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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Tierris unveils nano-biotech platform promising rapid desert soil revival with sustainable benefits
Tierris claims its new nano-biotechnology suite can transform severely damaged desert soils into productive farmland within 90 days, offering a potentially revolutionary tool for arid region cultivation amidst water scarcity and land degradation. Tierris, which is part of New Enterprise East Innovations, has revealed a new nano-biotechnology platform claiming it can turn severely damaged desert soils into productive farmland within just 90 days. They describe a four-component suite, called Genesis™, Thrive™, Anchor™, and Guardian™, that supposedly works together to change soil biology, chemistry, and physics, resulting in long-lasting agricultural productivity even in harsh, dry environments. According to Tierris, just one…
PowerChina secures $1.9 billion Abu Dhabi solar and storage project amid Gulf renewable surge
PowerChina has won a $1.9 billion EPC contract for a major solar and battery-storage project in Abu Dhabi, signalling a significant shift towards dispatchable renewables in the Gulf region’s energy transition. PowerChina has secured an estimated $1.9 billion EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contract for the northern part of Abu Dhabi’s famous solar and battery-storage project. This move clearly highlights the emirate’s push to incorporate large-scale, dispatchable renewable energy into its grid, an important step in its energy transition. As reported by MEED, this contract covers the northern section of a bigger scheme that, once finished, will connect 5.2 GW…
Egypt unveils a comprehensive plan to invest heavily in expanding its renewable energy capacity, upgrading transmission infrastructure, and fostering regional electricity integration, to meet soaring demand and achieve sustainable growth. Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, laid out a pretty comprehensive plan involving investments and system upgrades aimed at meeting the rising energy demands while also expanding low-carbon power generation capacity. As reported by Cairo24, the ministry plans to carve out around 160 billion Egyptian pounds to connect new renewable energy projects to the national grid, while also stepping up investments in transmission infrastructure and measures…
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy is transforming its climate strategy by integrating digital platforms, policy, and infrastructure expansion, aiming to position the emirate as a global leader in sustainability and resource efficiency by 2050. According to Al Etihad, Dr. Abdullah Hamid Al Jarman, who’s the chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy, used Earth Hour this year as a way to highlight a noticeable shift in the emirate’s approach to sustainability. “Earth Hour is an annual reminder that sustainability in Abu Dhabi isn’t just about environmental commitments anymore; it’s become an integrated system of operations driven by technology and innovation…
VinFast’s strategy of offering decade-long warranties and comprehensive aftersales services aims to build trust and normalise electric vehicle ownership across the GCC, addressing regional challenges such as climate and charging infrastructure. When a newcomer tries to establish a foothold in Gulf car markets, warranties often become the quickest way to turn skepticism into sales. VinFast’s marketing approach around the VF 8 makes this quite clear: the company offers a 10-year or 200,000 km vehicle warranty, plus a 10-year unlimited-km battery warranty, throughout GCC markets. According to several regional reports, that package isn’t just about a sales incentive; it’s part of…
Investment in renewable energy across the Middle East surged by 28% in 2025, driven by rising AI demand and government-backed projects, signalling a rapid shift towards low-carbon power amid ongoing fossil fuel reliance. In 2025, investment in renewable energy across the Middle East really picked up speed, reflecting a broader global trend toward more clean-energy financing and changing industrial needs. A recent joint report by Ansarada and Infralogic notes that capital flowing into regional renewables increased by 28% compared to the previous year, reaching around $12.9 billion, up from $10.1 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, worldwide spending on clean energy in…
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy introduces a comprehensive policy framework to promote rooftop solar and battery storage, aiming to enhance decentralised energy generation, reduce emissions, and increase system resilience by 2026. The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has introduced a new policy framework aimed at speeding up the adoption of rooftop solar and on-site battery storage by customers throughout the emirate. Essentially, this signals a more gradual but deliberate approach toward reducing electricity demand’s carbon footprint and boosting overall system efficiency. According to the DoE, the Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Self‑Supply Policy sets out both technical guidelines and regulatory…
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 highlights UAE’s shift towards system-level climate solutions and key international collaborations
The UAE demonstrates its commitment to practical climate action at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, emphasising interconnected systems and international partnerships to accelerate tangible results in clean energy and sustainability projects. On Tuesday, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. This event underlined the UAE’s commitment to making the capital a true hub for practical climate solutions and for fostering systems-level cooperation across sectors. Themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” the event pulled together top UAE officials, global ministers, industry…
Dubai has officially launched its first fully autonomous ride-hailing service outside China, marking a significant milestone in the city’s smart mobility ambitions and Baidu’s global expansion plans. Dubai has taken a pretty big step into driverless mobility with the official launch of fully autonomous ride-hailing services, operated through Baidu’s Apollo Go platform, done in partnership with Dubai Taxi Company (DTC). According to reports from UrduPoint and WAM, the state news agency, this service is now live via the Apollo Go app. Interestingly enough, it marks the first time the platform has rolled out an app in a country outside China,…
DEWA commits to AED3.1 billion dividend amid record financial results and green expansion
DEWA announces a AED3.1 billion dividend for 2025’s second half, signalling confidence from record profits and ongoing investments in clean energy and digital infrastructure to support Dubai’s sustainable growth. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority PJSC (DEWA) confirmed during its Annual General Assembly that shareholders have authorized a cash dividend of AED3.1 billion for the second half of 2025. The company states this payout will be made in April 2026, with the record date set for Monday, April 13, 2026. The decision was made at a virtual meeting led by Majid Hamad Rahma Al Shamsi, with attendance from Saeed Mohammed Al…

