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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TAQA Energy Services and Sdeira Group have announced a major building retrofit initiative at Aryam ICAD Residential City, aiming to cut emissions, reduce costs, and enhance residents’ quality of life in one of Abu Dhabi’s largest urban sustainability projects. TAQA Energy Services, which is a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), has announced a big partnership with Sdeira Group, part of AD Ports Group. They’re planning to kick off one of Abu Dhabi’s biggest building retrofit projects so far. The goal is to greatly improve energy and water efficiency across Aryam ICAD Residential City in Mussafah. This…
UAE’s Abu Dhabi aerospace firm reveals groundbreaking hybrid cargo UAV after historic flight
LODD Autonomous’s successful test flight of Hili, the UAE’s first heavy-cargo hybrid VTOL UAV built in Abu Dhabi, marks a significant leap in autonomous air mobility and regional logistics innovation. LODD Autonomous, really based in Abu Dhabi, recently hit a pretty big milestone by completing the very first flight of Hili, the UAE’s first-ever hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) heavy-cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This achievement, announced on November 13, 2025, is quite significant because it highlights the UAE’s ambitions of becoming a major player in autonomous aviation and state-of-the-art logistics. The flight itself was carried out at LODD’s…
Carbon Clean accelerates Middle East rollout of modular CycloneCC carbon capture technology
UK-based Carbon Clean is expanding its modular CycloneCC carbon capture system in the Middle East, targeting heavy industries with faster deployment times and lower costs, supported by major oil companies and innovative offshore applications. UK-based Carbon Clean is stepping up its efforts in the Middle East to expand the use of its modular carbon capture technology, CycloneCC, especially targeting some of the region’s tough industrial sectors. The company, which recently wrapped up a pilot project with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and is currently testing the system with Saudi Aramco, is working closely with various players in oil and…
Dewa launches pioneering certification programs to accelerate UAE’s clean energy leadership
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) unveils two new professional training initiatives in solar architecture and hydrogen safety, reinforcing its commitment to advancing sustainable energy skills aligned with Dubai’s 2050 strategies. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has really stepped up its efforts to promote clean energy and sustainability knowledge by launching two new professional certification programs at its Sustainability and Innovation Centre. This move underlines DEWA’s strategic aim to prepare the UAE’s energy sector for a greener future, aligning closely with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. The fresh programs…
ADNOC unveils UAE’s first remotely operated autonomous offshore landing craft, boosting sustainability goals
ADNOC Logistics & Services has introduced the UAE’s first 60-metre remotely operated autonomous offshore landing craft, signifying a major leap forward in sustainable maritime logistics and AI-driven safety advancements ahead of SeaOwl’s prototype deployment in 2026. ADNOC Logistics & Services (or ADNOC L&S for short) recently reached a pretty exciting milestone in the maritime world, they officially unveiled the UAE’s very first remotely operated offshore landing craft vessel. It’s a 60-meter long autonomous ship, and it was showcased at Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025. This is a clear sign of the UAE’s dedication to pushing forward sustainable and efficient offshore…
First Abu Dhabi Bank has issued one of the Gulf’s largest euro-denominated green bonds, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable finance and aligning with regional climate ambitions. Abu Dhabi’s biggest bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank P.J.S.C. (FAB), has made quite a notable move in the realm of sustainable finance. They recently priced a €850 million five-year Regulation S green bond, offering a fixed coupon of 3.1201%. The bond was set at 70 basis points over the five-year euro swap rate, which really emphasizes FAB’s growing role in backing projects that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible within the Gulf region. This…
Dubai Islamic Bank has raised USD 1 billion through its pioneering Sustainability-Linked Sukuk, marking a significant milestone in Islamic sustainable finance and reflecting the UAE’s ambitions for Net Zero by 2050. Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has made quite a notable move in the realm of Islamic sustainable finance with its debut Sustainability-Linked Sukuk – and honestly, it’s a pretty significant milestone. The bank successfully raised USD 1 billion at an annual profit rate of 4.572%. What’s especially interesting about this five-year Sukuk is how it shifts away from the traditional models of sustainable financing, which mainly focused on use-of-proceeds, toward…
UAE partners transform industrial waste into graphene, boosting sustainability and industrial independence
INTRATOMICS and MAGMA sign MoU to convert industrial waste into high-value graphene materials, advancing the UAE’s circular economy and sustainable development goals. A promising partnership between INTRATOMICS Advanced Material Technologies and MAGMA (RWM) represents an important step forward in pushing sustainability and circular economy initiatives in the UAE. Essentially, they’re working on turning industrial waste into graphene and related materials, known as GRMs. This recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed just a little while ago, sets out to develop scalable processes for recovering, processing, and upcycling various industrial byproducts like coke, fly ash, biosolids, and metallic residues into high-value materials.…
IFC invests $15 million in Catalyst MENA Climate Fund II to accelerate regional climate solutions
The International Finance Corporation commits $15 million to Catalyst Investment Management’s latest fund, aiming to boost climate-related projects across the Middle East and North Africa, including renewables and water technology innovations. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced plans to inject up to $15 million into Catalyst Investment Management’s latest fund, called the Catalyst MENA Climate Fund II. This move really underscores a pretty serious commitment to speeding up climate-related solutions in the Middle East and North Africa, or MENA , through making equity investments in a fund focused on renewables, energy efficiency, and water tech. Catalyst Investment Management, which…
Abu Dhabi’s Aryam ICAD retrofit projects set new benchmarks in sustainable urban development
TAQA Energy Services and Sdeira Group have launched one of Abu Dhabi’s largest building retrofit initiatives in Aryam ICAD Residential City, aiming to slash carbon emissions and water usage while boosting residents’ quality of life under the emirate’s 2030 and 2050 sustainability targets. TAQA Energy Services and Sdeira Group have kicked off one of Abu Dhabi’s biggest building retrofit projects in Aryam ICAD Residential City, Mussafah. The announcement was first made at the World Utilities Congress in 2023, and the details were finalized during ADIPEC 2025. This project marks a significant move in the emirate’s efforts to boost energy and…

