meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Top 10 UAE clean energy projects

18 October 2023

 

Register for MEED's guest programme 

The UAE is expected to showcase its growing green credentials at the Cop28 climate summit, which starts on 30 November in Dubai.

In addition to gradually phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and eliminating methane flaring, UAE-based energy and utility companies have mobilised multibillion-dollar public and private investments in utility-scale clean and renewable energy plants, reverse osmosis technology-based water desalination plants and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects.   

These projects aim to reduce harmful emissions – mainly carbon dioxide – offsetting the environmental impact of the country’s oil industry while it aims to meet its nationally determined contributions (NDCs) for the Paris Agreement, its energy diversification agenda set in 2017, as well as its 2050 net-zero target.

Barakah nuclear power plant

Three of the four reactors at the $29bn Barakah nuclear power plant, located close to the UAE’s border with Saudi Arabia, are operational. Each unit can produce 1,400MW of electricity. The UAE is also looking for opportunities to export its nuclear expertise by investing in and developing nuclear power plants overseas.

Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park

The UAE’s first and largest solar photovoltaic (PV) installation is located 50 kilometres away from the Cop28 venue. Nearly all the first five phases of the solar park are operational, with a total combined installed capacity of more than 2.4GW. The project’s fourth phase, probably the world’s largest hybrid solar PV and concentrated solar power plant, is nearing completion. The contract to develop the project’s sixth phase, which is designed to have an installed capacity of 1.8GW, has been awarded this year.

Sweihan and Al-Dhafra solar power plants

Abu Dhabi’s first solar PV plant, the 935MW Sweihan independent power project (IPP), began operating in 2019. The UAE capital’s second utility-scale solar PV IPP in Al-Dhafra, which has a capacity of 1.5GW, is expected to be inaugurated imminently. Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) received world-record-low tariffs, as has Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa), for these projects.

Taweelah reverse osmosis facility

With a capacity of 200 million imperial gallons a day, the plant is the world’s largest reverse osmosis-based water desalination facility. Half of the plant’s capacity was completed in 2022, with the other half now in the final commissioning stage. Taweelah is the country’s first independent water producer project, which resulted from the drive to decouple water and power production as a key initiative to decarbonise both sectors.

Reyadah CCUS

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) have been operating the Al-Reyadah carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) facility since 2016. It can capture up to 800,000 tonnes a year (t/y) of carbon dioxide. About 240,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), collected by Al-Reyadah from Emirates Steel Industries, has been injected into Adnoc's reservoirs at its Rumaitha and Bab oil fields to bolster oil recovery.

The project is in line with Adnoc’s commitment to decarbonise its operations, reduce its carbon intensity by 25 per cent by 2030, and deliver on its net zero by 2045 goal. Adnoc estimates the volume of CO2 being locked away underground daily through CCUS deployment across its reservoirs is equivalent to the emissions of more than 1 million vehicles.

Habshan CCUS

Adnoc Gas recently awarded UK-headquartered Petrofac the main contract for a project to develop a $615m carbon capture facility at its Habshan gas processing complex in Abu Dhabi. The Habshan CCUS facility will have the capacity to capture and permanently store 1.5 million t/y of CO2 within geological formations deep underground.

The Habshan CO2 recovery project will be built, operated and maintained by Adnoc Gas and is expected to be commissioned in 2026. The proposed facility will feature carbon capture units at the Habshan gas processing plant, pipeline infrastructure and a network of wells for CO2 injection into oil and gas fields in Abu Dhabi.

Captured CO2 will be permanently stored in reservoirs deep in the sub-surface by deploying closed-loop CO2 capture and reinjection technology at the well site at Adnoc Onshore’s Bab Far North Field, located about 240 kilometres southwest of Abu Dhabi city.

Street lighting PPP

Abu Dhabi awarded two public-private partnership (PPP) contracts in 2020 and 2022 to replace over 176,000 street lights with LED lights. The first phase of the 12-year PPP project is designed to save the municipality AED264m ($71.9m), while the larger second phase is designed to result in cost savings amounting to close to $200m. The project's phase two aims to reduce power consumption by 74 per cent over the 12-year concession period, equivalent to almost 2,400 million kilowatt hours of electricity savings.

