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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Al Ain Material Recovery Facility upgrade accelerates Abu Dhabi’s circular economy ambitions
Tadweer Group announces a major overhaul of the Al Ain Material Recovery Facility, aiming to boost waste recovery capacity and support Abu Dhabi’s goal of diverting 80% of waste from landfills by 2031 through cutting-edge sorting technology and infrastructure investment. Tadweer Group has recently been working towards increasing Abu Dhabi’s waste recovery capacity , and one of their big moves involves a major overhaul of the Al Ain Material Recovery Facility. This project really highlights how the emirate is trying to shift away from heavy reliance on landfills and lean more towards a circular approach. The state-owned waste management firm…
Dubai unveils innovative projects to enhance urban life with AI, heritage, and waterfront regeneration
Dubai has announced three ambitious projects focusing on AI-driven park design, a heritage falconry market, and a revitalised Dubai Creek promenade, all aligned with its 2040 urban strategy to boost sustainability, culture, and livability. Dubai has just revealed a set of three new projects aimed at enhancing public spaces, and it seems like they’re really putting a spotlight on artificial intelligence, heritage, and waterfront regeneration in this next chapter of urban development. The plans received the green light from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Dubai Municipality is framing them as part of a broader effort to…
Dubai’s utility chief Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer reveals the emirate’s strategic advances in creating a highly resilient water and electricity system, driven by digital security, renewable expansion, and long-term planning amid rapid growth. Dubai’s utility boss says that the emirate has managed to build one of the world’s most resilient systems for electricity and water. This was achieved through careful planning ahead of demand, big investments in digital security measures, and keeping strategic reserves well stocked, he explained. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, who is the managing director and chief executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), mentioned during a…
UAE advances energy diplomacy within BRICS with focus on smart grids, storage, and hydrogen
The United Arab Emirates leverages its recent engagement with BRICS to promote smart grid technology, sustainable hydrogen value chains, and digital energy systems, signalling a strategic shift towards global energy influence and innovation. The United Arab Emirates has used its most recent engagement with BRICS on energy to highlight a broader strategic approach: combining international diplomacy with practical cooperation on grids, storage, hydrogen, and digital energy systems. During a meeting of BRICS energy ministers hosted by India , which is in charge until 2026 , the UAE made it clear it remains committed to working with the bloc on issues…
EGA's new aluminium recycling plant signals UAE’s shift towards a circular economy and greener industry
Emirates Global Aluminium opens the largest aluminium recycling facility in the UAE, reinforcing the country’s commitment to decarbonisation and localised, sustainable industry growth. Emirates Global Aluminium has recently opened what’s now the biggest aluminium recycling plant in the United Arab Emirates, located at Al Taweelah. It’s a clear move that underscores the country’s push towards a lower-carbon industrial sector and a more circular approach to materials use. Interestingly enough, this project also boosts EGA’s position in a sector where recycled aluminium is becoming pretty important , especially in terms of helping industries decarbonise. The new facility is set up to…
Innovo and FieldAI test autonomous robots in Dubai construction site amidst harsh climate
Innovo Group and FieldAI partner to deploy autonomous robots on Dubai’s Ghaf Woods project, marking a significant step for AI-driven construction in challenging environments and aligning with the UAE’s broader digital ambitions. Innovo Group has started introducing general-purpose robots into real-world construction projects in the Middle East, through a partnership with FieldAI , and, honestly, this move aims to test out physical AI in one of the most demanding environments in the region. The first site on the list is Ghaf Woods in Dubai, a residential development worth AED 1.7 billion by Majid Al Futtaim. According to Innovo’s announcement, this…
UAE Sustainability Fellowship graduates third cohort, signalling a new era of sector-spanning leadership
The UAE has celebrated the graduation of its third cohort of sustainability leaders, exemplifying the country’s strategic shift towards integrated, human-centric climate and industrial policies supported by public-private collaboration. The UAE Sustainability Fellowship has recently celebrated the graduation of its third cohort, bringing together 32 professionals from both the public and private sectors. The programme is designed, at least in my view, to bolster the country’s leadership in sustainability , essentially helping to create a strong pipeline of future change-makers. The ceremony was attended by Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future. It…
Spire International’s new rooftop solar farm in Dubai highlights a rising trend among UAE industrial firms adopting leased clean energy assets to drive sustainability, reduce operational costs, and support net-zero commitments. Spire International has recently put into service a new rooftop solar farm at its storage and logistics centre in Dubai Industrial City, adding yet another example of how industrial and distribution companies in the UAE are leveraging leased clean energy assets to slash operational costs and emissions, without necessarily making large upfront investments. The system, rated at 480 kilowatt-peak, was developed in partnership with Yellow Door Energy, which brands…
Emsteel and TII partnership aims to revolutionise UAE infrastructure resilience with locally developed high-strength rebar
Emsteel Group joins forces with the Technology Innovation Institute to develop customised high-strength reinforcement tailored for critical infrastructure, bolstering resilience and fostering industrial independence in the UAE. EMSTEEL Group has recently taken a step further in its quest to strengthen its technology-driven approach to materials, with a new partnership formed alongside the Technology Innovation Institute, or TII. The goal here is pretty clear , to bolster the UAE’s critical infrastructure resilience. The deal, which was announced in Abu Dhabi, lays out a framework allowing both organisations to evaluate and validate EMSTEEL’s ES600 high-strength rebar, especially under conditions involving severe impact…
Dubai’s AI park design challenge aims to redefine urban planning with human-centric innovation
Dubai Municipality launches the world’s first AI-powered park design competition at Al Safa 2 Park, exploring how artificial intelligence can support human-led urban development within the emirate’s vision for smarter, sustainable cities. Dubai Municipality has rolled out what they describe as the world’s very first AI-powered park design challenge , and it’s turning Al Safa 2 Park into pretty much a testbed for how artificial intelligence might influence the next wave of urban spaces within the emirate. Announced under the guidance of Sheikh hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince, the competition aims to explore exactly where…

