6:45 am - October 18, 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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Plans for a worldwide shipping carbon levy hit a delay after opposition from the US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, threatening progress on international decarbonisation efforts and complicating climate targets. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) had set out with pretty big ambitions — aiming to roll out a global carbon pricing system for shipping. But, unfortunately, those plans recently hit some serious roadblocks, mainly because the U.S. and a few other major oil-producing countries, like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, pushed back hard. Honestly, it’s quite a setback in the worldwide effort to cut greenhouse gases from ships, which, as you…
Abu Dhabi’s ambitious year-long initiative to restore seagrass beds underscores its commitment to carbon capture, marine biodiversity, and sustainable environmental practices, positioning the emirate as a global leader in ocean health innovations. As concern around climate change continues to grow worldwide, Abu Dhabi is taking a leading role by launching a major marine restoration project through its Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with TotalEnergies. This year-long effort focuses on restoring seagrass beds and is a key part of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy. The goal? To protect the emirate’s precious marine ecosystems and at the same time, demonstrate…
Dubai hosts its largest-ever Expand North Star event, uniting over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries to showcase innovation in AI, climate tech, and digital economy, as the UAE accelerates its ambition to become a global startup capital. Expand North Star 2025 has officially kicked off in Dubai, marking its milestone 10th year as the largest-ever gathering connecting startups and investors worldwide. The event, running from October 12 to 15 at Dubai Harbour, brought together over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors hailing from 180 different countries—collectively managing assets worth around US$1.1 trillion. Organized by the Dubai World Trade…
Abu Dhabi’s Nature X initiative harnesses cutting-edge AI and robotics to revolutionise ecosystem restoration and sustainable marine management, setting a global standard for climate-focused conservation efforts. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), together with the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has introduced Nature X Abu Dhabi—an ambitious project aimed at accelerating the conservation, monitoring, and restoration of ecosystems through cutting-edge technologies and AI. This was announced during the 2025 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The move marks a bold step forward in utilizing innovative solutions to tackle…
Arab leaders, including the UAE, emphasize a pragmatic, balanced shift towards renewables while maintaining reliance on fossil fuels to ensure economic stability and meet climate goals, with regional investments reaching nearly $18 billion since 2020. The global energy scene is currently facing quite a tricky challenge—balancing the age-old reliance on fossil fuels with the urgent push for renewable energy solutions. This issue was recently brought into focus by Jamal Al-Loughani, who’s the Secretary General of the Arab Energy Organization (AEO). He spoke at the event titled “Empowering the Future: Energy Transition and Economic Diversification in Arab Countries.” During his talk,…
Saudi Arabia signs a non-binding MoU with the UAE-based GO Energy to develop pilot projects for green hydrogen and ammonia production, marking a significant step in the region’s energy diversification pursuit under Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia is making a pretty significant move in its push toward renewable energy, with the recent signing of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Saudi Arabian Refineries Company (SARCO) and the UAE-based GO Energy Company. Basically, this agreement sets the groundwork for a joint technical and feasibility study—to see if large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production could work within the Kingdom. The idea…
EcoYield’s presale of its $EYE token aims to blend clean energy initiatives with AI infrastructure, offering scalable, asset-backed yields with a focus on transparency and ecological impact amid booming AI demand. EcoYield, a pioneering Web3 platform that fuses clean energy initiatives with AI infrastructure, has announced its presale for the utility and governance token, called $EYE. This move represents a significant step forward, opening up more scalable investment options that connect renewable-powered AI computing hardware to investors around the globe—combining transparency, sustainability, and real-world asset-backed yields in one package. At the heart of EcoYield’s approach is this innovative dual-yield system,…
The United Arab Emirates is ramping up efforts to decarbonise its industry by 2050, leveraging advanced technology and global collaborations to lead in sustainability and meet ambitious climate targets. The United Arab Emirates is really stepping up its game when it comes to transforming its industry, especially with a clear eye on hitting climate neutrality by 2050. This push not only highlights its leadership in global sustainability, but also shows a commitment to integrating eco-friendly practices. During the third edition of the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit held in Abu Dhabi, prominent figures from various industries discussed how crucial…
The United Arab Emirates reinforces its leadership in environmental stewardship by integrating advanced technology, cross-sector collaboration, and circular economy principles ahead of the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, setting a new standard for sustainable development. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to solidify its standing as a global leader in environmental stewardship, especially through its active participation in the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) emphasized the nation’s unwavering commitment to fostering a nature-positive future, leveraging the latest technology, encouraging collaboration across…
First Abu Dhabi Bank has issued its second blue bond this year, bringing its total to $70 million, as part of the UAE’s efforts to finance marine and water sustainability projects ahead of international conservation events. First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has really stepped up its game in sustainable finance, especially in the blue bond market, by issuing its second such bond this year. This new issuance pushes the total amount of its blue bonds to around $70 million. Remember, this follows their initial $50 million, five-year blue bond launched back in August—actually, it was the first blue bond ever…
