7:37 am - October 17, 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…
Top stories
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…
Deep dive with
our insights
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,…
All stories
Dubai has inaugurated its first dedicated hub for fully driverless taxi services, signalling a significant step in its plan to become a global leader in autonomous mobility with plans to operate a fleet of 1,000 vehicles by 2026. Dubai has recently opened the Baidu Apollo Go Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park. This facility, spanning 2,000 square meters, is described by the company as its first outside China and marks the emirate’s very first dedicated hub for fully driverless taxi services. As reported by The Filipino Times, the inauguration took place last Thursday and was attended…
Abu Dhabi’s Dhafrah PV2 Energy has issued a USD 870.75 million green bond, attracting strong international investor interest to finance one of the world’s largest solar projects, marking a significant milestone in Gulf’s sustainable energy funding. Abu Dhabi’s Dhafrah PV2 Energy Company has successfully issued a green bond worth approximately USD 870.75 million, attracting quite strong investor interest for one of the region’s biggest project financings in the clean energy space. The long-term, amortising Regulation S Eurobond has a legal maturity of 27.5 years, with an average weighted life of about 17 years. It was priced very tightly at just…
As regulatory pressures tighten and consumer preferences evolve, companies across Dubai and the Emirates are now integrating sustainability into core business strategies, viewing green initiatives as vital for competitiveness and cost savings rather than mere image enhancement. Sustainability in the UAE has shifted quite a bit, it’s no longer just about corporate image. What used to be mainly about managing reputation has now become a serious concern at the executive level. Companies in Dubai and across the Emirates are starting to see green initiatives as practical tools for cutting costs, managing risks, and staying competitive. Honestly, this change makes sense.…
The UAE’s LED lighting industry is transforming from cost-effective retrofits to a key component of the country’s sustainable urban development, driven by government initiatives, declining costs, and AI-enabled smart systems, with market value expected to more than double by 2033. The UAE’s LED lighting market is shifting from being mostly a cost-saving retrofit option to becoming a vital part of the country’s low-carbon urban transformation. According to IMARC Group, the market hit AED 4,548 million in 2024 and is expected to expand to AED 11,401 million by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of about 10.8% from 2025 through…
Egypt’s government collaborates with ACWA Power to fast-track large-scale wind and solar projects, emphasising storage and grid resilience to meet ambitious clean energy targets amid increasing private sector involvement. Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s minister of electricity and renewable energy, has recently taken steps to speed up collaboration with Saudi developer ACWA Power on a series of large-scale renewable projects. The goal is to boost the country’s capacity for clean energy, and also to make the grid more resilient. The meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, focused on fast-tracking wind and solar installations, improving battery storage…
The UAE is ramping up its industrial decarbonisation strategies with new initiatives and infrastructure to meet ambitious climate targets, leveraging technology and international collaboration to advance its sustainable growth at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026. Osama Amir Fadl, the UAE’s assistant undersecretary for the industrial accelerators sector at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, highlighted the importance of industry in fulfilling the country’s climate commitments during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026. Speaking on the event’s sidelines, he described manufacturing not just as a driver of the economy but as a critical tool for reducing emissions, enhancing productivity, and expanding…
ADNOC Distribution unveils the world’s sixth-largest superfast electric vehicle charging hub in Abu Dhabi, featuring 60 rapid chargers, solar power integration, and customer amenities, marking a major step in the UAE’s drive towards sustainable mobility by 2027. According to The Technology Express, ADNOC Distribution has recently opened what it’s calling the world’s sixth-largest superfast electric vehicle charging hub, located at Saih Shuaib along the E11 highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The facility features 60 high-speed charging points, each capable of bringing most electric cars from zero to about 80 percent in roughly 20 minutes, which is pretty impressive. ADNOC…
The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE now accounts for over half of household electricity bills, underpinning the nation’s transition to low-carbon energy and supporting climate neutrality goals. The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) mentioned during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 that, over the past month, about 57 percent of household electricity bills in the UAE came from power generated at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. ENEC pointed out that this statistic highlights how increasingly important Barakah is becoming in helping the country secure reliable, low-carbon electricity around the clock, especially as demand keeps climbing, things like electrification, artificial…
A pioneering pilot project in Fujairah showcases how integrating solar PV with crop farming can combat climate challenges in the UAE’s harsh desert environment, offering new solutions for land use, water efficiency, and food production. Recently, the Fujairah Research Centre ran a pretty interesting pilot project on agrivoltaics, and it actually provides a useful example of how the UAE might tackle two big challenges at once, expanding renewable energy sources and ensuring sustainable food production, especially in that harsh desert environment we all know too well. According to pv-magazine, this trial, led by Dr. Fouad Lamghari Ridouane, working together with…
As Dubai transitions from pilot projects to large-scale commercial agriculture, industry experts highlight new infrastructure, policy support, and technological innovations that are transforming the region into a regional food hub amidst sustainable and climate-smart initiatives. As Dubai’s agricultural scene shifts from initial pilot programs to full-blown commercial operations, the year 2026 is shaping up as an important milestone, offering a much clearer outlook for investors and operators alike. According to a feature by Focus Dubai, the UAE’s agriculture market is now valued at approximately $3.45 billion, and predictions suggest it could hit about $4.55 billion by 2032, fueled by a…
