12:41 pm - 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 Sharjah Waste to Energy Plant has processed over 1 million tonnes of waste since launching in 2022, strengthening the UAE’s commitment to reducing landfill reliance and advancing its circular economy. Plans for Phase Two aim to nearly double power output and waste processing capacity, marking a significant step in regional sustainable development. The Sharjah Waste to Energy Plant has recently crossed a major operational milestone, handling 1 million tonnes of waste since its launch, and this achievement really underscores Sharjah’s push to cut back on landfill reliance. The plant, which kicked off operations in 2022, is now eyeing a…
A regulatory push to reduce single-use plastics in Abu Dhabi has evolved into a cultural shift, transforming shopping habits and waste management through innovative policies and infrastructure. What started as a regulatory push in Abu Dhabi is gradually shaping up to be more than just a fleeting policy, it’s beginning to influence how people live, shop, and even manage waste in their daily routines. The initiative to cut down on single-use plastics, rolled out by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi back in 2020, is now clearly visible in homes, supermarkets, and even at collection stations across the emirate. The…
The UAE emirate commits nearly US$44 billion over five years to expand its renewable energy infrastructure, aiming to surpass 45% clean energy share and position itself as a regional leader in sustainable energy innovation. Abu Dhabi has announced a major new effort aimed at strengthening its shift to clean energy, with authorities stating that the emirate plans to invest nearly US$43.6 billion over the next five years into developing its energy systems. This comes at a time when clean and renewable sources now make up more than 45% of Abu Dhabi’s energy mix, a significant milestone, signaling that the emirate…
The Emirates Development Bank has invested AED 272 million into Umm Al Quwain-based companies, expanding its industrial and sustainability agenda beyond the UAE’s main hubs, supporting key sectors like healthcare, renewable energy, and advanced technology. Over the past three years, the Emirates Development Bank has funneled AED 272 million into around 30 different companies based in Umm Al Quwain. This effort , well, at least, it highlights how the state lender is pushing its industrial and sustainability agenda beyond the UAE’s bigger economic hubs. The funding was arranged through a partnership with the Umm Al Quwain Chamber of Commerce and…
The International Renewable Energy Agency calls for easing trade barriers and ramping up investments in decentralised renewables to bolster energy resilience amid rising fossil fuel prices and geopolitical tensions. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has called on governments worldwide to cut back or ease tariffs and other trade barriers on imported renewable energy equipment. They argue that the recent surge in fossil fuel prices is yet another familiar signal of how vulnerable economies remain to outside shocks. In a fresh policy advisory, IRENA suggests that the current energy crisis should be seen as an opportunity, one to reinforce energy…
Professor Steve Griffiths of the American University of Sharjah has been named the UAE’s National Champion at the 2026 Frontiers Planet Prize for his groundbreaking work on chemical advancements in carbon capture technology, marking a significant milestone for the country’s role in climate solutions. Professor Steve Griffiths from the American University of Sharjah has been named the UAE’s National Champion in the 2026 Frontiers Planet Prize. This achievement marks the first time the country has been recognized in this global competition. The winners were announced by Frontiers on April 22, which was Earth Day, and they mentioned that a panel…
Despite regional turmoil, the UAE and UK reinforced their commitment to targeted industrial collaborations, focusing on AI, clean energy, and skills development, as investor confidence remains robust and trade continues to grow. Investor confidence in the UAE’s economy seems to have stayed pretty strong, even after several months of regional turmoil. During a parliamentary reception in London, top Emirati and British officials argued that the next phase of their relationship should focus on areas like artificial intelligence, clean energy, life sciences, and developing skills. The event, hosted by the UAE-UK Business Council at the House of Lords, brought together over…
Celebrating two decades of growth, Abu Dhabi’s Masdar now manages over 65 gigawatts of renewable projects worldwide, aiming for 100 GW by 2030 with innovative integration of storage and strategic expansions. Masdar is celebrating twenty years in the renewable energy scene, and its portfolio now exceeds 65 gigawatts, a pretty impressive milestone. It really highlights how quickly the Abu Dhabi-based developer has grown from a small local clean-tech startup into a significant player on the world stage. The company was founded back in 2006 by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, through Mubadala Investment Company. At that time, large-scale renewable…
The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia has become the first in the Middle East to receive an IUCN Technological Innovation Certificate, highlighting a regional shift towards AI-driven biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem management. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve has recently been recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with a Technological Innovation Certificate. This is a pretty significant milestone, actually , it’s the first time any nature reserve in the Middle East and West Asia has received such an award, according to the Saudi Press Agency. What’s really interesting here is how…
Dubai has unveiled a purpose-built, rapid intervention vehicle equipped with advanced pumping, rescue, and monitoring tools to streamline flood management and protect its critical infrastructure amid increasing extreme weather events. Dubai has taken a step forward in its flood response capabilities with the introduction of a purpose-built, rapid intervention vehicle designed to keep roads accessible during heavy rains that overwhelm drainage systems. This new vehicle, developed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), was among several mobility initiatives reviewed during an inspection earlier this week by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. According to the Dubai Media Office,…
