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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UAE leads the charge in innovative solutions to address global water security at Trends Conference
The Fifth TRENDS Conference in Abu Dhabi highlighted the UAE’s pioneering role in water resource management, showcasing technological innovations, governance reforms, and regional collaborations aimed at tackling the global water crisis. The Fifth TRENDS Conference on Sustainable Water Security, which took place over two days in Abu Dhabi, wrapped up with quite a strong message—namely, that the UAE is really stepping up as a leader in water resource management and innovation. Bringing together 33 officials, specialists, and researchers from around the world, the event underscored just how urgent it is to address water security, especially considering the growing global water…
Rising demand for blue carbon credits tied to coastal ecosystems has driven prices to record levels, highlighting both the sector’s potential and its burgeoning supply challenges amid growing investor interest and regulatory hurdles. Blue carbon markets are really heating up lately, as the demand for top-tier carbon credits tied to coastal and marine ecosystems skyrockets—outstripping what’s available and sending prices soaring to new highs. According to Platts, the key blue carbon credit, DBC-1, hit a record $29.30 per metric tonne of CO₂ equivalent back in August 2025. That’s the highest it’s been in about fifteen months, a sign that investors…
Hydrogen and helium reshape energy and manufacturing landscapes with emerging technologies
Light gases hydrogen and helium are increasingly vital to future energy solutions, green industry initiatives, and cutting-edge tech, driven by recent advancements and policy shifts worldwide. Hydrogen and helium, the two lightest gases around, are set to play pretty significant roles in shaping the future of energy, transportation, and manufacturing. Despite their tiny molecular size, their influence is actually quite considerable across various high-tech industries, including energy production, heavy industry, and semiconductor manufacturing, based on recent industry insights. Hydrogen, which many see as a major energy carrier to replace traditional fossil fuels, is definitely gaining ground in a bunch of…
Repton Dubai’s Project Hydronova becomes the first Middle Eastern team to compete at the H2 Grand Prix World Finals, winning the Energy Award and highlighting the region’s shift towards sustainable energy solutions. Repton School Dubai’s student-led team, Project Hydronova, has achieved a significant milestone for the UAE and the broader Middle East — they became the very first team from the region to take part in the prestigious H2 Grand Prix World Finals. This international endurance race, which features hydrogen-powered remote-controlled (RC) cars, took place in Chemnitz, Germany, in 2025. Their participation has not only put Dubai on the map…
Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reaches new milestone with 6th phase expansion
Dubai’s iconic solar park advances significantly with the addition of 1 gigawatt in its sixth phase, underscoring the UAE’s commitment to large-scale renewable energy and climate targets amid historic cost reductions and plans for even more ambitious expansion. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, which happens to be the biggest single-site solar farm in the world, is really making impressive progress as it pushes the limits of clean energy expansion. Just recently, the sixth phase of the solar project added another 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar capacity—pretty big deal, honestly—marking a major milestone in this transformational…
GCC's climate ambitions face crucial test amid inconsistent progress and dual fossil fuel strategies
Gulf Cooperation Council nations are at a crossroads in their climate efforts, with ambitious targets hampered by uneven implementation and a dual approach of expanding fossil fuel production alongside renewable investments. The region’s future leadership in global decarbonisation depends on delivering tangible progress amid geopolitical and economic challenges. As the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations grapple with an increasingly urgent climate agenda, the choices they make now over the next decade are going to be crucial in determining their role in the global energy transition by the year 2060. This region, known worldwide for its vast hydrocarbon production and exports,…
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy launches a strategic initiative targeting around 100 industrial facilities to enhance energy and water efficiency, supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals. The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has kicked off a pretty important project—the Energy Efficiency Accelerators in the Industrial Sector—focused on helping around 100 industrial facilities across the emirate improve their energy and water consumption. This program is actually a major part of the Abu Dhabi Energy and Water Efficiency Strategy 2030, and it’s directly aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, which, as you might know, aims to…
Abu Dhabi's Tadweer launches comprehensive green finance framework to accelerate sustainable growth
Tadweer Group in Abu Dhabi has announced a new Green Finance Framework, backed by international standards and major banking partners, signalling a bold move towards embedding sustainability into regional infrastructure and financial strategies, including a landmark waste-to-energy project. Abu Dhabi’s Tadweer Group recently introduced its Green Finance Framework, positioning it quite deliberately as a key part of their overall strategy, really tied into their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Basically, this initiative is about weaving sustainability into the fabric of their future financing endeavors—encouraging investments that push forward a circular economy and responsible, environmentally conscious growth. Developed in collaboration…
UAE energy management market poised for rapid growth driven by digital innovation and sustainability goals
The UAE’s energy management sector is experiencing a significant transformation amid ambitious sustainability targets, massive infrastructure investments, and technological advancements like AI and IoT, setting the stage for substantial growth by 2030. The energy management market in the UAE is really going through quite a significant transformation lately. You know, thanks to rapid industrialisation, a growing population, and the country’s strong push toward sustainability, it’s incredibly dynamic right now. In 2024, this market was valued at around USD 222 million, but projections suggest it could grow to approximately USD 375 million by 2030. That’s a pretty impressive compound annual growth…
Regional startup investments in the Middle East and North Africa have outpaced the entire 2024 figures in early 2025, driven by major deals in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and emerging markets like Morocco and Iraq, amid sectoral shifts towards deep-tech and consumer platforms. In 2025, the startup funding scene across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has really taken a remarkable turn. Early figures for the year already outpace the total investments made throughout all of 2024. It’s quite a significant shift—moving from cautious optimism to more ambitious, action-oriented investing. This trend seems to mirror broader changes in the…

