Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi is on track to achieve its target of sourcing 60% of grid power from emissions-free sources by 2035, a senior executive from the Department of Energy (DoE) told Aletihad, highlighting how the emirate’s energy transition is unfolding at scale.
“The pace and scale of Abu Dhabi’s progress demonstrate what can be achieved through long-term planning and consistent execution,” said Eng. Ahmed Al Falasi, Executive Director of Energy Efficiency Sector at the DoE.
The emirate’s transformative approach to energy transition is grounded in interconnectedness, digital innovation and measurable impact. As the DoE participated in this year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, it showcased some of the operational innovations translating this strategy into action.
“The Department of Energy plays a central role in guiding sector development, setting policy direction, establishing regulatory frameworks and enabling coordination across the energy and water value chain to ensure that growth, innovation and system reliability advance together,” Al Falasi said.
Al Falasi underscored the DoE’s commitment to turning long-term transition goals into real-world benefits through integrated regulation, digital governance and cross-sector coordination.
The department is among those leading efforts to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as maritime transport, with regulations advancing the integration of biofuels, ammonia and hydrogen into Abu Dhabi’s petroleum-products ecosystem.
“Through digital tracking, enforcement partnerships, and the Unified Gas Code, we ensure clean fuels are safely adopted across shipping and logistics,” Al Falasi said.
The DoE is also creating a transparent regulatory environment to attract green capital, according to Al Falasi. Backed by tools such as the Unified Gas Code and digital governance systems to ensure global alignment, the authority is targeting Dh400 billion in foreign direct investment by 2050.
Alongside decarbonisation and investment mobilisation, improving efficiency across the energy and water system remains a central pillar of Abu Dhabi’s transition strategy.
A major highlight of the DoE’s showcase at this year’s ADSW is its focus on system-wide energy and water efficiency enabled through digital solutions and demand-side management.
Among the flagship initiatives it brought to ADSW 2026 is the Demand Response Aggregator Pilot Programme, designed to enable more flexible and efficient electricity demand management. The DoE also highlighted AD.WE, its AI-powered platform for system-wide energy and water efficiency.
“Our Energy Efficiency Accelerators work directly with industry to assess energy and water use, driving meaningful improvements in line with national targets,” Al Falasi said.
This extends to circular economy goals, with targets including 95% wastewater recycling and full reuse of treated water for industrial and cooling applications by 2035. Reverse-osmosis desalination and energy-efficient cooling are cutting emissions and costs across sectors, according to Al Falasi.
These efficiency-driven and digitally enabled initiatives are further reinforced through international collaboration and knowledge sharing.
He noted that Abu Dhabi’s global partnerships are central. Through organisations like Analog and collaborations with Presight, AIQ, Google Cloud and MBZUAI, the emirate is sharing its digital expertise with partners across Africa and South Asia.
“We are building frameworks that can be replicated in emerging markets, accelerating decarbonisation while maintaining affordable and reliable energy,” Al Falasi said.
Looking ahead, empowering the Emirati youth is key. The DoE served as a principal partner in the Youth 4 Sustainability Forum at ADSW, where young Emiratis gained hands-on exposure to clean tech and leadership development.
“Initiatives like AD.WE are not only advancing governance but providing young professionals a platform to engage with the technologies driving modern energy systems,” Al Falasi said.
