4:21 am - October 16, 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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The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has signed a new deal with Schneider Electric to harness artificial intelligence for real-time air quality monitoring and sustainable agriculture, marking a significant step towards integrating digital solutions into national environmental policies. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has recently strengthened its tech collaborations with a new deal with Schneider Electric. This agreement puts artificial intelligence right at the heart of efforts to improve air quality, develop smarter agriculture, and advance broader climate policies. The memorandum of understanding was signed at the ministry’s Dubai headquarters, bringing together a government department…
The International Renewable Energy Agency’s 31st Council meeting in Abu Dhabi focuses on accelerating the energy transition through digital innovation, strengthened resilience, and international cooperation amidst growing global demand for renewables. The International Renewable Energy Agency kicked off its 31st Council meeting in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, gathering more than 300 government representatives in a hybrid format, part in person, part virtual, as members look toward the next phase of the global energy transition. This two-day event is set to evaluate how far IRENA’s current initiatives have progressed and to establish priorities for the coming years. Central to the discussions…
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber highlights the critical need for resilient infrastructure and innovative strategies, including new export routes and AI integration, to safeguard the world’s energy system amidst rising geopolitical tensions and limited spare capacity. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber took a prominent platform at the Atlantic Council recently to make a pretty compelling argument: the world’s energy system isn’t just being tested by conflicts and geopolitical tensions, but also by a bigger, more fundamental failure , the lack of proper investment in resilience. He emphasized that governments and companies need to see energy security as more than just counting barrels…
The UAE unveils an ambitious 2030 strategy that integrates conservation, climate resilience, and community participation, marking a transformative shift in its environmental approach. The UAE is really stepping up its environmental game, folks. They’ve rolled out a pretty ambitious new 2030 strategy from Emirates Nature-WWF, which is being described as a sort of nationwide roadmap. It doesn’t just focus on conservation for its own sake but also links it directly to climate resilience, community wellbeing, and sustainable livelihoods. Now, this organization, working hand-in-hand with the World Wide Fund for Nature, notes that this strategy signals a broader shift in how…
Once dominated by glass towers and climate-controlled exteriors that overlooked the desert environment, Gulf cities are gradually embracing traditional principles and innovative technologies to create more sustainable, climate-adapted urban landscapes. For many years now, the iconic buildings of the Gulf have seemed to promise a kind of insulation from their extreme environment. Walk into a lobby in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha, and the desert outside feels oddly distant. The air inside is cool, the glass is tightly sealed, and the oppressive heat outside is kept at bay by energy systems that turn climate control into a managed process, rather…
The UAE marks its International Day for Biological Diversity with new policies and projects that highlight local conservation success, marine habitat protection, and climate integration, reflecting a growing global and national commitment to sustainable development. This year’s International Day for Biological Diversity in the UAE is serving as a platform to emphasize a key message that’s really come to define its environmental approach, namely, that conservation efforts tend to work best when they’re local, practical, and consistent over time. The theme, “Acting Locally for Global Impact”, highlights biodiversity protection as a shared responsibility, whether it’s government bodies, local communities, researchers,…
Abanos reports significant climate benefits from using Palm Strand Board (PSB) in three major Dubai projects, demonstrating the potential of bio-based interior materials to store carbon and support UAE’s decarbonisation goals. Abanos mentions that their research demonstrates how choosing different materials for interior fit-outs can actually lead to measurable improvements in climate impact, especially at a commercial scale. After using Palm Strand Board (PSB) across three major projects in the UAE, they report storing over 1 million kilograms of biogenic carbon and capturing more than 4 million kilograms of CO2 equivalent. This Dubai-based joinery and fit-out specialist explained that these…
The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science highlights a shift towards evidence-based practices and advanced measurement techniques following insights from the Weather Modification Association annual meeting, signalling a more disciplined approach to cloud seeding efforts in water security. The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science recently used its latest webinar to share insights and lessons learned from this year’s Weather Modification Association (WMA) annual meeting. It’s pretty interesting, right? The focus was on how the field is shifting, moving away from vague claims towards requiring more solid proof of actual impact. This was the 16th session of the…
The Khalifa Fund and Hub71 have initiated the inaugural cohort of the MZN Hub71 Programme in Al Ain, supporting 17 first-time Emirati entrepreneurs across sectors including ClimateTech and AI to drive regional innovation and economic diversification. Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, together with Hub71, has just kicked off the very first group in the MZN Hub71 Programme. This initial cohort consists of 17 Emirati startup founders based in Al Ain, all part of an initiative designed to help early-stage companies go from just an idea to actually hitting the market. Basically, the programme, which is run through the MZN Hub,…
Miral unveils four ambitious projects for 2026 aimed at integrating digital tools and scientific research to safeguard endangered species and enhance sustainable food practices in Abu Dhabi, reflecting a wider shift in UAE’s environmental strategy. Miral has outlined four key conservation priorities for 2026, expanding its environmental initiatives in Abu Dhabi through projects that blend wildlife preservation, data science, and research into food systems. These programs, announced under the company’s IMPACT by Miral platform, focus on sea turtles, the Arabian Sand Cat, the Dama Gazelle, and AI-enabled aquaculture. Collectively, they reflect a broader shift happening across the UAE, where conservation…
