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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The Middle East and North Africa region is witnessing unprecedented growth in clean industry projects, with commitments exceeding $640 billion, signalling a major shift in global decarbonisation efforts and regional economic resilience. According to a recent report from the Mission Possible Partnership and the Industrial Transition Accelerator, the Middle East and North Africa, often just called MENA, are increasingly becoming some of the most closely monitored regions in the global effort to develop low-carbon industries. The report highlights that the region now has about 84 announced projects focused on clean industry, with potential investments reaching roughly $642 billion across sectors…
The renewal and expansion of Veolia Environnement’s involvement at the Mafraq 2 plant highlights Abu Dhabi’s commitment to turning construction debris into valuable reusable materials, advancing its circular economy goals amid growing infrastructure demands. Abu Dhabi has, well, renewed and actually expanded Veolia Environnement’s involvement at the Mafraq 2 construction and demolition waste recycling plant , signalling a continued push for a model that’s about turning rubble into reusable materials instead of just dumping it in landfills. According to the overview of the deal published by ad hoc news, this arrangement seems to reinforce Veolia’s position at a site that’s…
UAE's GIQ platform revolutionises Earth observation with integrated satellite and AI capabilities
Space42’s GIQ platform combines satellite imagery, geospatial data, and artificial intelligence to support climate resilience, urban planning, and environmental monitoring in the UAE and beyond, signifying a strategic shift towards data-driven decision-making. Space42’s GIQ platform is being positioned as a new sort of digital backbone for the UAE, bringing together satellite imagery, geospatial data, and artificial intelligence all in one place, for both public and private users. According to Al Ittihad, the aim is to turn raw Earth observation data into practical insights that can support planning, operations, and policies across a whole range of sectors. Basically, the platform sits…
UAE accelerates climate tech and policy innovation to combat desertification and drought
The United Arab Emirates is advancing its strategies against desertification through innovative technology, comprehensive policies, and international collaboration, positioning itself as a global leader in climate resilience and sustainable land management. The United Arab Emirates is really sharpening its role on the global stage when it comes to tackling desertification and drought, blending policy and technology in ways that are becoming more and more central to its climate and environmental goals. As the world observes the International Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on June 17, the UAE doesn’t just see this as about land protection. No, it’s framing these…
Abu Dhabi's strategic pivot to Chinese technology accelerates Gulf's clean energy rivalry
Abu Dhabi’s deepening collaboration with Chinese firms is reshaping the Gulf’s renewable energy landscape and intensifying regional competition, with the emirate aiming to lead the transition to a low-carbon economy through rapid infrastructure projects and innovative partnerships. Abu Dhabi is really stepping up its green shift, and it’s doing so by leaning quite heavily on Chinese technology , a move that’s reshaping the Gulf’s clean energy scene and adding new pressure on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plans, I’d say. According to reports from the South China Morning Post, Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, who’s the chair of the Abu Dhabi Department…
HyveGeo’s desert greening breakthrough highlights UAE’s shift from idea to implementation
HyveGeo, a UAE startup developing biochar-based soil solutions for desert greening, wins Dubai Holding’s Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator 2025, marking a significant step in real-world climate innovation in the UAE. Dubai Holding has announced HyveGeo, a UAE-founded startup specialising in desert greening at scale, as the winner of its Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator 2025. They’re set to receive AED500,000, along with the opportunity to run a fully supported pilot within the group’s broad ecosystem. The announcement was made during Demo Day at the Theatre of Digital Art in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, marking the end of a 12-week hybrid…
A tripartite agreement between Ras Al Khaimah’s key environmental and research authorities aims to establish credible carbon markets, linking climate policies with biodiversity and urban development to accelerate regional decarbonisation efforts. A new tripartite agreement in Ras Al Khaimah is being heralded as a practical move towards establishing more trustworthy carbon markets across the Gulf region, whilst also linking climate policies with biodiversity preservation and urban planning efforts. As reported by WAM, the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD), the Global Carbon Council, and the Environment Protection and Development Authority of Ras Al Khaimah have entered into a strategic…
UAE leverages UNESCO hydrology meeting to prioritise youth and cooperation ahead of 2026 Water Conference
The United Arab Emirates uses the UNESCO hydrological forum in Paris to sharpen strategies and foster global collaborations ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, emphasising youth participation, science-driven policies, and inclusive partnerships. The United Arab Emirates used a recent UNESCO hydrology meeting in Paris to sharpen both its diplomatic strategy and technical plans ahead of the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference. Their focus was very much centred on youth involvement, science-driven policies, and fostering international cooperation. According to the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and WAM, their delegation participated in the 27th Ordinary Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological…
Abu Dhabi is ramping up its 2035 clean-energy goals by integrating advanced digital systems, expanding renewables, and pioneering water and power decarbonisation, positioning itself as a regional leader in sustainability innovation. Abu Dhabi is ramping up its clean-energy ambitions, aiming to source around 60 per cent of its electricity from renewable and clean sources by 2035. This isn’t just a random target , the emirate is intensifying efforts to cut emissions and deal with rising demand for power and water. The Department of Energy has said that this goal is at the heart of a broader push to make the…
Dubai’s Al Shera’a headquarters sets new global benchmark as the world’s tallest net-positive government building
The newly inaugurated Al Shera’a headquarters in Dubai showcases cutting-edge integration of IoT, AI, and renewable energy, positioning itself as a blueprint for eco-friendly public infrastructure worldwide. A delegation from Masdar recently paid a visit to DEWA’s spanking new headquarters in Al Jaddaf, providing Abu Dhabi’s leading clean-energy firm with an up-close look at one of Dubai’s most ambitious sustainability ventures yet. The building , known as Al Shera’a , has been billed by DEWA as the tallest, biggest, and smartest net-positive government building in the world. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA’s managing director and CEO, hosted the visit for…

