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OPINION MAY 08, 2026 | The Indian Eye 13

to its key goal of achieving net-zero
emissions by 2050. The operational
plant provides about 25 per cent of
the UAE’s electricity.
The UAE is linking water se-
curity to the clean energy transition
through a desalination project com-
missioned by DEWA and ACWA.
Veolia, a world leader in water tech-
nology, will provide engineering ser-
vices and key technologies. The plant
is expected to begin its operations in
2026 and will reach full capacity in
2027. With a total capacity of 818,000
cubic metres per day (180 MIGD),
which is enough to provide potable
water to two million people daily, it
will be the world’s largest desalina-
tion solar power plant and second
largest reverse osmosis facility world-
wide.
The core strength of the UAE’s
renewable energy transition mod-
el lies in foreign collaboration and
international expansion. Through
foreign technology partnerships and
cross-border financing, the UAE
has successfully set the direction us- The core strength of the UAE’s renewable energy transition model lies in foreign collaboration and international expansion (File photo)
ing domestic credibility to become a
global hub for clean energy solutions
while simultaneously diversifying its West Asia. Joint ventures also allow Environmental conditions pose leadership will continue to be judged
energy economy. The UAE seeks to countries to cooperate through com- another limitation. Because so- against the scale and pace of its wider
expand its global presence in the re- plementarity. In April 2026, Adani lar cells are affected by operating fossil-fuel policy. The country’s stra-
newable energy sector through out- Green Energy Ltd.’s UAE-based temperature, the UAE’s hot, arid tegic success will depend on whether
ward investment, demonstrating the arm signed a joint venture agreement climate reduces their efficiency. it can sustain both economic realism
country’s contribution to promoting with Minerva to develop renewable Therefore, the UAE’s success de- and climate credibility without com-
clean power and decarbonization in projects in India. Under the agree- pends not only on commissioning promising one over the other.
the region and across the globe. ment, Adani Green Energy Ltd. will solar plants but also on developing The UAE’s renewable transi-
International collaborations are invest up to a 20 per cent stake in technologies and maintenance sys- tion is best understood as an ongo-
extremely significant in the UAE’s Minerva Renewables Holding RSC tems suited to the region’s climate. ing strategic project rather than a
renewable energy policy. One key Limited (JVCo). This partnership The other challenges range from completed transformation. Its sig-
example is Masdar, the world’s will improve India’s operational effi- policy and regulatory barriers to nificance lies in the fact that it has
largest owner and operator of re- ciency in clean energy and support its technological hurdles, insufficient already changed the terms of energy
newable energy, which supports the commitment to sustained growth in battery energy storage systems, and policy in the Gulf by demonstrating
UAE in strengthening its position in the renewable energy sector. land-use concerns. The gap between that clean energy can serve not only
a fast-growing energy market. As in Despite notable achievements policy expectations and the actual environmental goals, but also state
the UAE, in partnership with Emir- and impressive progress, the UAE’s potential for implementation can be resilience, economic diversification
ates Water and Electricity Company renewable energy transition faces bridged through public awareness, and geopolitical influence. The scale
(EWEC), Masdar is set to imple- structural limitations. The gap be- technological advancements and of the UAE’s projects remains a dis-
ment its biggest project to date with tween project success and industrial knowledge exchange. For that, Abu tinguishing feature of its energy poli-
the capital investment of more than depth reinforces the idea that the Dhabi should have a portfolio of cy. The integration of finance, diplo-
AED 22 billion. The project, to be UAE needs to build an industrial renewable energy technologies that macy and clear roadmaps has made
completed in 2027, aims to combine ecosystem grounded in indigenous are economically feasible, domesti- the UAE an emerging global leader
a 5.2 GW solar PV plant with a 19 technological capabilities. The UAE cally manufactured, and contribute in clean energy.
GWh battery energy storage system has become a world-class developer to energy efficiency.
to provide clean power generation and investor. Still, strategic resilience Another challenge lies in bal- Warisha Wasi is a Research Intern
and supply. in the long run will also require capa- ancing hydrocarbon continuity with at the West Asia Centre of Manohar
Another UAE-based developer, bilities in manufacturing, digital sys- the credibility of the transition to Parrikar IDSA, New Delhi
Global South Utilities, is also ex- tems, critical technology services and green leadership. The UAE remains Views expressed are of the author and
panding its presence through part- innovative research. UAE’s Hydro- a major oil and gas producer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of
nerships and collaborations, particu- gen policy, however, partly addresses its transition strategy is designed the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
larly in developing regions. Providing this hurdle through plans for supply in part to preserve that position by Government of India
renewable energy access through the chain management and an R&D decarbonising domestic consump-
development of a US$ 200 million centre. The implementation of these tion and redirecting hydrocarbons The full version of this article first ap-
solar industrial complex in Egypt policies will determine the UAE’s towards exports and petrochemical peared in the Comments section of the
and a 200 MW plant in Madagascar success in becoming a low-cost proj- value chains. This is rational from website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
is leading to providing clean energy ect host and a diversified clean-ener- a national-strategy standpoint, but rikar Institute for Defense Studies and
infrastructure solutions in Africa and gy economy. it also means that the UAE’s green Analyses, New Delhi, on April 28, 2026

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