Today's Edition
DUBAI (WAM)
Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, highlighted the UAE’s progress towards its 2030 clean energy goals and its vision for a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy system during the 50th Middle East Energy.
Speaking during the session titled "The UAE 2030 Milestones: Accelerating the Clean Energy Mix," Al Olama highlighted the UAE’s balanced and pragmatic approach to the energy transition, combining ambitious climate action with energy security, affordability, reliability and long-term economic growth.
He said, “The question before us is not simply how we generate more energy. It is how we build an energy system that is cleaner, smarter, more efficient, more resilient and capable of supporting long-term economic growth.”
Al Olama noted that energy is a fundamental enabler of industry, technology, mobility, and prosperity, as well as an increasingly important driver of national competitiveness. Against a backdrop of rising demand and rapid technological change, including the growing influence of artificial intelligence, he stressed the need for energy systems capable of supporting data centres, electrification, future mobility and industrial expansion.
He highlighted the UAE’s growing clean energy portfolio, supported by investments in world-class solar projects, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, energy storage, grid infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
He also pointed to the UAE’s 24/7 renewable energy RTC project, which integrates solar generation with large-scale battery storage to provide continuous clean electricity.
He explained that improving energy efficiency is both an environmental and economic priority, helping to reduce costs, strengthen energy security, ease pressure on electricity grids, improve industrial productivity and meet growing demand without unnecessary investment in additional capacity.
During the fireside chat, Al Olama highlighted the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA), launched by the UAE to help move the global energy-efficiency agenda from commitments to practical implementation.
The Alliance brings together governments, technology providers, industry, and financial institutions to connect tangible energy-efficiency opportunities with the expertise, technology and financing needed to transform them into measurable, bankable and scalable projects.
He noted that while many of the technologies, solutions, and sources of capital required to improve energy efficiency already exist, stronger connections are needed between them.
“The technology exists. The capital exists. The demand exists. What is often missing is the bridge between them,” he said.
Al Olama also called for stronger collaboration across the energy ecosystem, emphasising the role of governments in establishing enabling policies and regulatory frameworks, the private sector in delivering technology and innovation, and financial institutions in mobilising the capital needed to scale solutions.
“The next phase of the global energy transition will not be judged only by targets announced. It will be judged by projects delivered, systems modernised, demand reduced and investment mobilised,” he said.
Al Olama reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to investing in clean energy, strengthening energy efficiency, modernising infrastructure, and advancing innovation in partnership with stakeholders around the world.
“The future of energy will not be shaped by those who wait for change. It will be shaped by those who have the courage to lead it,” he concluded.
