United Arab Emirates New Energy Policy

The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure recently revealed the details of the policy regulating the market of energy service providers in the UAE that was approved earlier by the UAE cabinet. U.S. companies have many opportunities in the UAE and new UAE strategies and investments are creating even more opportunities. 

Developed by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), the policy provides guidelines for the contractual framework among energy stakeholders and the various contracting mechanisms to consolidate the mechanisms of doing business, financing, and partnerships between the public and private sectors. The policy integrates the objectives of the National Water and Energy Demand Management Program 2050 – a main enabler of achieving the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.  

The policy has set objectives for the next five years, including:

• Reducing water use by 23%. 
• Cutting down operational costs by 20% in federal buildings.
• Contributing to clean energy by 5%.
• Promoting the sustainability of buildings by an approximate 5-10%.
• Raising awareness of energy and water conservation and the importance of behavioral change. 

These new guidelines will encourage energy service providers and private sector companies to invest in government projects, with the goal of reducing energy and water consumption, carbon footprints, and operational costs in buildings. UAE’s new policy opens doors for U.S. firms with expertise in design and construction, wastewater pollution control, energy efficient technologies, etc.

• To further explore business opportunities in the energy sector, companies may consider ADNOC’s largest annual energy show, the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) which takes place October 2-5, 2023.
• To further explore business opportunities in the water sector, companies may consider the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), which takes place November 15-17, 2023.  

For more information, please contact Office.AbuDhabi@trade.gov.