Established in 2015, it is the first operational net-zero energy city in Dubai and the only to be considered to have completely adopted sustainability standards across the three core pillars: social, environmental and governmental. Learn more

Dubai South District is home to Expo City Dubai , a sustainable community that has received ISO 20121:2012 Event Sustainability Management System certification. Renewable energy systems with a combined capacity of 5.5 MW have been installed on all permanent building projects and 90% of the key materials used were procured under sustainable materials guidelines. Learn more

Implemented in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), Dubai Digital Park , is set to become Dubai’s first smart city, focusing on six pillars: life, society, mobility, economy, governance and environment. As of January 2016, DSO succeeded in reducing cumulative energy consumption by 31%, exceeding Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030’s target of 30%.

Thermal Energy Storage and Turbine Inlet Air Chilling (TESTIAC) project contributed to the reduction of more than 44,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in Dubai in 2022. This is equivalent to planting two million trees.

energy and cleantech Industries

Powering the future

Clean energy and green transformation are top priorities in Dubai and the UAE. Over the past 15 years, significant progress has been made by investing more than US$40 billion (AED147 billion) in the energy sector, including financing alternative energy projects.

Dubai’s population is expected to reach 5.8 million residents by 2040, and the city is actively preparing to meet the increased energy demand through renewable and clean sources. In line with national efforts, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy aims to position the city as a worldwide nucleus for clean energy and economy by 2050. Plans are also in place to help Dubai achieve the world’s smallest carbon footprint.

Path to Net Zero by 2050

The UAE has made a steadfast commitment to fight global warming through numerous environmental initiatives and efforts. Central to its efforts is the UAE Net Zero Strategy, a key national priority that aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions (GHG) by 2050 across all sectors. This strategy is aligned with the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement, making the nation a pioneer in the MEASA region.

Current trends forecast the national clean energy production capacity, including solar and nuclear energy, to reach 14 GW by 2030. Dubai is set to play a very important role in helping the UAE achieve its goals in this arena via the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy.

Harnessing solar efficiency

Dubai is home to the largest single-site solar park in the world, the Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) Solar Park,The park’s fifth phase was inaugurated in June 2023 and has a total capacity of 900MW, which will provide clean energy to 270,000 Dubai residences and reduce carbon emissions by 1.18 million tonnes. With a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030 and a total investment of US$13.6 billion, MBR Solar park is set to reduce 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually by 2030 .

DEWA's (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) Hatta hydroelectric power plant is another great example. It is the first of its kind in the GCC. With a storage capacity of over 1500 MW, it uses water stored in the Hatta Dam to generate solar energy.

Green hydrogen for a clean future

Dubai is spearheading the development of novel technologies for green hydrogen production using clean and renewable energy. Green hydrogen production is projected to increase by 57% annually, reaching 5.7 million tonnes in 2030. The UAE is actively seeking global competition in the low carbon hydrogen sector, aiming to acquire 25% of the market, which is estimated to hit US$400 billion (AED1.47 trillion).

Green and sustainable manufacturing

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority ‘DEWA’ unveiled an ambitious industry-friendly energy policy that encourages manufacturers, factories, data centres and agritech firms to use solar power matching their total connected load. This move is expected to position Dubai as an attractive base for manufacturers and exporters, and spur the development of a green economy, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Empowering tech-driven energy innovation

Dubai’s extensive efforts to build a sustainable green economy has made it a preferred choice for cleantech start-ups from all over the world. This has also resulted in increased interest from investors looking to diversify their portfolios and provide funding to projects that are designed to benefit the environment and reduce carbon emissions.

Attracting investments in cleantech

Dubai’s clean energy sector, boosted by the city’s commitment to renewables and carbon-neutrality, offers multiple lucrative opportunities for investors. As a whole, the sector is expected to grow at 8% per year from 2024 to 2029. Pro-investor policies and the region’s expected rise in energy demand due to population growth are both expected to spur increased investments in clean energy and renewables projects.

In 2021, DEWA’s Innovation Centre launched the Cleantech Connect Programme, which brings together innovators, industry experts and academics to raise awareness, share expertise and demonstrate the success of the latest innovations and developments in the sector. Under the programme framework, DEWA organises regular workshops, seminars and panel discussions to promote innovation in sustainability, renewables and clean energy projects.

Paving the roads of tomorrow

Dubai’s Smart City approach aims to transform it into the most sustainable, and subsequently happiest city on earth. Dubai has been at the forefront of smart city development in the Middle East, with its solutions dating back to 2014, and the initiative links the public and private sectors together to embrace technology innovation.