Dubai is taking bold and strategic steps to become one of the first cities in the world to rely entirely on clean energy by 2050. This mission is guided by strong leadership and a forward-thinking approach to sustainability, anchored in three key strategies: the UAE Net Zero by 2050, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050.
A Vision Backed by Action
At the heart of this green transformation is the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the sole provider of water and electricity in the Emirate. DEWA plays a vital role in executing Dubai’s sustainability agenda. A major milestone on this journey came during the UAE Consensus at COP28, where Dubai reaffirmed its pledge to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park: Powering Progress
Dubai’s clean energy leadership is centered around the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park—the largest single-site solar park in the world using both photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies. As of now, the park has achieved a capacity of 3,460MW, with an additional 1,200MW under construction. By 2030, total capacity is expected to hit 7,260MW, supplying 34% of Dubai’s total energy needs and cutting 8 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The park holds multiple world records, Tallest solar tower at 263.126 meters and Largest thermal energy storage capacity at 5,907 megawatt-hours
DEWA is also at the forefront of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make its operations smarter and more sustainable:
Developed the first AI-powered gas turbine controller at Jebel Ali Power Complex, improving thermal efficiency by 3%.
Implemented AI-powered substations that save 129 MWh annually and reduce 54 tonnes of CO₂ per station.
Introduced Rammas, DEWA’s virtual assistant, which has handled over 10 million inquiries, now enhanced with ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot—cutting operational costs by 50%.
Dubai has made measurable progress, 20% of energy now comes from clean sources, aiming for 34% by 2030 and 28.6% drop in net CO₂ emissions in 2024 compared to baseline projections.
Holds the world record for lowest Customer Minutes Lost (CML) at just 0.94 minutes per customer, far surpassing the global average of around 15 minutes.
Dubai is investing heavily in clean energy innovation:
The Sustainability and Innovation Centre and DEWA’s R&D Centre at the Solar Park focus on new technologies like redox flow batteries, solar-powered desalination, and next-gen photovoltaic systems.
Strategic partnerships with global universities and research institutions ensure cutting-edge progress in energy storage and smart grid integration.
Green Hydrogen: The Middle East’s first solar-powered green hydrogen plant at the Solar Park produces 20 kg/hour, enabling cleaner fuel options.
Pumped-Storage Hydropower: A 250MW plant in Hatta stores energy with 1,500 megawatt-hours capacity, offering 78.9% turnaround efficiency.
Waste-to-Energy: Dubai’s facility is the largest in the world, turning waste into 200MW of electricity, reducing landfill use, and cutting 2,400 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Dubai’s drive toward 100% clean energy by 2050 is more than an environmental goal—it’s a blueprint for how cities can lead in economic innovation, technological development, and climate action. By combining AI, space technology, R&D, and public-private collaboration, Dubai is setting new global standards in sustainability.
