Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi is meeting rising electricity demand by leveraging existing infrastructure more efficiently, using digital tools, demand management, and smart policies.
Mohamed Saleh Alhadhrami, Director of Energy and Water Efficiency Performance at the Department of Energy, revealed that the emirate generates around 100 terawatt-hours of electricity annually from roughly 25 gigawatts of installed capacity.
Alhadhrami made the remarks during a press conference announcing the launch of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, which will run under the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go".
Globally, demand for electricity and water is accelerating, driven by population growth, electrification, artificial intelligence, rising cooling needs and economic expansion.
The official noted that “Abu Dhabi is no exception”, and that is prompting policymakers to look into maximising the performance of current assets while maintaining reliability, affordability and sustainability.
A central pillar of Abu Dhabi’s approach is digitalisation, which the DoE now considers “core infrastructure” rather than an optional add-on, Alhadhrami noted.
“AI-powered platforms and advanced analytics now enable policymakers and operators to understand energy and water systems in real time across electricity, water, cooling, and petroleum products,” he explained. “This fundamentally changes how we plan, operate, and regulate.”
This approach is evident in AD.WE, an AI-powered energy and water management platform that runs entirely on carbon-free electricity.
The platform, launched by DoE at GITEX Global 2025, integrates billions of live and historical data points into a secure, locally hosted cloud, giving policymakers and operators a single view of system performance.
According to the department, real-time analytics can identify inefficiencies early, delivering up to 30% water savings and 20% energy savings, with financial benefits exceeding Dh100 million, while improving resilience and reliability.
Beyond supply-side optimisation, Alhadhrami noted that demand response is a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi’s Load Management Programme under the Energy and Water Efficiency Strategy 2030.
“Efficiency and flexibility on the demand side remain the most powerful and cost-effective ways to unlock new capacity, driving smarter energy use and sustainability.”
A policy target of contracting 200 megawatts of demand response capacity was exceeded last year, with more than 250 megawatts achieved through a pilot programme - a first for the region.
Regulation is critical to sustaining this transition, according to Alhadhrami.
“As a regulator, the Department of Energy sets the rules, standards, and shared data frameworks that protect consumers, while enabling investment and innovation,” he explained.
“By aligning incentives with efficiency, flexibility, and avoided cost, rather than asset growth alone, regulation supports financial sustainability alongside sustainability ambitions.”
Against this backdrop, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week has become a key platform for advancing solutions, according to Alhadhrami.
The DoE has been a principal partner of the event for more than seven years, viewing it as a forum where governments, industry leaders, financiers and innovators align on cross-sector strategies rather than siloed discussions.
