5:06 am - September 2, 2025
The United Arab Emirates is rapidly expanding its influence in global solar energy efforts through innovative projects and international collaborations, aiming to triple renewable capacity by 2050 and reshape the future of clean energy worldwide.
In 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has really ramped up its role as a leader in global solar energy efforts, making clear its dedication to speeding up the worldwide switch to cleaner energy sources. They’ve got a pretty diverse range of solar projects throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, and these initiatives are playing a significant part in cutting down carbon emissions and tackling climate change challenges head-on.
What’s especially notable is how much the UAE has increased its international collaborations. Earlier this year, a trilateral agreement was signed involving the UAE, Italy, and Albania. The aim? To develop large-scale renewable energy projects in Albania, focusing on solar photovoltaics, wind, and hybrid systems. Interestingly enough, some of this energy will be sent to Italy through a subsea cable—helping Italy meet its sustainability goals, especially as demand grows with innovations like artificial intelligence. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has mentioned that this partnership is crucial for the EU’s energy transition, while UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber called it a key element in tripling renewable capacity to reach the UAE’s 2050 net-zero target.
Back home and abroad, Masdar, the UAE’s prominent clean energy company, continues to grow its footprint. In 2025 alone, Masdar completed a major deal acquiring nearly 50% ownership in four solar plants in Spain, with a total capacity of 446 megawatts—boosting its presence not just in Iberia but across Europe too. At the same time, there are new agreements with Indonesia’s state electricity company, PT PLN, to develop floating solar farms. The first projects on Java Island are expected to help increase renewable energy sources and stabilize the local grid.
One of Masdar’s headline projects is a massive $6 billion facility in Abu Dhabi designed to provide a consistent gigawatt of renewable power by 2027. Sitting across 90 square kilometers of desert, this solar-plus-storage giga-project combines a 5.2 GW solar PV plant with a 19 GWh battery system—it’s the largest of its kind worldwide and marks a real milestone in turning solar energy into dependable base-load power, tackling the common problem of intermittency that renewables often face. Leading companies in the solar and storage space, like JA Solar, Jinko Solar, and CATL, are supplying components, while Larsen & Toubro and POWERCHINA are handling the construction.
Beyond that, the UAE’s regional influence is really apparent with recent financing closures for the 2 GW Al Sudairy solar plant in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, expected to be operational by 2027. Masdar also signed a long-term deal to supply solar power to Saudi Arabia’s Misk City over the next twenty years, emphasizing the growing cooperation within the Gulf region.
On the broader African and Middle Eastern scene, Abu Dhabi’s investment arms are supporting renewables projects in several countries. This includes a 50 MW solar farm with a 25 MWh battery in Madagascar aimed at boosting grid stability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. There are also solar projects now up and running in Yemen and the Central African Republic, providing clean electricity to hundreds of thousands of households. Plus, a $220 million facility in Egypt’s Suez Canal region is set to produce 2 GW of solar panels and cells, meant for both local use and export to African markets.
All these projects fit into the wider Middle Eastern plan to diversify energy sources—though the region still has vast fossil fuel resources, there’s a noticeable shift towards renewables driven by economic goals and export prospects. By 2030, estimates suggest that renewables could make up around 30% of the energy capacity in the Middle East, with the UAE being one of the main drivers. That said, integrating these new energy sources into existing grids—originally designed for fossil fuels—still poses significant technical hurdles.
UAE’s energy minister, Suhail Al Mazrouei, has described this new phase as a kind of solar renaissance for the region, especially considering that energy demands could increase by 250% by 2050 due to factors like data centers and AI developments. The UAE’s bold solar initiatives clearly reflect a commitment not only to climate goals but also to ensuring a reliable, continuous supply of green energy at a large scale.
By forging strategic partnerships, deploying cutting-edge technology, and working on projects across multiple continents, the UAE is solidifying its position as a key player in the clean energy transition—taking advantage of its geographic and economic strengths to influence a more sustainable energy future globally.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.aletihad.ae/news/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA/4602059/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%86%D9%85%D9%88-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-2025 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.ft.com/content/f3c69a7d-0db1-4882-8d35-02ec4c57ea53 – The Middle East is rapidly becoming a significant player in the renewable energy market, second only to China in growth rate. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently announced plans to build a $6 billion, 5-gigawatt solar plant with 19GWh of battery storage, which would be the largest project of its kind globally. This project, set to commence in two years, aims to deliver a constant power output of 1GW. Concurrently, Saudi Aramco plans to enter the lithium market for battery production by 2027. The Gulf nations, despite their vast fossil fuel reserves, are accelerating renewable energy adoption to economize domestic energy costs and enhance export revenue. By 2030, renewables will constitute 30% of the energy capacity across the region. However, integrating renewables into a grid built for fossil fuels remains a challenge. Major global companies are involved in these initiatives, leveraging the region’s ideal solar conditions and competitive regulatory environment.
