UAE renewable energy capacity rises 63-fold over decade
Gulf state expands clean power rapidly as it upgrades its electricity grid and prepares for rising energy demand
ABU DHABI, UAE (MNTV) — The United Arab Emirates’ renewable energy capacity has increased more than 63-fold over the past decade, reflecting a major expansion of clean power as the country seeks to diversify its energy mix.
Renewable capacity grew from 129 megawatts in 2015 to more than 8.2 gigawatts in 2025, according to Sharif Al Olama, undersecretary for energy and petroleum affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
Al Olama’s remarks, carried by the state-run Emirates News Agency, or WAM, highlighted the rapid expansion of renewable power alongside broader efforts to modernize the country’s electricity infrastructure.
Clean energy accounted for 32.4 percent of the UAE’s electricity generation in 2025. The government aims to increase that share to 35 percent by 2031.
The country generated 192,735 gigawatt-hours of electricity last year, while total consumption stood at 174,524 GWh, according to WAM.
The expansion comes as the UAE attempts to meet growing electricity requirements while reducing emissions and improving the resilience of its energy system.
Under its updated Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE plans to more than triple the contribution of renewable energy by 2030.
The government expects to invest between 150 billion dirhams ($40.8 billion) and 200 billion dirhams in the energy sector to meet increasing demand while supporting continued economic growth.
Al Olama said the country had made progress in several areas of its energy system, including expanding clean electricity generation, strengthening the national grid and improving connections between electricity networks.
He also pointed to the growing use of digital technologies and data to monitor and manage the power system, with the aim of making the grid more responsive to future demand.
The UAE has set a target of reducing its grid emission factor to 0.27 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour by 2030. The government says the goal would place the country among those with comparatively low electricity-sector emissions.
The broader clean-energy portfolio includes nuclear power, photovoltaic solar, concentrated solar power, wind energy and waste-to-energy projects.
Installed clean-energy capacity reached 13,805 MW in 2025, while electricity produced from clean sources exceeded 62.4 GWh, according to WAM.
The government has linked the expansion to a longer-term strategy focused on securing reliable electricity supplies while reducing the environmental impact of power generation.
Al Olama said progress had been supported by cooperation between federal and local authorities, national companies and private-sector operators.
As part of efforts to strengthen the electricity network, the UAE has also established the Emirates Monitoring Centre, described by officials as the country’s first national facility dedicated to real-time monitoring of the integrated power system.
The centre connects the country’s four electricity utilities, allowing authorities to monitor the wider network and respond more effectively to changes in electricity supply and demand.
The UAE’s renewable-energy expansion represents a significant shift for a major hydrocarbon-producing state, which is seeking to expand cleaner sources of electricity while continuing to meet the energy requirements of its rapidly developing economy.
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