The UAE is taking a balanced approach to its energy transition, combining clean-energy ambitions with energy security, affordability and long-term economic growth, Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said.
Speaking at the 50th Middle East Energy during a session titled “The UAE 2030 Milestones: Accelerating the Clean Energy Mix,” Al Olama outlined the country’s progress towards its 2030 clean-energy objectives and its plans to develop a more resilient and efficient energy system.
He said the UAE’s energy strategy is focused not only on increasing clean power generation but also on building an energy system capable of supporting the country’s wider economic transformation.
“The question before us is not simply how we generate more energy. It is how we build an energy system that is cleaner, smarter, more efficient, more resilient and capable of supporting long-term economic growth,” Al Olama said.
He described energy as a critical foundation for industry, technology, mobility and economic prosperity, while noting its growing importance to national competitiveness. With electricity demand rising and technologies such as artificial intelligence developing rapidly, he stressed the need for infrastructure capable of supporting data centres, electrification, future mobility and industrial growth.
Expanding Clean Energy Capacity
Al Olama highlighted the UAE’s expanding clean-energy portfolio, which includes major investments in solar power, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, energy storage, electricity-grid infrastructure and emerging technologies.
He also pointed to the country’s 24/7 renewable energy project, which combines large-scale solar generation with battery storage to deliver continuous clean electricity. The initiative reflects the UAE’s efforts to move beyond intermittent renewable generation and develop reliable low-carbon power supplies.
Alongside increasing clean-energy capacity, Al Olama stressed that energy efficiency must remain a central part of the transition.
Improving efficiency, he said, can deliver both environmental and economic benefits by lowering costs, strengthening energy security, reducing pressure on electricity networks and improving industrial productivity. It can also help economies meet rising energy demand without relying solely on expensive investments in additional generation capacity.
UAE Pushes Global Energy Efficiency Cooperation
During a fireside chat, Al Olama also highlighted the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA), an initiative launched by the UAE to accelerate practical action on energy efficiency worldwide.
The alliance aims to bring together governments, technology companies, industry and financial institutions to connect energy-efficiency opportunities with the technologies, expertise and funding required to turn them into scalable and financially viable projects.
Al Olama said many of the technologies and financing solutions needed to improve efficiency are already available, but stronger links between stakeholders are required.
“The technology exists. The capital exists. The demand exists. What is often missing is the bridge between them,” he said.
He called for greater cooperation across the energy sector, with governments creating supportive policies and regulatory frameworks, private companies providing technology and innovation, and financial institutions helping mobilise the capital needed to expand successful solutions.
From Targets to Real-World Projects
Al Olama said the next stage of the global energy transition should be measured by tangible results rather than commitments alone.
“The next phase of the global energy transition will not be judged only by targets announced. It will be judged by projects delivered, systems modernised, demand reduced and investment mobilised,” he said.
He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to expanding clean-energy investment, improving energy efficiency, modernising infrastructure and advancing technological innovation through international partnerships.
Concluding his remarks, Al Olama emphasised the importance of leadership in navigating the global energy transition.
“The future of energy will not be shaped by those who wait for change. It will be shaped by those who have the courage to lead it,” he said.
