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OPINION MAY 08, 2026 | The Indian Eye 12

UAE’s Renewable Energy

Transition: the Past,

Present and Future

The UAE has built one of the world’s most structured clean energy transitions in the Gulf.
The UAE’s renewable energy push is driven by technological innovation, huge investments in

ambitious renewable energy projects and foreign collaborations.

WARISHA WASI launched the Al Dhafra solar PV
Project in 2023, which is the world’s
he Gulf countries are formu- largest single-site solar power plant.
lating energy policies and im- It has emerged as a pioneering proj-
Tplementing strategies to transi- ect with a 2 GW capacity for clean
tion from a resource-based economy power generation, supplying electric-
to a diversified, renewable-energy ity to 200,000 homes. By developing
economy. Historically, oil-producing local renewable capacity, the UAE
nations in West Asia have received can buttress against price volatility
political and economic leverage due and external power disruptions.
to their geostrategic locations and oil Dubai’s Mohammed Bin
reserves. As the international ener- Al-Makhtoum Solar Park serves
gy market undergoes transformative as the infrastructural backbone of
change, countries with rentier econ- Dubai’s clean energy initiative. Based
omies focus on economic diversifi- on the Independent Power Produc-
cation and on strengthening global er (IPP) Model, the solar park has
energy governance through coopera- a production capacity of 3,860MW,
tion and diplomacy to address envi- Source: Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Washington, DC, 2023 (IDSA) which will exceed to 8000MW by
ronmental and energy-security impli- 2030. The project has emerged as a
cations. significant milestone in Dubai’s long-
The United Arab Emirates ment strategy in 2010 with the launch provide leverage through long-term term energy strategy. Dubai Electric-
(UAE) is emerging as one of the fast- of ‘Vision 2021’—a long-term plan purchase agreements and invest- ity and Water Authority (DEWA)
est-growing markets for renewables, focused on environmental sustain- ments in sustainable technologies. and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Com-
driven by technological innovation, ability and the transition to a diversi- To triple the contribution of renew- pany (Masdar) have collaborated to
huge investments in ambitious re- fied knowledge-based economy. The able energy and increase the share of implement the current sixth phase of
newable energy projects and foreign UAE’s energy transition originated renewable energy sources to 30 per the solar park to support the UAE
collaborations. The country is ex- with the establishment of Masdar, cent in its energy mix by 2030 under Energy Strategy 2050.
panding its energy sources, leading to also known as Abu Dhabi Future the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the The nuclear power generation
diversification in its energy mix and Energy Company, in 2006, marking UAE transition framework focuses capacity is rising significantly in the
economy. Under its National Energy a major milestone in the country’s on policy implementation, regulato- UAE’s current energy mix. The
Strategy 2050, the UAE is committed systematic expansion of renewable ry tools and technological advance- Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is
to contributing up to AED 200 bil- energy policy. Progressively, Mas- ments. the first nuclear energy plant in the
lion to the renewable energy sector dar, a state-owned renewable energy The UAE’s flagship projects Arab world. The four reactors, which
by 2030. To meet growing energy de- company, shaped the UAE’s national pave the way for the country’s initia- are currently operational, generate
mand, the country plans to generate framework for energy security, which tives to be operationalised as clean about 4 terawatt-hour (TWh) of en-
most of its electricity from renewable prioritised energy diversification, energy systems. Noor Abu Dhabi, ergy annually. The Barakah plant
sources, primarily solar power. The global expansion and strategic in- a solar plant with a total capacity of was developed by Emirates Nuclear
UAE’s installed renewable ener- vestment. 1.2 GW, is one of the first projects to Energy Corporation (ENEC) with
gy capacity surpassed 7.7 gigawatts Solar energy is the fastest-grow- supply clean energy while simulta- a consortium led by Korea Electric
(GW) in April 2026. ing sector in the UAE’s energy mix. neously contributing to the goals of Power Corporation (KEPCO). The
The UAE has built one of the Large-scale renewable energy proj- the UAE’s energy strategy 2050 by electricity generated by the nuclear
world’s most structured clean energy ects not only demonstrate the coun- reducing carbon emissions in power power plant reflects the UAE’s di-
transitions in the Gulf. The UAE im- try’s adoption of sustainable alterna- generation. In an effort to achieve versifying energy mix and contributes
plemented its first national develop- tives for power generation but also clean energy solutions, the UAE Continued on next page... >>

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