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…
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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 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…
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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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Fujairah adopts digital fisheries tracking system to boost transparency and sustainability
Fujairah has announced the integration of the SFS Fisheries digital tracking system, joining Sharjah in transforming seafood oversight through real-time data, QR codes, and digital trade verification, marking a major step towards modernising UAE’s fisheries sector. Fujairah has recently joined the list of emirates implementing a digital fisheries tracking system, a move that’s being seen as a pretty important step toward more accurate data collection, tighter oversight, and greater transparency in the UAE’s seafood supply chain. This platform, called SFS Fisheries, was created by Seafood Souq and initially launched in Sharjah about five months ago, at Souq Al Jubail. As…
Research conducted at Hamad Bin Khalifa University shows that while horizontal single-axis trackers with bifacial modules outperform fixed-tilt solar panels in Qatar’s desert environment, their advantages vary throughout the year, influenced by seasonal sun angles and diffuse light conditions. Field testing in Qatar is offering new insights, suggesting that horizontal single-axis trackers combined with bifacial modules might outperform fixed-tilt solar panels in desert environments. But, interestingly enough, these advantages don’t seem to be steady throughout the year. Researchers at Hamad Bin Khalifa University carried out a 20-month trial at the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute. They found that, in…
Abu Dhabi has begun testing a 23-foot autonomous patrol boat, marking a significant step in integrating automation into its waterborne transport and security infrastructure as part of its wider push for smarter, greener transport networks. Abu Dhabi continues to push forward into the world of autonomous transportation, and this time, it’s on the water. The Integrated Transport Centre, which many refer to as Abu Dhabi Mobility, has kicked off field testing of a 23-foot-long autonomous patrol boat, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. These trials are being conducted under the auspices of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, with…
Majid Al Suwaidi’s ALTÉRRA aims to unlock trillions for climate finance with bold private sector push
Majid Al Suwaidi, CEO of the climate-focused fund ALTÉRRA, is leading a pioneering effort to mobilise $250 billion by 2030, transforming private capital into a key driver for the energy transition and climate mitigation, especially in the Global South. His Excellency Majid Al Suwaidi has really become one of the most closely watched figures in the world of climate finance lately. And honestly, it’s not because he comes from a typical investment background , quite the opposite, actually , because he didn’t follow a straight path into finance. As CEO of ALTÉRRA, the climate-focused fund based in Abu Dhabi, launched…
AD Ports and NYU Abu Dhabi pioneer AI-driven port scheduling to boost efficiency and sustainability
AD Ports Group partners with NYU Abu Dhabi to develop a high-fidelity intelligence engine aimed at transforming vessel scheduling, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing operational capacity across the UAE’s ports. AD Ports Group has recently strengthened its research partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi, and this move might just change the way port calls are planned across the UAE’s logistics network, at least, that’s what some see happening. What they’re working on is a pretty sophisticated, high-fidelity intelligence engine. The goal? To improve forecasts of vessel arrivals, help allocate berths more efficiently, and even assess environmental impacts. Interestingly enough, this system…
Six innovative water-saving agri-tech solutions reach final testing stage in UAE water challenge
Six finalist teams from around the world have advanced to the final phase of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative’s agriculture challenge, aiming to develop practical solutions for water-efficient farming in arid conditions, with testing set to take place in the UAE. The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative has advanced six teams to the final phase of its agriculture challenge, bringing together innovators from the UAE, Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, and India. This competition is aimed at reducing water usage in farming practices without sacrificing crop yields. As reported by The National, these finalists were selected from a pool of 846…
Abu Dhabi creates world’s largest underground desalinated water reserve to safeguard against climate upheaval
Abu Dhabi has completed the world’s largest underground reserve of desalinated water beneath the Liwa Desert, highlighting a strategic shift towards long-term water security amid climate challenges in the Gulf region. Abu Dhabi has announced that it has completed what it claims is the world’s biggest underground reserve of desalinated water, a project that underscores how Gulf nations are adjusting their infrastructure to cope with a hotter, drier climate. Located beneath the Liwa Desert, this facility is designed to store around 26 billion liters of treated water, providing emergency supplies for up to 90 days. That’s a significant upgrade from…
ALTÉRRA’s strategic partnership with KKR marks a significant step in mobilising private capital towards climate infrastructure, with a focus on de-risking investments in emerging markets and achieving its US$250 billion funding target by 2030. ALTÉRRA has brought KKR into the fold, adding them to an ever-growing list of partners focused on climate investment. This move involves committing capital to KKR’s Global Climate Transition Strategy, which really helps extend the reach of this UAE-backed platform across various parts of the energy transition landscape. Now, details about the financials weren’t disclosed, nothing surprising there. But, what’s important is that this agreement underscores…
Dubai’s urban vision is shifting towards neighbourhoods where daily essentials are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, aiming for smarter, greener, and more connected communities as part of its 2040 master plan. Dubai’s next phase of growth isn’t really about flashy displays or grand spectacles anymore. Instead, it seems to focus more on everyday routines and the familiar rhythm of everyday life. The city, well, it’s traditionally been about speed, ambition, and pushing boundaries, now appears to want that same energy channeled into better convenience, smarter neighborhood design, and greener, more sustainable living. The overall picture? A vision of…
As the UAE marks World Earth Day 2026, schools across Abu Dhabi and Dubai are embedding environmental sustainability into their everyday culture, with many striving for greener credentials and hands-on climate action. As the UAE celebrates World Earth Day 2026, you can really start to notice how sustainability has become more evident in the country’s schools, university campuses, and student activities. Honestly, in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, environmental education isn’t just about posters, assemblies, or occasional campaigns anymore. It’s increasingly integrated into how schools are designed, run, and taught day-to-day. That shift really does matter , especially for a…