- https://apnews.com/article/86289dbc2d029c684923efa656fd04a2 – Italy, Albania, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a clean energy cooperation agreement to produce renewable energy such as solar and wind in Albania with UAE expertise. Some of this energy will be transferred to Italy via an underwater cable. The deal is valued at around 1 billion euros and aims to help Italy meet its sustainable energy targets. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni emphasized that the initiative aligns with efforts to transition from fossil fuels amidst growing energy demand due to AI technologies. UAE’s Sultan al-Jaber highlighted the agreement’s role in tripling renewable energy as part of the UAE’s goal to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The deal signifies the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change and advancing clean energy solutions.
- https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/uaes-masdar-launches-facility-produce-1gw-uninterrupted-renewable-energy-2025-01-14/ – Masdar, a state-owned renewable energy firm in the UAE, has launched a groundbreaking facility with the capacity to produce 1 gigawatt of uninterrupted clean power. Announced during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the project represents a significant shift towards making renewable energy a reliable baseload power source. Masdar’s chairman Sultan Al Jaber emphasized this as a monumental step in the energy sector. The facility, costing around $6 billion, is set to become operational by 2027 and will span 90 square kilometers in Abu Dhabi’s desert. The project will be funded through equity and project finance debt. UAE’s energy minister, Suhail al-Mazrouei, highlighted this development as the beginning of future solar projects in the region. The initiative also underscores the need to meet the rising energy demand, anticipated to surge by 250% by 2050 due to the growth of energy-intensive applications.
- https://masdar.ae/en/news/newsroom/masdar-announces-preferred-contractors-and-suppliers – Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy leader, has announced preferred suppliers and contractors for the world’s first large-scale ’round the clock’ gigascale project, which will combine solar photovoltaic (PV) power and battery storage to deliver uninterrupted renewable energy. JA Solar and Jinko Solar, two of the world’s largest PV module suppliers, and CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer and a leading battery energy storage system (BESS) supplier, are preferred suppliers for the project. Larsen & Toubro and POWERCHINA have been selected as preferred Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors for the project, which will be built in Abu Dhabi. The project aims to deliver up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of baseload power 24 hours a day, seven days a week, featuring a 5.2GW (DC) solar PV plant coupled with a 19 GWh BESS, making it the largest solar and BESS project in the world.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments in UAE’s solar energy initiatives, with specific events dated from January to August 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is from December 2024, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to renewable energy. ([ewec.ae](https://www.ewec.ae/index.php/en/media/press-release/ewec-secures-four-new-sites-development-46gw-world-leading-renewable-energy?utm_source=openai)) The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The content is not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No similar content has appeared more than 7 days earlier.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber. The earliest known usage of these quotes is from 7 months ago, in an AP News article dated 7 months ago. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/86289dbc2d029c684923efa656fd04a2?utm_source=openai)) The wording of the quotes matches the earlier material, indicating potential reuse. No online matches were found for other quotes, suggesting they may be original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Al Ittihad, a leading Arabic-language newspaper in the UAE. This is a strength, as it indicates a certain level of credibility. However, the report includes direct quotes from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber, which are verifiable online, suggesting the information is sourced from other reputable outlets. The reliance on a single source for the majority of the content introduces some uncertainty.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents plausible claims about the UAE’s solar energy initiatives, supported by recent developments and verifiable quotes. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure is focused and relevant, without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for corporate or official language. No significant inconsistencies or issues were identified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative provides a comprehensive overview of the UAE’s recent solar energy initiatives, supported by verifiable quotes and consistent with recent developments. While some content may have been recycled from earlier sources, the inclusion of updated data and the use of reputable sources contribute to its credibility. The report is well-structured and consistent with the region and topic, with no significant issues identified.
