Solar power in the United Arab Emirates

While being a major oil producing country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken steps to introduce solar power on a large scale. However, solar power still accounts for a small share of energy production in the country. The country was the 6th top carbon dioxide emitter per capita in the world in 2009, with 40.31 tonnes, but is planning to generate half of its electrical energy by 2050 from solar and nuclear sources, targeting 44% renewables, 38% gas, 12% coal, and 6% nuclear energy sources.

Total installed solar power capacity in the UAE was over 5 gigawatts (GW) after switching on the 2 gigawatt (GW) Al Dhafra solar project in November 2023, up from 133 MW in 2014. Solar energy provided 4.5% of national electricity generation in the UAE in 2022 and 8.3% in 2023, compared to 0.3% in 2014.