UAE

Overall rating
Critically insufficient

Policies and action
against modelled domestic pathways

Critically insufficient
4°C+ World

NDC target
against modelled domestic pathways

Almost Sufficient
< 2°C World

NDC target
against fair share

Critically insufficient
4°C+ World
Climate finance
Not assessed
Net zero target

year

2050

Comprehensiveness rated as

Poor
Land use & forestry
Not assessed

References

  • AFP. (2022, October 18). In a first, UAE discovers offshore gas reserves. The News. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/930515-in-a-first-uae-discovers-offshore-gas-reserves
  • Associated Press. (2023, July 4). UAE announces plans to invest $54B in energy and triple renewable sources. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/uae-cop28-investment-renewable-energy-hydrogen-carbon-0138f18dda532eab15bd450ff026fe30
  • Benny, J. (2022, October 6). UAE Ministry of Energy teams up with Engie subsidiary to develop clean energy projects. The National News. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/road-to-net-zero/2022/10/06/uae-ministry-of-energy-teams-up-with-engie-subsidiary-to-develop-clean-energy-projects/
  • BP. (2022). BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022. https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html
  • CAT. (2022). Global reaction to energy crisis risks zero carbon transition Analysis of government responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. https://climateactiontracker.org/documents/1055/CAT_2022-06-08_Briefing_EnergyCrisisReaction.pdf
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2023). Countdown to COP28: time for world to focus on oil and gas phase-out, renewables target, not distractions like CCS. https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/countdown-to-COP28/
  • Deepthi Nair. (2022, October 16). Opec+ decisions are crucial to market stability, say Omani and Bahraini oil ministries. The National News. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2022/10/16/opec-decisions-are-based-on-purely-economic-considerations-says-oman-energy-ministry/
  • Di Paola, A. (2022, September 19). UAE Accelerates Plan to Increase Its Oil Production Capacity . Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-19/uae-accelerates-plan-to-increase-its-oil-production-capacity
  • Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA). (2022). Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/strategic-initiatives/mbr-solar-park
  • Economist Intelligence Unit. (2022, November 10). UAE green deal with US will mobilise renewables investment. Economist Intelligence Unit. https://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=1872557570#:~:text=The UAE has signed an agreement—the Partnership for,by 2035 and calling for wide-ranging decarbonisation co-operation.
  • Energy Voice. (2023, October). UAE oil giant doubles carbon capture target ahead of COP summit. Energy Voice.
  • Global Energy Monitor. (2022). Hassyan Clean-Coal Power Project. Global Energy Monitor. https://www.gem.wiki/Hassyan_Clean-Coal_Power_Project#cite_note-wire-1
  • Government of the UAE. (2017). Energy Strategy 2050. https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/federal-governments-strategies-and-plans/uae-energy-strategy-2050
  • Government of the UAE. (2019). Waste-to-energy. The United Arab Emirates’ Government Portal. https://government.ae/en/information-and-services/environment-and-energy/water-and-energy/energy-/waste-to-energy-
  • Government of the UAE. (2021a). Railways . The Official Portal of the UAE Government. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/transportation/railways
  • Government of the UAE. (2021b). Sustainable transportation plans. The Official Portal of the UAE Government. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/transportation/plans-and-initiatives-for-sustainable-transportation
  • Government of the UAE. (2022). Updated Second Nationally Determined Contribution of the United Arab Emirates. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-09/UpdateNDC-EN-2022.pdf
  • Government of the UAE. (2023a). Third Update of the Second Nationally Determined Contribution of the United Arab Emirates. UNFCCC. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2023-07/Third Update of Second NDC for the UAE_v15.pdf
  • Government of the UAE. (2023b). UAE Updated Energy Strategy 2050. https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/environment-and-energy/uae-energy-strategy-2050
  • Gulf Today. (2019, October 15). Dewa receives world’s lowest bid for fifth phase of MBR Solar Park. https://www.gulftoday.ae/business/2019/10/15/dewa-receives-worlds-lowest-bid---for-fifth-phase-of-mbr-solar-park
  • Gulf Today. (2023, April 2). UAE, Saudi, Oman and Kuwait to cut oil production from May to end of 2023. Gulf Today. https://www.gulftoday.ae/business/2023/04/02/uae-saudi-oman-and-kuwait-to-cut-oil-production-from-may-to-end-of-2023
  • Gütschow, J., Günther, A., & Pflüger, M. (2022). The PRIMAP-Hist national historical emissions time series (1990-2021).
  • Gütschow, J., & Pflüger, M. (2022). The PRIMAP-hist national historical emissions time series (1750-2021) v2.4. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7179775
