2:36 pm - October 15, 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 United Arab Emirates has topped the Arab region in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index, showcasing impressive infrastructure and environmental policies, yet facing continued challenges in achieving rapid emissions reductions and deeper climate action. The United Arab Emirates has, quite notably, emerged as the top performer in the Arab world in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index. This achievement reflects years of concerted, state-backed effort, investing in climate policies, building infrastructure, and environmental monitoring. The ranking puts the UAE firmly at the top in the region, but of course, the bigger picture is a bit more complex. While the country is…
Dubai is integrating electric vehicle chargers into community venues such as majlis spaces, wedding halls, and mosques, signalling a strategic move to normalise EV use and support its 2050 net-zero target. Dubai is expanding its network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by bringing infrastructure into places where residents already spend their time , from community centres to wedding halls. The Community Development Authority (CDA) has entered into a strategic agreement with UAEV, which is the country’s first fully government-owned EV charging network. This move aims to install charging points at a new range of public-facing locations across the emirate.…
Scientists in the UAE are exploring the possibility of using large-scale solar photovoltaic installations not only to produce energy but also to influence local atmospheric conditions and trigger rainfall, offering a novel approach to water scarcity in desert regions. Water is increasingly taking centre stage in the climate and technology debates, and the UAE is testing out an idea , honestly, it sounds more like science fiction than straight-up infrastructure , that involves using massive solar parks to help generate rain. The bigger picture here is rather stark, actually. According to the World Resources Institute, domestic water demand has skyrocketed…
Hub71’s 2025 Impact Report reveals a surge in funding, revenue, and international partnerships, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s shift from early-stage innovation to a mature, revenue-generating tech hub. Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 has recently reported a notable surge in startup activity. Its 2025 Impact Report reveals that companies within the ecosystem raised over AED9.9 billion ($2.7 billion) in the past year and generated AED5.4 billion ($1.47 billion) in revenue. These figures clearly indicate that the platform is moving beyond just forming early-stage startups and is now entering a more mature, commercial phase. According to the report, Hub71 startups also clinched AED137 million in…
The UAE launches the Companies for Good 2031 Strategy, signalling a shift towards a measurable, integrated approach to corporate social responsibility that aligns business success with national sustainability goals. The UAE has, once more, focused on social value at the very heart of its development model, this time by transforming corporate giving into a more organised national agenda. What started as a broad, cultural commitment to generosity is now being reshaped as something more measurable when it comes to economic progress, with expectations that the private sector will have a far bigger role in community impact. As reported by Gulf…
As geological exploration deepens and policy frameworks adapt, the Middle East’s unique geology and regulatory environment position it at the forefront of natural hydrogen development, promising a strategic shift in future energy landscapes. Natural hydrogen is shifting from being just a niche curiosity in geology to becoming a serious point of discussion for energy lawyers, investors, and policymakers across the Middle East. In the latest episode of Greenberg Traurig’s E2 Energy Law Podcast, titled Energy Horizons, host Nikki Wise and Bill Garner, who’s the co-chair of the firm’s global energy practice, describe the sector as one of the most closely…
Abu Dhabi introduces a comprehensive regulatory framework for testing small autonomous and remotely operated boats, signalling a broader push into aquatic smart mobility and innovation safety. Abu Dhabi has started tightening up its rules for testing small autonomous and remotely operated boats, signalling that the emirate is broadening its smart mobility plans beyond just road vehicles and the air, now into its waters as well. Under the watchful eye of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, the Department of Municipalities and Transport has rolled out a fresh regulatory framework for trialling these kinds of vessels around Abu Dhabi. This move,…
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy launches a new manual and verification tool aimed at preventing oversized air conditioning systems, potentially saving AED560 million annually and supporting the emirate’s sustainability goals. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy has introduced a new manual aimed at cooling loads, one that’s designed to address one of the emirate’s most persistent issues, wasted electricity caused by oversized air conditioning systems. The guide, called the Abu Dhabi Cooling Load Manual, is meant to help engineers and developers get a better grip on calculating cooling needs in new buildings more accurately. Officials emphasize that this ties in…
The Sustainability Forum Middle East announces its advisory committee for the 2027 event, bringing together senior figures from government, energy, finance, and sustainability sectors to shape regional climate action and sustainable development strategies in Bahrain. The Sustainability Forum Middle East has announced its advisory committee for its fifth edition, which is scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 January 2027 in Bahrain. The event continues to expand on a broader regional platform focused on climate action, energy transition, and sustainable development. The committee features senior figures from a variety of sectors, including government, energy, finance, consulting, industry, and sustainability.…
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, now open for submissions until September 2026, aims to accelerate water innovation worldwide through renewable energy and smart tech solutions, supported by increased emphasis on practical impact and digital tools. The UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia UAE, has kicked off the fifth round of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. Interest in the competition keeps climbing across research circles, industry players, and humanitarian organisations alike. As a result, the deadline for submissions has now been extended to 30 September 2026, following what Suqia described as overwhelming demand from…
