The UAE's renewable energy capacity has expanded 63-fold over the past decade, rising from just 129 megawatts in 2015 to 8.2 gigawatts in 2025, according to figures from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
When nuclear and other low-carbon sources are added, total clean-energy capacity in the country reached 13,805 megawatts of installed capacity. Clean sources, taken together, supplied 32.4 percent of the UAE's electricity generation during 2025, part of a national push to lift that share to 35 percent by 2031.
Why this matters for UAE electricity supply
Total electricity generation across the UAE reached 192,735 GWh in 2025, against consumption of 174,524 GWh. The growing renewable share means a larger portion of that generation now comes from solar and other clean sources rather than conventional fuel, a shift relevant to households and businesses across Dubai and Abu Dhabi as demand continues to rise.
National investment in renewable and clean energy has already exceeded AED190 billion as of January, and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 calls for a further AED150 billion to AED200 billion in investment by 2030.
Dubai's solar park keeps expanding
In Dubai, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reached 3,860 megawatts of operational capacity by the end of 2025, after DEWA added around 1,000 megawatts of capacity during the year. DEWA has raised its 2030 target for the solar park from 5,000 megawatts to more than 8,000 megawatts.
The park's seventh phase is set to add 2,000 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity alongside a 1,400 megawatt battery energy storage system capable of six hours of storage, a combination intended to keep solar power available beyond daylight hours.
Abu Dhabi's round-the-clock solar project
In Abu Dhabi, Masdar and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company are developing a project pairing 5.2 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity with 19 gigawatt-hours of battery storage, designed to deliver 1 gigawatt of continuous clean power around the clock. Masdar reached financial close on the project in July, with total investment of $6.1 billion, backed by a $5.1 billion financing package from 13 international and local banks.
EWEC and Masdar also agreed in May on a broader framework supporting deployment of more than 30 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity and over 8 gigawatts of battery storage across Abu Dhabi. Separately, the 1.5 gigawatt Khazna Solar PV project is currently under construction.
Taken together, the figures point to a rapid build-out of solar generation and battery storage in both emirates, supported by the Barakah nuclear fleet's contribution to the UAE's broader clean-energy mix, as the country works toward its 2031 generation target.
Reported by Economy Middle East