10:19 pm - February 15, 2026
The UAE is ramping up its industrial decarbonisation strategies with new initiatives and infrastructure to meet ambitious climate targets, leveraging technology and international collaboration to advance its sustainable growth at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026.
Osama Amir Fadl, the UAE’s assistant undersecretary for the industrial accelerators sector at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, highlighted the importance of industry in fulfilling the country’s climate commitments during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026. Speaking on the event’s sidelines, he described manufacturing not just as a driver of the economy but as a critical tool for reducing emissions, enhancing productivity, and expanding exports for the nation.
As per the ministry, the “Make in UAE” pavilion at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre will operate from May 4th to 7th, 2026. The ministry mentions that this fifth edition will feature a range of enablers, incentives, financial opportunities, and pathways for international collaboration. Mr. Fadl encouraged both local and international investors looking for real opportunities to get involved, noting that companies that grow within the UAE can tap into markets with a combined population exceeding three billion.
The ministry underscores the role of advanced and heavy industries, spanning from traditional high emitters to those integrating AI, automation, and other cutting-edge technologies, as essential for lowering costs and emissions. “The sector’s wide range of capabilities, whether in heavy industry or AI-powered manufacturing, can effectively cut expenses, improve efficiency, and reduce emissions,” the ministry explained in its account of Mr. Fadl’s comments. He also emphasized ongoing efforts to develop a competitive, resilient industrial ecosystem, mentioning initiatives like national content programs and technology transformation projects aimed at embedding Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions on factory floors.
These points are supported by a national framework increasingly linking industrial development with decarbonization. At COP28 in December 2023, the UAE revealed an Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap, a plan developed by the ministry in collaboration with government and private sector partners. The roadmap targets a 93% reduction in industrial carbon emissions by 2050, which the ministry states would prevent roughly 2.9 gigatonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. The plan prioritizes sectors like cement, iron, steel, and aluminum, and outlines a phased approach: a 5% cut by 2030, 63% by 2040, and the full 93% goal by 2050.
Analysts and energy experts point out that hitting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 target heavily depends on decarbonizing its industry. S&P Global Energy stressed that industry emissions are the largest contributor in the country’s inventories, making their reduction vital to the country’s climate goals. The roadmap considers more than 50 decarbonization strategies, including using clean electricity, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), switching fuels, recycling, and deploying hydrogen. The ministry says these measures will be supported by policy incentives and increased financing options.
Adding to this, Abu Dhabi’s electricity regulatory framework is shifting to support industrial decarbonization. The Department of Energy and Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi are pushing targets aimed at increasing renewable sources in the emirate’s energy mix. According to the Department of Energy, new rules aim for renewable energy to account for 60% of Abu Dhabi’s electricity supply by 2035, and for reductions of up to 75% in carbon intensity per megawatt-hour. Both agencies describe this as the first legally binding target in the Middle East for a regional power sector focusing on clean electricity.
All of this paints a picture of a coordinated approach: reducing emissions directly at the manufacturing sites while greening the electricity grid that powers them. The ministry states that its initiatives, such as technology adoption, national content requirements, and workforce development, have sped up the localization of advanced manufacturing. They highlight increased adoption of AI-driven manufacturing processes, asserting that these boost operational efficiency and add value to products. Plus, there’s a focus on strengthening national supply chains and enhancing skills among Emirati workers.
Of course, independent outside observers warn that the real test lies in implementation. Achieving the ambitious emission reductions outlined in the roadmap depends on how quickly low-carbon electricity, carbon management infrastructure, and clean fuels can be scaled industrially. Key obstacles include financing, clear regulations, and the availability of the right technologies. Industry stakeholders told Gulf News and others at COP28 that collaboration between public and private sectors will be essential to mobilize the necessary capital and risk-sharing for costly efforts like CCUS and hydrogen development.
The ministry sees the Make in UAE platform as a way to accelerate such collaborations. It states that the event will bring together key government and private sector players to boost industrial competitiveness, open up export markets, and attract investments into future-oriented industries. By emphasizing a seamless integration of policy, finance, and technology, the ministry is signaling an ambition to make decarbonization and industrial growth mutually reinforcing.
