Abu Dhabi -- Abu Dhabi has announced a major investment plan of $300 billion to modernize its energy and water systems over the next decade, placing clean energy at the center of its long-term development strategy. 

The announcement was made during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 and reflects the emirate’s growing ambition to lead the global transition toward low-carbon energy systems. 

This investment marks a shift from routine annual spending to a large capital-intensive approach focused on building sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

The emirate’s clean energy progress has been rapid. 

Ten years ago, renewable energy made up less than one percent of Abu Dhabi’s total energy mix. Today, clean energy accounts for nearly 45 percent and is expected to exceed 60 percent by 2030. 

Officials highlighted that this growth represents a sixty-fold increase in less than fifteen years. 

The shift has been driven largely by large-scale solar projects. Abu Dhabi continues to add more than 3 GW of solar capacity every year and aims to reach over 33 GW of renewable power capacity by 2035. 

To support this expansion, the plan includes developing 20 GWh of energy storage, which is essential for balancing the grid as more intermittent solar power comes online.

The strategy is built on the idea that the future of energy, water, climate, and food systems is increasingly interconnected. 

The approach focuses on systems that can withstand global shocks, deliver affordable power through efficient technology, gain investor trust through clear policy, and use digital and artificial intelligence tools to improve grid management. Collaboration across sectors and countries is also considered essential.

While the investment highlights physical infrastructure such as solar plants, nuclear energy, and smart grids, officials emphasized that skilled people will play a key role in driving the clean energy transformation. 

Engineers, project developers, regulators, and system designers are expected to be the backbone of this transition.

The announcement comes at a time of growing global interest in sustainable energy. Masdar has expanded its renewable portfolio to 65 GW worldwide, and the European Union has highlighted a major investment partnership with the UAE. 

With global power demand expected to surge due to artificial intelligence and data centers, Abu Dhabi’s $300 billion plan positions the emirate as a model for clean and integrated energy systems of the future.