United Arab Emirates

Plans and Priorities
Plans and Priorities

The UAE leadership has launched the UAE Vision 2021 strategy which aims to make the UAE among the best countries in the world by the Golden Jubilee of the Union. In order to translate the Vision into reality, its pillars have been mapped into six national priorities which represent the key focus sectors of government action in the coming years and this includes Competitive Knowledge Economy and Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure. Reflecting the UAE Vision 2021, clean energy is core to the UAE’s INDC, which sets a national target to increase clean energy to 24% of the total electricity generation mix by 2021, from under less than 1% today. Advancing innovation and technological breakthroughs is critical to addressing climate change and also aligns with the UAE’s long-term commitment to diversify our economy and energy mix. On November 30th 2015 the UAE joined the world leaders in Paris to launch Mission Innovation which aims to accelerate the public and private global clean energy innovation with the objective to make clean energy widely affordable.

In 2014, the UAE launched a National Innovation Strategy and the Science and Technology with the aim of making the UAE one of the most innovative nations in the world within seven years. The strategy aims at: insuring an innovation friendly ecosystem (including enhanced regulatory framework, technology infrastructure, supporting services, investments and incentives); creating a culture of innovation among individuals, firms, and the public sector; focusing on seven main sectors to lead innovation on the national level. Renewable and Clean Energy is one among the seven main sectors identified by the government.

Following the launch of the National Innovation Strategy the Science Technology and Innovation policy was prepared and which identified 24 focus areas including Solar and Alternative Energy Technology Systems and Smart City Applications and Solutions. Under the guidance of the national strategies the UAE is moving towards innovation in clean energy and energy efficiency to address economic growth and energy security.

In line with the vision of the mission innovation the UAE pledges the doubling clean energy R&D by 2021 based on the baseline set in 2015. These support highlight UAE’s strong believe in research and development for resolving the challenge which hinder the implementation of clean energy and energy efficiency programs in UAE.

Country definition of clean energy R&D investment

Low C/GHG technologies, including End-Use Efficiency, Renewables Energy, Nuclear, CCUS, Electric Grid, Storage technologies, Sustainable Transport system and fuel, Use-Inspired Basic and Exploratory Research.