UAE'S ENERGY TRANSITION: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive critical review of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) energy transition strategies toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. By juxtaposing current energy supply and consumption data against an analysis of over forty government policy documents and recent peer-reviewed studies, the study evaluates the nation's progress in shifting away from a hydrocarbon-based economy. The analysis reveals that while the UAE remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels—which constitute 84% of the primary energy mix and are driven by a dominant, energy-intensive industrial sector—it has successfully leveraged its resource wealth to establish a robust diversification foundation. This is evidenced by the operationalization of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and significant investments in solar energy, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

The review finds that while government strategies demonstrate exceptional institutional vision and technical specificity—setting ambitious targets for hydrogen production and grid decarbonization—and academic literature provides valuable validation for specific technologies, a critical structural void persists. Both domains largely operate in isolation, lacking a unified, time-bound, and cross-sectoral roadmap that coordinates actions across interdependent areas such as water security, transport electrification, and grid management. Consequently, the study concludes that bridging the gap between the UAE’s exemplary climate ambitions and operational execution requires the development of comprehensive, scenario-based national roadmaps. Adopting a phased, five-year temporal architecture to synchronize technological deployment with institutional mandates is identified as essential to mitigate implementation risks and solidify the UAE’s position as a global model for evidence-based, integrative energy transition planning.