# 36. United Arab Emirates: 136 energy projects represent $210 billion
The United Arab Emirates has 136 energy projects under development, with estimated investment of approximately $210 billion. This potential envelope covers oil and gas, but also renewables, hydrogen, electricity grids, conventional generation, carbon capture and storage. The size of the list confirms the country's position as one of the Middle East's major energy infrastructure markets. However, it should not be interpreted as an amount already spent or definitively committed: not all projects have reached a final investment decision.
EICDataStream data, presented at the Energy Industries Council's UAE Connect event in Abu Dhabi, show that hydrocarbons remain the main driver of planned capital. Upstream projects — exploration and production — account for nearly 40% of estimated capital expenditure. Downstream activities, notably including refining and processing, account for 16%, while transport and midstream infrastructure represent slightly less than 12%. This distribution underlines that the country's diversification strategy is being added to an oil and gas base that remains dominant.
The pipeline's composition also reflects gradual broadening. Renewables represent 11% of tracked projects, hydrogen 9%, transmission and distribution grids 8% and conventional electricity generation 7%. Carbon capture and storage each account for 4%. These proportions describe each category's share of the number of tracked projects and must not be confused with its share of the total $210 billion. Because oil and gas projects are often more costly, their share of capital exceeds their share of initiatives.
The announced power generation portfolio also includes 17,980 megawatts of renewable capacity across 14 projects expected by 2030. A further 12,947 megawatts of conventional capacity are spread across nine projects. These capacities remain scheduled additions, whose delivery depends on construction timetables, grid connections and financing decisions. Planned capacity is not yet available generation: approvals, offtake contracts, construction and commissioning determine when electricity can actually be fed into the grid.
The coexistence of conventional and renewable projects serves several objectives. Hydrocarbons remain essential to export revenues and the Emirates' position in global markets. Gas investment can also support electricity generation and meet growing domestic demand. Alongside this, solar capacity and other low-carbon sources diversify supply and reduce the carbon intensity of certain activities. Grid development becomes essential to transport generated electricity and balance a system whose sources and uses are changing.
Demand is becoming more important with the development of data centers, industries and new digital uses. Electricity needs can grow rapidly in areas hosting computing facilities or energy-intensive factories. Generation projects must then be synchronized with grid reinforcement and storage capacity. Otherwise, an increase in installed capacity does not guarantee electricity will be available in the right place at the required time.
The energy project market provides opportunities for engineering companies, manufacturers, technology suppliers and service businesses. Emirati authorities and major operators have also highlighted local manufacturing, job creation and skills transfer. For suppliers, access to this pipeline will depend on tendering procedures, local content requirements, financing terms and the ability to meet delivery deadlines. The overall volume attracts international participants, but competition will take place project by project.
Hydrogen, carbon capture and storage are attracting growing attention, but maturity levels differ. Some initiatives remain at the study or demonstration stage, while others may have contracts or more advanced financing. Developers will need to demonstrate the existence of customers, transport infrastructure and competitive production costs. A pipeline announcement helps identify priorities and potential opportunities; it does not guarantee all technologies will deploy at the same pace.
The national strategy aims to combine economic growth, energy security and emissions reductions. The Emirati roadmap for 2050 notably provides for increased clean energy investment and improved energy efficiency. The gap between this ambition and the current pipeline composition remains an indicator to monitor: the share of low-carbon projects, their ability to secure final financing and their actual contribution to generation will determine the system's pace of transformation.
For observers, the next step is to distinguish announced projects from those moving into execution. Key indicators will be final investment decisions, awarded engineering contracts, committed expenditure, connected capacity and commissioning schedules. The $210 billion measures the Emirati market's ambition and potential activity. The pipeline's concrete value will emerge as projects are financed, built and operated.