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Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei told the Emirates News Agency on the sidelines of Middle East Energy 2026 that the UAE has adjusted its numbers upward for clean energy contributions by the end of the decade. He said achieving the revised goal will demand new projects along with heightened competition and expanded private sector opportunities in power generation. The minister added that the UAE power sector has maintained openness to private participation for years which in turn has stimulated efficiency gains and cost reductions.
Al Mazrouei explained that national strategy updates respond directly to ongoing declines in technology costs and performance improvements across the sector. Energy storage systems have advanced to the point where batteries can now hold power for 24 hours at competitive prices whereas earlier versions managed only two to three hours. This shift according to the minister has made solar generation capable of delivering round-the-clock supply on par with natural gas or nuclear facilities while maintaining attractive pricing.
“We adjusted and updated our numbers so our target for clean energy by the year 2030-2031 will be around 35 percent and we may see high number” Al Mazrouei said in the WAM interview. He pointed to a planned 5-gigawatt solar installation paired with 19.5 gigawatts of battery storage that is designed to supply 1 gigawatt of continuous power throughout the day and night. The minister described the project as among the world’s largest of its kind and illustrative of how clean energy can meet reliability standards previously associated only with conventional sources.
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure figures reported via WAM show that clean energy accounted for 32.4 percent of electricity generation in 2025 with total clean installed capacity including nuclear reaching 13 805 megawatts. Renewable capacity alone expanded from 129 megawatts in 2015 to more than 8.2 gigawatts last year marking a 63-fold increase over the decade. Electricity output from clean sources exceeded 62.4 gigawatt-hours in 2025 while overall generation stood at 192 735 gigawatt-hours against consumption of 174 524 gigawatt-hours.
The Middle East Energy 2026 exhibition where the minister delivered his remarks opened Tuesday at the Dubai World Trade Centre and continues through Thursday with 1 500 exhibitors from 70 countries. Al Mazrouei stressed the need for stronger grids enhanced interconnections and continued efficiency measures to accommodate growing demand and integrate higher shares of variable renewables. He noted that the UAE maintains a long-term approach to ensure surplus capacity and energy security under varying conditions.
The updated 35 percent target for 2030-2031 surpasses earlier benchmarks set under the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and supports the national net-zero emissions objective by 2050 when clean sources are projected to make up half the energy mix. Ministry data cited in WAM reports indicate that progress to date has already exceeded prior interim goals allowing for the raised ambition. Al Mazrouei said the country will continue monitoring global trends to refine its plans as new technologies emerge.
