Sectors — Energy

AI and clean technology are transforming how the world is powered.

The world needs more energy with fewer emissions. Clean energy now attracts nearly twice the investment of fossil fuels, and AI is changing how energy is produced, moved and used. The UAE is moving fast on both, making it a launchpad for ventures, capital and talent from across the region and beyond.

Where the sector is heading

A cleaner energy mix, at scale

Global view

The IEA expects global renewable capacity to grow by about 4,600 GW by 2030, more than doubling, with solar making up around 80% of the growth.

UAE lens

Renewable capacity passed 8.2 GW in 2025, up from 129 MW in 2015, and clean sources generated 32.4% of electricity that year, with a target of 35% by 2031. Abu Dhabi's 5.2 GW solar and 19 GWh battery project, built to deliver 1 GW of clean power around the clock, reached US$6.1 billion financial close in 2026.

Capital shifts to clean

Global view

Clean energy investment is expected to reach about US$2.2 trillion in 2026, out of US$3.4 trillion in total energy investment, nearly double the amount going to fossil fuels.

UAE lens

The UAE plans up to AED 200 billion (US$54.5 billion) in clean energy projects through 2030, and Masdar's portfolio has passed 65 GW on the way to a 100 GW target by 2030.

Decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors

Global view

Low-emissions hydrogen from projects already operating or financed is set to reach 4.2 million tonnes a year by 2030, five times 2024 output, though costs remain above fossil-based hydrogen.

UAE lens

The National Hydrogen Strategy targets 1.4 million tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen a year by 2031, rising to 15 million tonnes by 2050.

AI drives efficiency and lower emissions

Global view

AI tools could save energy equal to around 3% of global consumption by 2035 and get more out of existing grids, while data centres, which used about 485 TWh of electricity in 2025, are set to roughly double their demand by 2030.

UAE lens

In November 2026, ADNOC signed with OpenAI and G42 to deploy OpenAI's Frontier platform across its operations, described as a first for an energy company, building on a US$340 million agentic AI rollout with AIQ across its upstream fields. Abu Dhabi is also building a 5 GW UAE-US AI campus.

How innovation will shape it

The role of AI and emerging tech

Across the full value chain of traditional and renewable energy, AI technologies can optimise energy use, improve safety, reliability and efficiency, reduce emissions and accelerate low- and no-carbon energy solutions.

Optimising energy use in operations, buildings and industry
Predictive maintenance that improves safety and reliability across assets and grids
Forecasting solar output and demand to balance grids and storage in real time
Detecting and cutting emissions across production and supply chains
Speeding up the discovery and scale-up of low- and no-carbon technologies

The role of talent

Skills for the next economy

Global view

Renewable energy employs at least 16.6 million people worldwide, and the IRENA and ILO review puts education and training at the heart of keeping pace.

UAE lens

The UAE's updated energy strategies are expected to create at least 50,000 new green jobs by 2030.

The sector needs engineers, data and AI specialists, climate finance professionals and entrepreneurs, and young people ready to build the solutions.

How we work with governments and corporates

We design the right format for what you want to advance.

What you want to advanceThe format we design

The conversation

Forums, roundtables and leadership dialogues that bring the right decision-makers together.

Investment

Investor platforms, live pitches and curated deal rooms that connect capital with ventures.

Innovation

Accelerators, challenges, innovation sprints and hackathons that turn ideas into solutions.

Partnerships

Partnership strategies and sponsorship programmes that bring corporates, funders and stakeholders on board to back and scale your initiative.

Talent

Youth programmes, skills bootcamps, challenges and forums that equip young people for the future of energy.

Reach

Outreach campaigns that scout and engage startups, SMEs, investors and partners across the region and beyond.

Our work in energy

Investor Connect

Zayed Sustainability Prize

We help Zayed Sustainability Prize finalists in energy find the right investors and buyers, preparing them through an investor readiness programme and connecting them through curated one-to-one meetings and IC Live Pitches.

Climate Innovation Exchange

World Future Energy Summit

We connected climate and energy startups with investors at the World Future Energy Summit, opening doors to funding and partnerships.

Zayed Sustainability Prize

Regional outreach partner since 2024

We lead the Prize’s outreach across MENA, reaching startups and SMEs with energy solutions and encouraging the strongest to apply, and we shape its partnership strategy.

Youth 4 Sustainability

An initiative by Masdar

We design and deliver programmes and forums that equip young people with the skills and connections to build solutions for a cleaner, more efficient energy future.

Let's design the right format for your goals.

Let's co-create

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