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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Germany and UAE accelerate green hydrogen partnership to reshape energy security and decarbonisation
Germany and the United Arab Emirates are deepening their cooperation in green hydrogen and renewable energy, aiming to build a resilient, low-carbon energy supply chain that could accelerate global decarbonisation efforts and reshape industry dynamics. The United Arab Emirates and Germany have stepped up their cooperation in energy and climate technology, strengthening ties that cover green hydrogen, renewables deployment, and ensuring energy security. This partnership, which effectively links the UAE’s wealth of renewable resources with Germany’s industrial expertise and market needs, is often seen as a kind of model for how countries could team up to fast-track decarbonization efforts. At…
Silal’s Ras Al Khaimah project signals new era of local farming resilience and innovation
Silal’s partnership with the National Agricultural Centre in Ras Al Khaimah aims to enhance local farming, boost food resilience, and integrate advanced technology, marking a significant shift in the UAE’s agricultural landscape. Silal is expanding its footprint in Ras Al Khaimah through a partnership with the National Agricultural Centre, with the goal of boosting local farming capacity and strengthening the country’s food resilience. The programme, which officially kicks off in the Al Hamraniyah area on March 9, 2026, aims to create an integrated support system for Emirati farmers that includes technical advice, better agronomic inputs, post-harvest management, and easier access…
Masdar's round-the-clock solar project aims to revolutionise renewable energy reliability
Masdar’s ambitious RTC project in Abu Dhabi combines a 5.2 GW solar array with 19 GWh of battery storage, aiming to deliver 24/7 clean energy and set a global precedent for dispatchable solar power. Just outside Abu Dhabi, a vast desert landscape is in the midst of transforming into one of the most ambitious experiments aimed at making solar power available around the clock. The so-called Round‑The‑Clock (RTC) project, developed by the Emirati renewable energy company Masdar, combines a 5.2 GW solar photovoltaic array with 19 GWh of battery storage supplied by Chinese firm CATL. Masdar claims that this setup…
Abu Dhabi launches pioneering self-supply solar policy to enhance renewable integration and consumer involvement
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy introduces a ground-breaking framework enabling consumers to generate and manage their own solar power, aiming to boost renewable capacity and optimise demand during peak hours. The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has rolled out a formal framework for on-site solar power generation. They’ve introduced a Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Self-Supply Policy that offers a regulated pathway for consumers to produce and use their own electricity. As per the DoE, this initiative aims to encourage a shift towards more local, low-carbon energy use during daytime hours and to promote smarter, more flexible demand management across…
Ahmedabad-based Sahaj Solar Ltd plans to establish a 750 MW solar panel manufacturing facility in the UAE, marking a strategic move to access larger markets and reduce costs amid changing global dynamics. Ahmedabad-based Sahaj Solar Ltd has recently taken steps to establish a manufacturing presence overseas. Specifically, they’ve approved the setting up of a subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates to pursue a proposed 750 MW solar panel production facility, in partnership with a strategic collaborator. This decision marks a shift from their earlier plan of constructing the first phase within India and hints at a broader effort to tap…
As the UAE enforces phased bans on single-use plastics, local firms like Avani Eco Middle East are leading a shift towards sustainable packaging, driven by regulatory changes, financial backing, and a growing focus on environmental impact. As the UAE tightens its grip on single-use plastics, there’s also a quieter but steadily growing shift happening in the business world, companies are rethinking how they package and deliver goods. You can see this change in the rapid rise of suppliers offering sustainable packaging options, with Avani Eco Middle East standing out as one of the key players benefiting from this trend. According…
Abu Dhabi enhances mangrove restoration with AI-powered biodiversity monitoring and private sector support
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi secures a two-year sponsorship from TAQA to boost mangrove restoration through cutting-edge technology and increased private-sector collaboration, signifying a new era in ecological monitoring and marine biodiversity protection. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) recently secured a two-year sponsorship from TAQA, which is the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, to support key components of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative (ADMI). This move actually signals a step up in private-sector involvement in the emirate’s efforts to restore its coastal ecosystems. Through this partnership, TAQA now acts as the Official Partner for ADMI and is…
Fischer Farms launches live modular farm unit in Abu Dhabi to demonstrate regional viability
Fischer Farms’s new live modular growth unit in Abu Dhabi aims to showcase sustainable, integrated vertical farming solutions tailored for the Gulf region’s unique climate, offering real-world insights for local growers and investors. Fischer Farms recently took a notable step outside the UK, launching a live modular growth unit that’s now producing leafy greens and herbs right in Abu Dhabi. This isn’t just a one-off trial; it’s meant as a real demonstration for regional growers, partners, and potential clients, something they can actually observe working, not just a static test. Founder Tristan Fischer explains, “This isn’t some pilot meant to…
Adnoc’s latest US partnerships signal a strategic shift towards energy security and low-carbon innovation
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is expanding its collaborations with major US energy firms to boost hydrocarbon output and accelerate the adoption of low-emission technologies, aiming for a diversified and resilient energy future. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has recently been busy signing a flurry of agreements with several major US energy companies. The goal? Well, it’s a twofold approach: to boost hydrocarbon capacity on one hand, and to develop technologies that cut down carbon emissions on the other. These deals, announced during the UAE–US business dialogue in May 2025, seem to illustrate how ADNOC is trying to…
Despite technological progress, the adoption of post-combustion carbon capture and storage in power plants faces significant commercial and logistical challenges, risking delaying climate goals. Post‑combustion carbon capture and storage (CCS) has definitely moved beyond the early lab and pilot stages. Still, despite the clear technical advancements, the broader adoption of this technology in the power sector is being driven less by chemistry and more by practical factors like project execution, funding, and how the public perceives it. As per the October 2025 update from the Global CCS Institute, there are currently 77 commercial CCS plants in operation, while about 734…

