewables in 2024, investing $1.17bn in green projects including the region’s first $100m Blue Bond. The company targets significant emissions cuts by 2030, enhancing ESG governance and community initiatives worldwide. DP World has made significant progress in its sustainability efforts in 2024, sourcing 65% of its electricity from renewable sources, as detailed in its latest Sustainability Report released on Friday. This landmark achievement forms part of the company’s broader commitment to green and low-carbon infrastructure, backed by an investment of $1.17 billion in sustainable projects. The report highlights DP World’s…
**GCC region**: Utility companies across the Gulf Cooperation Council could reduce operational costs by 15-30%, saving up to $22 billion through strategic reforms and tech adoption. This is crucial amid rising electricity demand and national energy transition goals, with smart grid innovation and workforce upskilling key to success. A new report by Strategy& Middle East, part of the PwC network, reveals that utility companies across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region have the potential to reduce operational costs by between 15 and 30 per cent over the next decade, potentially generating savings worth up to $22 billion. These efficiencies could…
**Cairo**: The Kuwait-based OAPEC has launched the Hydrogen Guidance Initiative to advance green and blue hydrogen development across 11 Arab member states, focusing on collaboration, innovation, integration with renewables, investment challenges, and skills development. The Kuwait-based Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at advancing the development of green and blue hydrogen across its 11 member states. The organisation, which coordinates energy policies among oil-producing Arab nations, revealed the “Hydrogen Guidance Initiative” during its third annual symposium held in Cairo last week. This initiative reflects five years of ongoing OAPEC efforts…
**Abu Dhabi**: Archer Aviation pioneers hybrid heliport approval, partners on military VTOL development, and initiates commercial electric air taxi programs, positioning the emirate as a global centre for sustainable and advanced urban air mobility solutions. Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) is spearheading a transformative approach to aerial mobility in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone in both commercial and defence aviation sectors. The company has announced a series of strategic collaborations and innovative projects that collectively aim to reshape urban air travel and military aviation capabilities in the region. One of the hallmark developments is the approval by the United…
**GCC:** Family offices across the Gulf Cooperation Council are evolving from traditional wealth managers into venture capital-style investors, focusing on technology, AI, digital assets, and sustainable initiatives, driven by younger generations and a desire to shape innovation and impact investing. Family offices across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region are undergoing a profound transformation, evolving from traditional wealth management entities into dynamic investors with venture capital-style approaches. This shift is driven by increased digital fluency among younger family members, a growing appetite for risk, and a desire to engage with innovation and technology sectors. A recent report by LOGIC Consulting,…
**Athens**: The UAE Embassy in Greece, led by Ambassador Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, hosted an event with Greek universities and innovation centres to promote the Zayed Sustainability Prize, encouraging cooperation on sustainability and involvement from SMEs, NGOs, and schools before the June 2025 deadline. The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Greece, led by His Excellency Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, has been actively fostering cooperation between the UAE and Greece through continued diplomatic and strategic engagement. This week, the Embassy, together with the UAE Ambassador to Athens, has been supporting a high-level delegation visiting Greece to…
**GCC region**: The electric vehicle market in Gulf Cooperation Council countries is forecast to grow at a 9.7% CAGR from 2025 to 2033, propelled by government incentives, expanding charging infrastructure, technological advances, and rising consumer demand for sustainable transport. The electric vehicle (EV) market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is projected to experience significant growth over the period 2025 to 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.70%, according to a recent market analysis by IMARC Group. This forecast follows a baseline period from 2019 to 2024 and underscores the increasing consumer and governmental momentum…
**Abu Dhabi**: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Claudia Sheinbaum held a phone call to enhance cooperation in trade, technology, and renewable energy ahead of the 50th anniversary of UAE-Mexico diplomatic ties in 2025, reaffirming commitment to sustainable strategic partnerships. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State of the United Arab Emirates, engaged in a phone call yesterday with Claudia Sheinbaum, Head of the United Mexican States, discussing the avenues for enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations. The conversation focused on developing cooperation in key areas such as trade, technology, and…

