10:04 am - October 19, 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
UAE: BYD has partnered with Safeline Group and Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility to launch a full fleet electrification journey, supplying 12 all-electric vehicles as part of the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy and expanding electric commercial transport in the region. BYD has taken a significant step in advancing sustainable transport in the UAE by signing a landmark agreement with Safeline Group to supply 12 all-electric vehicles. This collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 2, marks the beginning of Safeline Group’s full transition to electric mobility, reflecting a broader regional shift towards environmentally friendly transportation. Facilitated by…
Abu Dhabi: Archer Aviation has successfully completed the inaugural test flight of its Midnight eVTOL aircraft under UAE environmental conditions, advancing preparations for commercial urban air taxi services. The flight highlights Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead in advanced air mobility through partnerships and infrastructure development. Archer Aviation has marked a significant milestone with the successful completion of the first test flight for its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi on 2 July 2025. The test was conducted under UAE-specific environmental conditions, including high temperatures, humidity, and dust, as part…
Amazon Basin: Over 1,500 officers from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and UAE arrested 94 suspects and seized $64m in assets during Operation Green Shield, targeting illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, logging and fuel smuggling in indigenous and remote areas of the Amazon rainforest. Assets valued at over $64 million were seized and 94 individuals arrested in a significant multinational law enforcement operation aimed at combatting environmental crime in the Amazon Basin. This ambitious campaign, called Operation Green Shield, was coordinated by the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Interior through the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), a platform…
Dubai: The UAE is rapidly transforming its energy sector through major investments in solar power, nuclear energy, and green hydrogen, aiming for 30% clean energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, while creating 50,000 green jobs and boosting economic diversification. The United Arab Emirates, historically known for its oil wealth, is undergoing an ambitious transformation to establish itself as a global leader in renewable energy. This shift is powered by long-term strategic planning and substantial investment, aimed at securing economic stability, environmental resilience, and a sustainable future for both residents and businesses in the region. Central to this…
Abu Dhabi: Aed Energy has received major funding from Catalyst, backed by Masdar City and bp, to expand its long-duration thermal energy storage in the MENA region, opening a new office in Masdar City and targeting reliable clean baseload power and water solutions. Aed Energy has secured a significant investment from Catalyst, an accelerator backed by Masdar City and bp, aimed at scaling climate technologies across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This funding is poised to bolster Aed Energy’s regional expansion and accelerate the deployment of its long-duration thermal energy storage systems, addressing a critical gap in…
United Arab Emirates: The UAE is advancing its visa policies by introducing 10-year Golden Visas for nurses, educators, gamers and environmental advocates, alongside AI-driven platforms and expanded visa-on-arrival privileges, while firmly excluding cryptocurrency investors from eligibility to ensure regulatory clarity. The United Arab Emirates continues to advance and diversify its immigration and residency policies with a focus on attracting skilled professionals across multiple sectors while easing bureaucratic hurdles. Key updates introduced in 2024 and 2025 reflect the UAE’s ambition to become a global hub in areas such as healthcare, education, gaming, digital media, and environmental sustainability. Among the most…
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank has mobilised AED17 billion in sustainable finance by end-2024, advancing towards its AED60 billion target for 2030. Highlights include sector-specific emissions targets, a $500 million Green Sukuk focused on renewables, and major operational emission cuts aligned with UAE Net Zero 2050 goals. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has recorded a significant milestone in sustainable finance, mobilising AED17 billion ($4.7 billion) by the end of 2024. This achievement represents strong progress towards its ambitious AED60 billion target set for 2030, reinforcing its prominent role in advancing ethical and climate-conscious finance within the region. The progress…
Dubai: Al-Futtaim Technologies partners with Johnson Controls to introduce the OpenBlue smart building platform in the UAE, delivering real-time intelligence and energy optimisation across government and business sectors amid rising smart city and sustainability demands in the Middle East. Al-Futtaim Technologies has embarked on a strategic partnership with Johnson Controls to introduce the OpenBlue platform to the United Arab Emirates, a move poised to transform the region’s approach to smart building management. This collaboration brings Johnson Controls’ global smart building technology to the UAE, aiming to deliver intelligent infrastructure and energy-efficient solutions tailored for both businesses and government sectors.…
UAE: The United Arab Emirates has surged from fourth to second place worldwide in the 2025 VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index, driven by its superior infrastructure, tax benefits, and tailored remote work visas, positioning it as a leading hub for global digital nomads behind only Spain. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has firmly established itself as a premier global destination for digital nomads, climbing to second place worldwide in 2025 according to the latest VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index. This notable rise from fourth place in 2023 reflects the UAE’s strategic emphasis on cultivating a robust environment for remote…
Dubai: The 11th World Green Economy Summit returns to Dubai in October 2025, focusing on AI, IoT, and energy storage innovations to boost climate resilience and support vulnerable communities. The event highlights Dubai’s leadership in global green economy progress and emphasises international cooperation and climate finance. Dubai will play host to the 11th World Green Economy Summit (WGES) on 1–2 October 2025, further cementing its position as a pivotal centre for climate action and sustainable development. The event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will convene leading figures from local and international…
