The UAE has 136 energy projects under development with an estimated combined capital expenditure of $210 billion, highlighting the scale of investment planned across oil and gas, renewables, hydrogen, power infrastructure and emerging clean energy technologies.
Figures from EICDataStream, presented at EIC Connect UAE 2026, show that conventional energy projects continue to account for the largest share of the country’s development pipeline.
Upstream oil and gas projects represent almost 40% of estimated capital expenditure, while downstream developments account for 16% and midstream projects for just under 12%.
The wider pipeline also includes renewable energy, hydrogen, transmission and distribution infrastructure, conventional power generation, carbon capture and energy storage.
However, not all projects have reached final investment decision, meaning the $210 billion figure represents developments currently being tracked rather than fully committed investment.
Renewable energy capacity expands
Renewable energy projects account for 11% of the UAE’s development pipeline, while hydrogen represents 9%.
Transmission and distribution projects make up 8%, conventional power accounts for 7%, while carbon capture and energy storage each represent around 4%.
EICDataStream is tracking 17,980MW of renewable energy capacity across 14 UAE projects expected to come online by 2030.
A further 12,947MW of conventional power generation capacity is being tracked across nine projects.
Ryan McPherson, EIC Regional Director and General Manager for the Middle East, Africa and CIS, said the UAE continues to offer a strong project pipeline for companies operating across the energy supply chain.
He said the opportunities span both conventional and non-conventional technologies, with companies increasingly assessing which projects are progressing and where they can bring their capabilities to the market.
GCC projects remain at different investment stages
The data also shows a significant gap between the number of energy projects being developed across the GCC and those that have secured final investment decisions.
Of 99 renewable energy projects under development across the Gulf, 28 have reached final investment decision.
Only two of 39 hydrogen projects have reached that stage, while two of 18 carbon capture developments have secured final investment approval.
According to the figures, none of the clean fuels, nuclear new-build, offshore wind or advanced modular reactor and small modular reactor projects included in the dataset has yet reached final investment decision.
The numbers highlight the difference between the overall potential value of the region’s energy development pipeline and the level of capital that has already been formally committed.
Abu Dhabi waste infrastructure gains momentum
EIC Connect UAE also highlighted additional infrastructure opportunities in Abu Dhabi, including major waste management projects.
Tadweer Group is supporting Abu Dhabi’s target of diverting 80% of waste away from landfill by 2031.
Two material recovery facilities are being developed in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain with a combined sorting capacity of 800,000 tonnes per year.
The planned Al Bihouth waste-to-energy facility is expected to process as much as 900,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually.
Once operational, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to supply approximately 52,000 homes.
Data centres create new energy demand
Data centre expansion was also identified as a growing source of demand for energy infrastructure and equipment suppliers in the UAE.
Kent told the conference that a hyperscale data centre can require more than 100MW of power, while a 1GW hyperscale campus could represent around $10 billion in infrastructure investment.
The sector requires many of the same products and services already supplied to conventional energy developments, including gas turbines, transformers, switchgear, pumps, motors, structural steel, battery storage and mechanical and electrical systems.
The expansion of large-scale data centres could therefore create additional opportunities for companies operating across the UAE’s energy and industrial supply chains.
EIC Connect UAE, held in Abu Dhabi, also featured presentations from ADNOC, Khalifa University, AIQ, Baker Hughes, NMDC Energy and Emirates Nuclear Energy Company.
