In the grand halls of the United Arab Emirates government, an ambitious plan has been unveiled to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. The plan, penned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s vice president and ruler of Dubai, consists of a sweeping $54 billion commitment over the next seven years towards renewable energy and sustainable technologies, aiming to steer the nation towards a carbon-neutral future by 2050.
The Sheikh announced the plans at the start of August, pledging to not only triple the supply of renewable energy but also to invest in the production of low-emission hydrogen fuel and electric vehicle infrastructure.
He explained that the government “aims to triple the contribution of renewable energy over the next seven years and invest 150 billion to 200 billion dirhams ($40 billion to $54 billion) during the same period to meet the country’s growing demand for energy.”
The UAE’s journey towards renewable energy is not a course taken lightly. A nation enriched by its oil wealth, and a major hub for business and tourism, marked by the futuristic skyline of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the transition to renewable energy is a departure from tradition. Required are vast amounts of energy to fuel desalination plants that nurture its desert golf courses, power the air conditioners that cool its sprawling malls, and support heavy industries such as aluminium smelters.
Yet the signs of change are already visible. The UAE boasts a nuclear power plant, and the expansive solar park in Dubai, which met 15% of the city’s needs last year, exemplifies the country’s ambitions. The reliance on natural gas imported from Qatar still looms large, but the path towards a greener horizon has been set.
As eyes turn towards the COP28 climate summit, the world watches and waits to see if the UAE’s shimmering façade of innovation and growth will shine a light on the global path to sustainability. The investment announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum undoubtedly marks a step towards that more enlightened path.