As the UAE moves ahead, the key will be balancing aspirations with tangible results, turning plans and pilots into large-scale, low-carbon manufacturing. The roadmap points the way, but the real challenge now is translating those policies into broad deployment of green technologies, supported by market structures and financial mechanisms capable of sustaining them. The ministry says that the Make in UAE platform will remain one of the important forums where this scaling process will be actively pursued.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.aletihad.ae/news/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A/4636931/-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-2026–%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D9%83%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%A7 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/cop28-uae-to-cut-93-of-industrial-carbon-emissions-by-2050-1.99776889 – At COP28 in December 2023, the UAE announced the Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap, aiming to reduce industrial carbon emissions by 93% by 2050. The initiative focuses on sectors like cement, iron, steel, and aluminium, aligning with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy and the third update of its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Climate Agreement. The roadmap is developed by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in collaboration with government and private sector partners.
- https://moiat.gov.ae/en/decarbonization-roadmap/ – The UAE’s Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap, unveiled at COP28 in December 2023, aims to reduce industrial carbon emissions by 2.9 gigatonnes by 2050. The roadmap targets heavy-emitting manufacturing sectors such as cement, iron, steel, and aluminium, and is structured into three phases: a 5% reduction by 2030, a 63% reduction by 2040, and a 93% reduction by 2050. It evaluates over 50 decarbonisation methods, including clean electricity, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), manufacturing efficiency, alternative fuels, recycling, clinker substitutes, and hydrogen.
- https://www.gulftoday.ae/News/2023/12/05/UAE-launches-Industrial-Decarbonisation-Roadmap-at-COP28 – During COP28 in December 2023, the UAE launched the Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap, aiming to reduce industrial carbon emissions by 2.9 gigatonnes by 2050. The initiative focuses on manufacturing and hard-to-abate sectors, including cement, iron, steel, and aluminium, reflecting the country’s commitment to climate action and sustainability goals. The roadmap was developed by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in collaboration with strategic partners in the government and private sectors, aligning with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy and the third update of its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Climate Agreement.
- https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/energy-transition/111723-uaes-2050-net-zero-target-pegged-on-lower-emissions-mainly-from-industry – The UAE’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 heavily relies on reducing the carbon footprint of its industrial sector, the largest emitter among six identified sectors. Plans include cutting industrial emissions to 7 million metric tonnes by 2050, down from 103 million metric tonnes in 2019. The UAE also aims to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 19% from 2019 levels by 2030. The buildings and transport sectors are also targeted for emission reductions, with transport emissions set to be eliminated entirely by 2050.
- https://www.khaleejtimes.com/supplements/decarbonising-the-uaes-hard-to-abate-sectors-for-a-net-zero-future – The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology has developed a comprehensive ‘Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap’ aiming to reduce emissions by 93% by 2050. This ambitious plan focuses on sectors traditionally considered ‘hard-to-abate’ due to their high energy consumption, such as cement, iron, steel, and aluminium. The roadmap outlines strategies for integrating clean energy, adopting smart manufacturing practices, and fostering strategic partnerships to achieve these decarbonisation goals, positioning the UAE as a leader in sustainable industrial practices.
- https://www.doe.gov.ae/en/Media-Centre/News/EAD-works-in-partnership-with-the-DoE – The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with the Department of Energy (DoE), is leading a fundamental shift in Abu Dhabi’s energy mix to achieve significantly lower carbon emissions in the Emirate. This will be achieved through new regulations aimed at generating a large proportion of Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s electricity from clean and renewable sources by 2035, marking a significant milestone in the UAE’s journey to deliver carbon neutrality by 2050. The new regulations, drafted by the DoE, will see 60% of the Emirate’s electricity being generated from clean and renewable sources by 2035, and up to 75% reduction in carbon emissions per MWh produced by the electricity sector. The DoE’s ‘Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi’ regulatory framework is the first legally binding clean and renewable energy target in the Middle East for the electricity sector. It forms part of an ongoing energy transition to accelerate the UAE’s decarbonisation and green growth efforts.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references the UAE’s Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap announced at COP28 in December 2023. ([moiat.gov.ae](https://moiat.gov.ae/en/decarbonization-roadmap?utm_source=openai)) The ‘Make in UAE’ event is scheduled for May 4–7, 2026. ([bignewsnetwork.com](https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/278806730/make-it-in-the-uae-2026-offers-incentives-enablers-investment-opportunities?utm_source=openai)) The content is current and relevant, with no signs of being recycled or outdated.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Osama Amir Fadl and other officials are consistent with their public statements. No discrepancies or signs of reused content were found.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, a reputable government entity. The information aligns with official releases and reputable news outlets.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap and the ‘Make in UAE’ event are plausible and supported by multiple sources. The roadmap’s targets and the event’s details are consistent with other reputable reports.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current, with no signs of recycled content. Quotes are consistent with public statements, and the source is reliable. Claims are plausible and supported by accessible information. No paywalled content or distinctive content types were detected.
