12:15 pm - 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…
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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 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…
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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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Bonn: The UAE demonstrated leadership at the 62nd UNFCCC sessions, progressing development of adaptation indicators and just transition frameworks, while preparing for COP30 and launching initiatives linking technology, culture, and climate finance to drive global resilience. The United Arab Emirates recently concluded its participation in the 62nd sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany. The UAE delegation, led by Abdullah Ahmed Balala, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, reaffirmed the country’s ongoing commitment to advancing global climate objectives. A key focus was maintaining the momentum…
Abu Dhabi: The UAE has launched a pilot scheme introducing fees on mobile phones and laptops to incentivise recycling, aiming to enhance consumer participation and producer accountability under its Integrated Waste Management Agenda, as part of efforts to establish a circular economy and meet ambitious climate targets. The United Arab Emirates is pioneering a new approach to electronic waste management by piloting a scheme that incentivises mobile phone and laptop recycling. Launched by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based waste management company Tadweer Group, the trial project introduces a model where manufacturers…
Dubai: du has won three major sustainability awards recognising its AI-powered carbon reduction and circular economy efforts, including 169 solar sites cutting 8.6 kilotonnes CO₂, as it drives progress towards the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions. du, the leading telecom and digital services provider in Dubai, has recently been honoured with three distinguished awards at the FM Middle East 2025 and Innovation in Facilities Management 2025 Awards, recognising its strong commitment to sustainability and environmental leadership. These accolades underscore du’s significant contributions to advancing sustainable practices within the telecom industry and align with the UAE’s strategic vision for achieving…
Dubai: Dubai’s new Unified Business License and Dubai Unified Licence systems streamline company registration, unify multiple activities under one permit, and introduce digital business identities, cutting bureaucracy and accelerating growth for entrepreneurs and investors across mainland and free zones. Dubai continues to reinforce its status as a premier global business hub by streamlining and enhancing the business licensing process with the introduction of the Unified Business License and Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) systems. These initiatives, driven primarily by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), are designed to simplify, accelerate, and unify commercial activities across the emirate, benefiting entrepreneurs,…
Dubai: Registration opens for the 14th cycle of the Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development, offering $1 million in prizes to projects transforming urban living and tackling climate challenges, with winners announced at the 2026 World Governments Summit. Dubai Municipality has opened registration for the 14th cycle of the Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development, a prestigious global initiative spotlighting innovation in sustainable urban development. Held in partnership with UN-Habitat, the award celebrates projects and policies that make tangible improvements to urban living, tackle climate challenges, and enhance community well-being. Winners will be announced during…
United Arab Emirates: The UAE aims to triple renewable capacity to 14GW by 2030 while increasing oil production to 5 million barrels per day. Its diversified energy mix includes solar, nuclear, and gas with $55bn investment driving innovations to meet net zero goals by 2050. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is navigating a complex yet forward-thinking energy strategy that seeks to secure its position both as a global energy leader and a pioneer in sustainable development. Central to this vision is the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, initially launched in 2017 and regularly updated to reflect global energy trends and climate…
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Economy partners with Japan’s WORKSTUDIO to create a circular economy model aligned with the UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031, advancing sustainable production, waste recycling, and carbon emission reductions across key sectors. The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has taken a significant step towards advancing the nation’s sustainability goals by partnering with Japan-based WORKSTUDIO Corporation to develop an integrated circular economy model that aligns with the UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed in Dubai by H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry, and Kazuhiro Hara, CEO of…
Dubai: Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy has unveiled an ambitious retrofit initiative targeting more than 9,000 government buildings to reduce electricity and water consumption, accelerating progress towards the city’s 2050 net zero carbon emissions goals through solar integration and smart technology. Dubai is intensifying its green building initiatives with an ambitious retrofit programme targeting over 9,000 government buildings to drastically reduce electricity and water consumption. This effort was underscored at the 89th meeting of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, chaired virtually by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Council and MD & CEO of Dubai…
Hong Kong: Between 2013 and 2024, Hong Kong’s external trade with Belt and Road economies outside Mainland China grew nearly 78%, tripling global trade growth rates, as it leverages its strategic location and legal framework to deepen connectivity, investment, and dispute resolution services across 150 participating countries.Hong Kong continues to solidify its role as a crucial hub in the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI), leveraging its strategic geographic location and robust economic infrastructure to enhance connections across some 150 countries involved in the project. Between 2013 and 2024, Hong Kong’s external trade with Belt and Road economies—excluding Mainland China—has…
Sharjah: The emirate has inaugurated its first 60 MWp utility-scale solar plant, SANA, adjacent to the Sajaa Gas Complex. The facility powers gas operations by day and exports surplus power to SEWA, marking a milestone in Sharjah’s drive towards carbon neutrality and sustainable energy. Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) has inaugurated the emirate’s first utility-scale solar power plant, the SANA facility, marking a significant step in Sharjah’s clean energy and sustainability ambitions. With a capacity of 60 MWp, the solar plant is strategically located adjacent to the Sajaa Gas Complex, designed to supply power directly to the facility during…
