6:13 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…
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
Savvy Charging has secured an exclusive dealership deal for Xiaofu’s off-grid electric vehicle charging systems across the MENA region, promising faster deployment and enhanced regional support to accelerate EV adoption amid infrastructure challenges. Savvy Charging Technology is stepping up its efforts in the off-grid electric-vehicle infrastructure scene with a new exclusive dealership deal for Xiaofu’s charging systems across the Middle East and North Africa, according to a company announcement reported by Zawya. This deal effectively makes Savvy the sole regional stockist for the Chinese firm’s off-grid EV charging products, a move the companies say is meant to cut down on…
GCC states are intensifying their land conservation initiatives, aligning regional efforts with international environmental goals to combat desertification and bolster climate adaptation in an increasingly arid region. GCC states are really stepping up their efforts to safeguard fragile land systems and mend damaged ecosystems, with the GCC Statistical Centre framing all this activity as part of a bigger picture, one that aligns with international environmental agreements and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, no less. The Centre issued these remarks to mark World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought , and honestly, it’s a pretty clear call to ramp up investment…
Abu Dhabi is set to launch the Middle East’s first autonomous public bus trial, signalling a significant step in its push for smart, sustainable transport solutions aligned with its Vision 2040 strategy. Abu Dhabi is gearing up to trial the Middle East and North Africa’s very first autonomous public bus, marking a pretty exciting new chapter in the emirate’s efforts to push forward with smart transport tech. It’s quite a significant move , the whole scene seems to be evolving fast. This pilot programme, which is being developed by Abu Dhabi Mobility , formerly known as the Integrated Transport Centre…
The 12th edition of the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai emphasises moving from pilot projects to scalable, market-ready models, highlighting practical impacts in the global green transition. Dubai is gearing up to host the 12th edition of the World Green Economy Summit (WGES), scheduled for the 21st and 22nd of October at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Organisers frame this year’s event as a step forward , moving beyond simply proving what works to demonstrating how those solutions can be scaled up effectively. Supported by the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime…
At Expo City Dubai, a newly planted pocket forest using native species and smart monitoring exemplifies innovative ecological restoration tailored for arid environments, offering a scalable blueprint for sustainable urban landscapes. At Expo City Dubai, there’s a small stand of trees that’s doing more than just softening the skyline. Terra’s new pocket forest is being presented as a practical example of how desert cities can blend biodiversity, cooling, and educational elements into one public space. The project draws inspiration from the Miyawaki method, a planting approach that uses densely packed native species to promote rapid growth and create a multi-layered…
Regional regulations for commercial fleets across the Gulf Cooperation Council are becoming increasingly complex and digitally enforced, demanding sophisticated route planning and compliance strategies for operators. Commercial fleets crossing through the Gulf Cooperation Council are now facing a tighter grip of regulations, and the rules are gradually becoming more difficult to treat as interchangeable from one border to another. NextBillion.ai’s guide on heavy vehicle compliance in the GCC points out that, although the region’s transport links are increasingly interconnected, the regulations governing trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles still remain quite distinct at the national level. This really matters to…
A UAE-based research team has developed a patented process turning desalination brine, carbon dioxide, and sulphur waste into durable, low-carbon building materials, advancing the Gulf’s circular economy ambitions. A UAE-based research team has developed a patented process which transforms desalination brine, carbon dioxide, and sulphur waste from the oil and gas industry into low-carbon construction materials , adding another piece to the Gulf’s growing ambitions for a circular economy. The project, led collaboratively by researchers from Zayed University and the United Arab Emirates University, focuses on a technique that captures carbon and stabilises it within mineral compounds. The team explains…
The Gulf region is making significant progress in transforming flying taxis from concept to reality, with major projects underway across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, signalling a shift towards urban air mobility that prioritises luxury, sustainability, and innovation. The Gulf’s move into the world of flying taxis is shifting from mere ambition to actual infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman are all pushing ahead with plans that could really change the way high-end travel is perceived across the region. What started as glossy concept visuals is now turning into a proper staged rollout of…
Indian clean energy company Sahaj Solar has announced the establishment of a new manufacturing entity in Abu Dhabi, signalling its regional expansion and strengthening the Gulf’s solar supply chain. Sahaj Solar Limited has taken another step into the Gulf’s renewable energy scene with the launch of a new joint venture in Abu Dhabi. The plan? To manufacture and assemble solar panels right here in the UAE. According to their official disclosure, the new entity is called Sahaj Energy Solar Panels Manufacturing L.L.C. It’s been set up through Sahaj Renewable Energy Trading – FZCO, which is fully owned by the group.…
During a climate summit in Dubai, L’Oréal reaffirmed its dedication to regional sustainability by signing the Responsible Climate Companies Pledge, integrating climate goals into its growth strategy and highlighting its energy-efficient operations and refill initiatives. L’Oréal recently took the opportunity of a climate-focused summit in Dubai to reinforce its commitment to sustainability in the UAE, signing the country’s “Responsible Climate Companies Pledge” alongside the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. The announcement was made during the company’s “L’Oréal for the Future” event, and it emphasised how the group is aligning its regional strategy more closely with the UAE’s broader push…
