The latest

The UAE is developing 136 projects worth an estimated $210 billion across conventional energy, renewables and emerging technologies. Oil and gas account for the largest share of projected capital expenditure, led by upstream developments, but the pipeline also covers hydrogen, electricity networks, conventional generation, carbon capture and energy storage. The total represents projects under development rather than capital already committed, with some yet to reach final investment decision.

Details

• Capital spending mix: Upstream developments represent nearly 40% of estimated capital expenditure, followed by downstream projects at 16% and midstream developments at just under 12%. Within the wider development pipeline, renewables account for 11%, hydrogen 9%, transmission and distribution 8%, and conventional power generation 7%. Carbon capture and energy storage each represent 4%.
• Generation capacity: EICDataStream is tracking 17,980 MW of renewable power capacity across 14 UAE projects expected to begin operating by 2030. Another 12,947 MW of conventional power generation capacity is being tracked across nine projects, underlining the parallel expansion of clean and traditional electricity infrastructure.
• Investment decision gap: Across the Gulf Cooperation Council, 28 of 99 renewable energy projects under development have reached final investment decision. The gap is wider in emerging technologies: two of 39 hydrogen projects and two of 18 carbon capture projects have secured that status. No tracked clean fuels, new nuclear, offshore wind, advanced reactor or small modular reactor projects have reached FID.
• Waste infrastructure: Tadweer Group is supporting Abu Dhabi’s target of diverting 80% of waste from landfills by 2031. Two material recovery facilities under development in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain will have combined sorting capacity of 800,000 tonnes annually. The Al Bihouth waste-to-energy facility is expected to process as much as 900,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year and generate electricity for about 52,000 homes.
• Data-centre demand: Data centres are emerging as another major source of electricity demand and infrastructure investment. Kent said one hyperscale data centre can require more than 100 MW of power, while a 1 GW campus could represent about $10 billion of investment. Required equipment overlaps with energy supply chains, including turbines, transformers, switchgear, pumps, motors, structural steel, battery systems, and mechanical and electrical services.
• Industry participation: EIC Connect UAE 2026 in Abu Dhabi brought together representatives from ADNOC, Khalifa University, AIQ, Baker Hughes, NMDC Energy and Emirates Nuclear Energy Company. Ryan McPherson, EIC’s regional director and managing director for the Middle East, Africa and CIS, said companies are examining project progress and where their capabilities can serve the market.

What’s next

The key indicators are which projects secure final investment decisions and whether the 14 tracked renewable projects deliver 17,980 MW of capacity by their expected 2030 operating dates.