Green data centre

Work is progressing on the first phase of the 100MW data centre powered by solar energy at Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. Hub Integrated Solutions (Moro Hub), a Dewa subsidiary, is the project client. The data centre is envisaged to become the largest solar-powered Uptime Tier 3-certified data centre in the Middle East and Africa, offering digital products and services based on fourth industrial revolution technologies, such as cloud services. The project supports the emirate’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the UAE 2031 Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Hydrogen pilot site

Dewa, in partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai and Germany’s Siemens Energy, inaugurated the AED50m ($14m) green hydrogen plant at Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park in 2021. The integrated facility was developed with electrolysis, storage and re-electrification capabilities. Daylight solar power from the solar park will enable the pilot project to produce about 20.5 kilograms an hour of hydrogen at 1.25MW of peak power.

Large green hydrogen projects

There is an expectation that the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy will issue the UAE capital's green hydrogen policy before the start of, or during, the Cop28 climate summit. If this happens, planned green hydrogen projects worth at least $12bn could see rapid progress.

These projects include the 150MW green hydrogen-based ammonia production plant in Ruwais being developed by France's Engie and Abu Dhabi's Fertiglobe and Masdar; the $1bn green ammonia facility being planned by a South Korean-led consortium in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad); and the Masdar City green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel project being developed by Masdar, France's Total Energies, Germany’s Siemens Energy and Japan's Marubeni Corporation.

Other projects that are likely to be highlighted include the planned 400MW battery energy storage system in Abu Dhabi and the seawater reverse osmosis facilities that are under construction or in the bid phase across the UAE. 

Projects to retrofit public buildings to improve their sustainability, and the adoption of district cooling and electric vehicle policies, among others, will also likely share the spotlight as the UAE prepares to host its most important event of 2023.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11228094/main1001.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Dubai scales up its metro ambitions

    23 April 2026

     

    Dubai’s rail sector has rarely seen such a concentrated burst of procurement activity as it has in the past year.

    Within the space of a few months, Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has moved simultaneously on three distinct fronts: tendering design consultancy for the Route 2020 extension that will connect the Expo 2020 metro station to Al-Maktoum International airport; inviting study-and-design bids for a 55-kilometre Airport Express Line linking Dubai International airport to Al-Maktoum International airport; and culminating in Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum’s approval of the AED34bn ($9.2bn) Gold Line, a 42km fully underground route that the emirate is calling the largest transportation project in its history.

    These projects form a key part of the Dubai Rail Network Plan 2032, which outlines the development of six public transportation schemes comprising a mix of metro, passenger and high-speed rail lines.

    The most prominent feature of the plan is the addition of new lines to Dubai Metro’s existing network, representing a systematic effort to support the shift of Dubai’s economic centre of gravity towards Dubai South and the vast development corridors in between.

    The city is also seeking to stay ahead of the curve by investing heavily in infrastructure. Data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects shows that the emirate has awarded over $14bn-worth of transport projects in the past two years alone, with several other multibillion-dollar schemes still moving through the planning stages.

    All of this work is being carried out in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which forecasts the emirate’s population will reach 5.8 million by 2040 – a clear indication of the scale of daily movement the city must accommodate.

    Project progress

    Dubai Metro Gold Line

    On 21 April, Sheikh Mohammed officially announced the launch of the new AED34bn ($9.2bn) Gold Line project.

    The line will be a fully underground network spanning over 42 kilometres, with 18 stations.

    It will run from Al-Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai to Jumeirah Golf Estates.

    The Gold Line will connect with Dubai Metro’s existing Red and Green lines and integrate with the Etihad Rail passenger network.

    In October last year, MEED exclusively reported that the RTA had selected US-based engineering firm Aecom to provide consultancy services for the project.

    Stage one covers concept design; stage two, preliminary design; stage three, preparation of tender documents; stage four, construction supervision; and stage five, the defects liability period.

    Airport Express Line

    Procurement has started for another metro line extending from Dubai International airport (DXB) in Al-Garhoud to Al-Maktoum International airport (DWC) in Jebel Ali.

