The United Arab Emirates is intensifying efforts to position itself as a global hub for clean energy investment, supported by a series of projects announced and launched in 2026 by leading national entities.

The initiatives reflect a broader strategy to expand the country’s role in delivering reliable and sustainable energy solutions across Asia, Africa and Europe, while contributing to economic growth and carbon emission reductions.

In January, authorities introduced the Sustainable Digital Services IT Guideline, aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy in digital infrastructure and promoting environmentally sustainable practices across sectors such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

At the World Governments Summit 2026, the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy launched the Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy, establishing a framework for decentralised energy generation and storage. The policy is designed to support sectors including agriculture in transitioning to more efficient and sustainable power systems.

In a related development, Masdar partnered with Elite Agro to deploy the region’s first agricultural photovoltaic (AgriPV) project at Al Foah farm in Al Ain, offering a model for integrating renewable energy into agricultural operations.

Domestically, the UAE’s installed renewable energy capacity has surpassed 7.7 gigawatts, with projects under development expected to increase total capacity to more than 23 gigawatts by 2031. Capacity grew by 117% between 2022 and 2025, reflecting the pace of policy implementation and project execution.

Internationally, Masdar’s clean energy portfolio has reached 65 gigawatts, as the company targets 100 gigawatts by 2030. Expansion efforts in 2026 include the 150-megawatt Quipungo solar project in Angola, expected to supply electricity to approximately 300,000 homes and create around 2,000 jobs.

In Uzbekistan, the company achieved financial close on a 300-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant alongside a 75 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, part of a broader investment programme exceeding $2bn.

Masdar has also signed an agreement with RWE Renewables to develop up to 1 gigawatt of renewable energy and storage capacity by 2030, with potential expansion to 2035. In parallel, it entered a $2.2bn joint venture with TotalEnergies to consolidate onshore renewable operations across nine countries in Asia.

Separately, Global South Utilities is expanding the UAE’s international footprint through projects including a 5-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in Berbera, aimed at reducing diesel dependence and improving energy security.

The company has also partnered with Weiheng to support the localisation of battery energy storage manufacturing in Abu Dhabi, aligning with the UAE’s industrial development and supply chain diversification objectives.