6:17 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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**Middle East**: Shanghai Electric has announced key partnerships with Masdar in Saudi Arabia and Mawarid Group in Oman to develop large-scale solar and wind energy projects aligned with national visions, aiming to boost renewables, reduce carbon emissions, and advance regional energy diversification. Shanghai Electric has announced significant partnerships with leading energy firms in the Middle East, marking a major step forward in the region’s transition to renewable energy. The company has signed agreements with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Oman’s Mawarid Group, focusing on large-scale solar and wind energy projects that align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and…
**Dubai**: Rishabh Mittal, a student at Dubai International Academy, receives the Global Recycling Foundation’s Recycling Hero 2025 award for his impactful e-waste and plastic recycling campaigns through Going Green Dubai, inspiring community sustainability and youth-led environmental action across the region. A Dubai-based student and environmental advocate, Rishabh Mittal, has been recognised as the ‘Recycling Hero 2025’ by the Global Recycling Foundation, making him the sole recipient of this distinguished honour from the Middle East this year. The accolade highlights his significant contribution to promoting recycling and sustainable practices within the community. Mittal is the founder of Going Green Dubai, a…
**Abu Dhabi**: Noatum Maritime, part of AD Ports Group, has invested in the GCC’s first electric hydrofoiling pilot boat and two world-record electric tug boats, boosting zero-emission port activities at Khalifa Port and advancing sustainable maritime logistics. Abu Dhabi, UAE – Noatum Maritime, part of AD Ports Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, has made significant strides in advancing sustainable maritime operations through two key investments in zero-emission vessels. These include the acquisition of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) first all-electric hydrofoiling pilot boat and two fully electric tug boats, underscoring the company’s commitment to decarbonising port activities and offering customers…
**United Arab Emirates:** The UAE cable manufacturing sector is embracing renewable energy, primarily solar, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower electricity costs, and improve sustainability. Facilities adopt on-site solar panels, PPAs, and energy efficiency upgrades to enhance operational resilience while supporting national climate goals. The cable manufacturing industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is increasingly turning to renewable energy solutions as part of a broader commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency. Cable production is an energy-intensive process, involving melting raw materials, extruding plastics, drawing wires, and running heavy machinery—all of which contribute to high electricity consumption. Integrating renewable energy…
**Dubai**: From June 2023, Dubai applies a 9% corporate tax on income above AED 375,000, with a 0% rate for qualified free zone entities. New refundable tax credits for R&D and high-value employees aim to boost innovation and talent retention, requiring expert tax advisory support for compliance. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a significant change to its corporate tax framework, affecting businesses across Dubai and the broader Emirates. From June 2023, a federal corporate income tax of 9% has been applied to taxable income exceeding AED 375,000, marking a departure from the longstanding zero-tax environment that attracted many…
**United Arab Emirates:** The UAE is launching a groundbreaking AI initiative to draft, review, and amend laws faster and more accurately, aiming to enhance governance. Experts praise its ambition but warn about AI reliability and the need for human oversight amid this bold tech-driven legislative transformation. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is embarking on an unprecedented initiative to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its legislative processes, aiming to use the technology not only to draft new laws but also to review and amend existing legislation. This ambitious project represents a significant effort to leverage AI in governance, an undertaking that…
**Dubai**: Dubai AI Week 2025 focused on the UAE’s approach to meeting rising energy demands from AI infrastructure, aiming for renewable-powered data centres by 2033, while exploring AI’s impact on digital identities and workforce transformation in the region. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is significantly impacting global energy consumption patterns, with considerable implications for the Middle East, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Experts speaking during Dubai AI Week 2025 highlighted the challenges and opportunities posed by the soaring electricity demands linked to AI infrastructure, notably data centres. Data centres, critical to AI functionality, are known for…
**UAE**: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated Silal’s Innovation Oasis, a cutting-edge agri-tech R&D centre focused on sustainable farming and food security. The launch includes the Advance AgriTech Academy and a partnership with UAE University to drive innovation and train Emirati professionals. His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, has officially opened Silal’s Innovation Oasis (iO), a new research and development centre dedicated to agricultural technology in the UAE. The initiative aims to bolster the country’s efforts in sustainable farming and enhance food security in line with the National Food Security Strategy…
**Abu Dhabi**: Hub71’s tech startups raised $2.17 billion in 2023, a 44.7% increase year on year, with revenues reaching $1.2 billion. The ecosystem attracted global founders, expanded sector-focused programmes, and closed numerous corporate deals, reinforcing Abu Dhabi as a leading innovation hub in MENA. Startups within Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 ecosystem secured a record-breaking $2.17 billion (AED8.02 billion) in funding throughout 2023, representing an impressive 44.7 per cent increase compared to the $1.5 billion (AED5.4 billion) raised the previous year. This substantial growth highlights rising investor confidence in Abu Dhabi’s technology and innovation sectors, as affirmed in the recent 2024 Impact…
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