    Earlier this month, the RTA invited consultants to bid for a contract to study and design what is referred to as the Airport Express Line.

    The proposed line will stretch about 55km and include five stations that will provide passengers with facilities such as remote airline check-in, baggage drop-off and security screening.

    The new line will run from the Red Line metro station at DXB through Al-Jaddaf, along Al-Khail Road to a new station at Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), before continuing on to DWC.

    There will be two spur lines. The first will run from the new JVC station to Al-Fardan Exchange metro station at Emirates Golf Club, while the second will branch toward Business Bay, where another station will be built.

    Expo 2020 route extension

    Dubai is also undertaking the Route 2020 extension of its metro system, which will start from the Expo 2020 metro station and connect with Al-Maktoum International airport’s West Terminal.

    Consultants submitted their bids earlier this month for the design contract.

    The extension will run for about 3km and feature two stations.

    The existing Route 2020 metro link is a 15km line that branches off the Red Line at Jebel Ali metro station. The line comprises 11.8km of elevated tracks and 3.2km of tunnels, and has five elevated stations and two underground stations.

    Dubai Metro Blue Line extension

    Construction progress on the Dubai Metro Blue Line extension is expected to reach 30% by the end of 2026, according to official accounts.

    In December 2024, the RTA awarded a AED20.5bn ($5.5bn) main contract for the construction of the project.

    The contract was awarded to a consortium of Turkiye’s Limak Holding, Mapa Group, also of Turkiye, and the Hong Kong office of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).

    The Blue Line will connect the existing Red and Green lines. It will be 30km long, with 15.5km underground and 14.5km above ground.

    The line will have 14 stations, seven of which will be elevated. There will be five underground stations, including one interchange station, and two elevated transfer stations connected to the existing Centrepoint and Creek stations.

    The project is scheduled for completion in September 2029.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16534887/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Sports Boulevard tenders Wadi Hanifa road works

    23 April 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard Foundation has issued a tender inviting firms to bid for a contract to build a road and associated infrastructure in the Wadi Hanifa area of Riyadh.

    The bid submission deadline is 27 April.

    The scope includes construction of an 11.4-kilometre road and associated infrastructure, including public realm works, utilities and security systems.

    The scheme is the latest package to progress on Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard project.

    The Sports Boulevard Foundation is also evaluating bids for its Global Sports Tower in the development’s Athletics District.

    The 130-metre-tall Global Sports Tower will have a gross floor area of 84,000 square metres (sq m) and will include more than 30 sports facilities. The tower will feature what is billed as the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall, at 98 metres, and a 250-metre running track.

    Sports Boulevard will run across Riyadh from east to west. Once complete, it is intended to be the world’s longest park, stretching more than 135 kilometres.

    The project is divided into multiple districts, including the Wadi Hanifah, Arts, Urban Wadi, Entertainment, Athletics and Eco districts, as well as Sands Sports Park.

    The large-scale development aims to transform central Riyadh – currently dominated by major highways – into a recreational corridor.

    Sports Boulevard will include 4.4 million sq m of public realm and landmark buildings. Along with the Global Sports Tower, there will be a Centre for Cinematic Arts and a 2,000-seat amphitheatre.

    It will also deliver more than 2.3 million sq m of mixed-use commercial, residential and retail space, alongside sports facilities, around the park, known as the Linear Park.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16534345/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Masdar to develop renewables projects in Montenegro

    23 April 2026

    Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) have agreed to establish a 50:50 joint venture to develop and operate renewable energy projects in Montenegro.

    The planned projects include solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, hydropower, pumped-hydro storage and battery energy storage systems.

    The joint venture will be headquartered in Niksic in western Montenegro and is intended to support Montenegro’s domestic energy needs while also enabling the export of renewable electricity to the Western Balkans and Southern Europe, Masdar said in a statement.

    The companies plan to leverage an existing sub-sea interconnection with Italy. Montenegro is connected to Italy via a 600MW HVDC submarine cable, enabling electricity exports to the Italian market.

    Masdar has an existing presence in Montenegro through its investment in the 72MW Krnovo wind farm.

