The UAE has 136 energy projects under development with a combined estimated capital expenditure (CAPEX) of approximately $210 billion, according to data presented by the Energy Industries Council (EIC) at the EIC Connect UAE 2026 event in Abu Dhabi.
Data from EICDataStream showed that the oil and gas sector accounts for the largest share of planned investment, with upstream projects representing almost 40 percent of total estimated capex. Downstream projects account for 16 percent, while midstream developments represent just under 12 percent.
Renewables account for 11 percent of projects under development, followed by hydrogen (9 percent), transmission and distribution (8 percent), conventional power (7 percent), and carbon capture, and energy storage, each representing 4 percent.
Not all projects in the pipeline have reached final investment decision (FID), according to EIC.
According to EICDataStream, the UAE is expected to add 17,980 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity through 14 projects scheduled to come online by 2030. In addition, nine conventional power projects are expected to deliver 12,947 MW of new capacity.
Across the GCC, project progression remains uneven. Of the 99 renewable energy projects under development, 28 have reached FID. In the hydrogen sector, only two of 39 projects have reached FID, while two of 18 carbon capture projects achieved investment decision.
The data also showed that none of the projects tracked in the clean fuels, nuclear new-build, offshore wind, or advanced modular reactor/small modular reactor (AMR/SMR) segments have yet reached investment decision.
Ryan McPherson, Regional Director and General Manager, Middle East, Africa and CIS at EIC observed that UAE’s "strong" project pipeline covers both conventional and non-conventional technologies.
In the waste management segment, the Abu Dhabi emirate has two material recovery facilities under development with a combined sorting capacity of 800,000 tonnes per year. The emirate is also planning the Al Bihouth waste-to-energy (WtE) facility, which is expected to process up to 900,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually and generate sufficient electricity to power around 52,000 homes.