  • Gütschow, J., & Pflüger, M. (2023). The PRIMAP-hist national historical emissions time series v2.5 (1750-2022). Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.10006301.
  • H2 World News. (2021, November 10). UAE announces Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap. H2 World News. https://h2worldnews.com/uae-announces-hydrogen-leadership-roadmap/
  • Ibrahim, L., & Saleh, A. (2022, November 11). UAE unveils National Net Zero by 2050 pathway at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. Emirates News Agency. https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303100909
  • ICLG. (2022). Oil & Gas Laws and Regulations Report 2022 United Arab Emirates. In ICLG. https://iclg.com/practice-areas/oil-and-gas-laws-and-regulations/united-arab-emirates
  • IEA. (2021a). Emissions Factors 2021. In Emissions Factors. IEA. https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-product/emissions-factors-2021
  • IEA. (2021b). Global Energy Review: CO2 Emissions in 2020. https://www.iea.org/articles/global-energy-review-co2-emissions-in-2020
  • IEA. (2021c). Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector. International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050
  • IEA. (2022). World Energy Balances (2022 edition). International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-product/world-energy-balances
  • IRENASTAT. (2023). UAE Installed Capacity Data. IRENA. https://pxweb.irena.org/pxweb/en/IRENASTAT/IRENASTAT__Power Capacity and Generation/ELECCAP_2022_cycle2.px/
  • Lo, J. (2021, October 7). UAE sets net zero by 2050 target, promises renewable investments. Climate Home News. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/10/07/uae-sets-net-zero-2050-target-promises-renewable-investments/
  • Masdar Institute/IRENA. (2015). Renewable Energy Prospects: United Arab Emirates. REmap 2030 analysis. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2015/IRENA_REmap_UAE_report_2015.pdf?la=en&hash=EBC2605ACE3C2003F48CA85CFF05A571AD378721
  • Ministry of Energy. (2015). The UAE State of Energy Report.
  • Pearce, F. (2023). In New Scramble for Africa, an Arab Sheikh Is Taking the Lead. Yale Environment 360. https://e360.yale.edu/features/al-maktoum-uae-dubai-africa-carbon-credits
  • Power Technology. (2022, March 31). Hatta Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant. Power Technology. https://www.power-technology.com/projects/hatta-pumped-storage-hydropower-plant-uae/
  • Reuters. (2023, October 5). UAE’s ADNOC awards $17 billion of contracts for gas project. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/adnoc-awards-contracts-gas-project-aiming-net-zero-co2-emissions-2023-10-05/
  • Sharma, A. (2022, May). Sharjah opens region’s first commercial-scale waste-to-energy plant. The National News. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/2022/05/24/sharjah-opens-regions-first-commercial-scale-waste-to-energy-plant/
  • Technical Review Middle East. (2022, May 10). EWEC invites bidders to develop Al Ajban Solar PV. https://www.technicalreviewmiddleeast.com/power-a-water/renewables/ewec-invites-bidders-to-develop-al-ajban-solar-pv
  • The Guardian. (2023). Revealed: UAE plans huge oil and gas expansion as it hosts UN climate summit. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/04/revealed-uae-plans-huge-oil-and-gas-expansion-as-it-hosts-un-climate-summit
  • The National News. (2022, May 25). Abu Dhabi outlines policy for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The National News. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/transport/2022/05/25/abu-dhabi-outlines-policy-for-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure/
  • Tollast, S. (2022, September 16). Solar power in the Middle East: how some countries are racing to go green. The National News. https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2022/09/16/solar-power-in-the-middle-east-how-some-countries-are-racing-to-go-green/
  • Transport & Environment. (2020). Compressed natural gas vehicles are not a clean solution for transport - Review of the latest evidence shows high levels of particle emissions. https://www.transportenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2020_06_TE_CNG_particle_report.pdf
  • UNFCCC. (n.d.). GHG Profiles - Non-Annex I. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from http://di.unfccc.int/ghg_profile_non_annex1
  • US EIA. (2023a). International Energy Statistics. U.S. Energy Information Administration. https://www.eia.gov/international/data/world
  • US EIA. (2023b). SHORT-TERM ENERGY OUTLOOK.
  • US EPA. (2019). Global Non-CO 2 Greenhouse Gas Emission Projections & Marginal Abatement Cost Analysis: Methodology Documentation Report.
  • WAM. (2017). President of Masdar: the strategy of the UAE leads to a sustainable use of energy resources. http://wam.ae/ar/details/1395302596654
  • World-Energy. (2022, October 14). ADNOC Drilling Contract as UAE Steps up Oil & Gas Production . World-Energy. https://www.world-energy.org/article/27113.html

Latest publications

Stay informed

Subscribe to our newsletter