    The developer has recently accelerated foreign investment plans as part of its broader expansion. In April, it signed a binding agreement with France’s TotalEnergies to establish a $2.2bn joint venture to develop, build and operate renewable energy projects across Asia.

    The combined business will have 3GW of operational capacity and 6GW of projects in advanced development, targeted for commissioning by 2030.

    Masdar is targeting a global renewable energy portfolio of 100GW by 2030. It recently reached 65GW, two-thirds of the way to that target.

    The company plans to deploy an additional $30bn-$35bn in equity and project finance by 2030, adding an average of 10GW of new capacity each year.

    This expansion will be funded through a mix of equity, green bonds and long-term project financing.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16534112/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Qiddiya sets new deadline for infrastructure package

    23 April 2026

     

    Saudi gigaproject developer Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has set a 13 May deadline for bids for a contract covering new infrastructure works at Qiddiya Entertainment City.

    The scope comprises two infrastructure development packages for District 0 of Qiddiya Entertainment City, including the construction of four event park-and-ride facilities.

    The tender was issued on 11 March, with an initial bid submission deadline of 22 April.

    Lebanese firm Dar Al-Handasah and Saudi-based Sets International are serving as project consultants.

    QIC is accelerating plans to develop additional assets at Qiddiya City. Earlier this month, the company received prequalification statements from firms for the engineering, procurement, construction and finance package for the Qiddiya high-speed rail project.

    MEED has also reported that QIC received bids from contractors on 23 February for a SR980m ($261m) contract covering the construction of staff accommodation at Qiddiya Entertainment City.

    The project will cover an area of more than 105,000 square metres (sq m).

    Also in February, QIC started the main construction works on its performing arts centre at the entertainment hub.

    The Qiddiya City performing arts centre is one of several major projects within the greater Qiddiya development. Other projects include an e-games arena, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, a motorsports track, the Dragon Ball and Six Flags theme parks, and Aquarabia.

    QIC officially opened the Six Flags theme park to the public in December last year.

    The park covers 320,000 sq m and features 28 rides and attractions, including 10 thrill rides and 18 aimed at families and young children.

    The Qiddiya project is a key part of Riyadh’s strategy to boost leisure tourism in the kingdom. According to UK analytics firm GlobalData, leisure tourism in Saudi Arabia has experienced significant growth in recent years.

    Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector posted record figures last year, with more than 130 million domestic and international visitors – a 6% increase on 2024.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16533776/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Detailed design progressing for major Iraqi oil project

    23 April 2026

     

    Detailed design work is progressing on Iraq’s 950-kilometre seawater pipeline network under the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP), according to industry sources.

    They added that on-site construction would begin only after the detailed design is complete.

    Iraq’s state-owned Basra Oil Company (BOC) and China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPP) signed a $2.5bn contract for the pipeline package in September last year.

    The project is being supervised by Austria’s ILF Consulting Engineers.

    The pipeline package is one of two main CSSP packages.

    The second focuses on a seawater treatment facility, expected to have a capacity of 5 million barrels a day (b/d), potentially rising to 7-8 million b/d in later phases.

    Processed water will be injected into some of Iraq’s largest oil fields – Rumaila, Zubair, West Qurna 1, West Qurna 2 and Majnoon – and also used in the Maysan and Dhi Qar fields.

    Iraq’s Oil Ministry said the injected water will help maintain reservoir pressure and sustain crude production.

    CPP is a subsidiary of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation.

    TotalEnergies is responsible for the CSSP as part of the larger $27bn Gas Growth Integrated Project.

    Iraq approved a $2.45bn contract with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) in August last year for the engineering, procurement and construction of the seawater treatment plant.

    Over recent weeks, Iraq’s oil exports have collapsed by about 80% due to fallout from the US and Israel’s war with Iran.

    READ THE APRIL 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Economic shock threatens long-term outlook; Riyadh adjusts to fiscal and geopolitical risk; GCC contractor ranking reflects gigaprojects slowdown.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the April 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > GCC CONTRACTOR RANKING: Construction guard undergoes a shift
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16527404/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp