The Middle East has high solar energy potential, with 2,000 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.

The UAE leads Arab countries in solar energy, with the Middle East adding 3.2 gigawatts of renewables in 2022, a 12.8% increase.

The region's renewable energy capacity is expected to reach 45 gigawatts by 2027.

Total investment in Middle East solar energy is nearly $100 billion, including a $3 billion investment by Jingke Energy and Saudi Arabia's sovereign fund.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia generate the cheapest solar electricity, with Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra hosting a 2 GW solar farm.

Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park has 5 GW capacity, and Egypt's Banban has 1.8 GW.

Egypt has 1.59 GW of installed solar power, 1.6 GW planned, and a capacity factor of around 20 percent.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt target 50% by 2030, 50% by 2050, and 40% by 2035 of renewable or clean energy, respectively.

The UAE aims for 30% clean energy by 2030 and 50% by 2050.

The UAE has invested nearly $8 billion in clean energy, including the world's largest solar plant in Al Dhafra.

The UAE aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 through its Climate Neutrality Strategy 2050, focusing on large-scale renewable projects.

The region requires foreign technology and talents, with countries like Qatar and Turkey participating in large-scale renewable energy projects.

The UAE and Oman are developing hydrogen strategies, with Oman aiming to produce 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.

The Arab region has made progress in renewable energy, with five countries pledging net zero emissions, including the UAE and Oman by 2050.

The UAE has completed the world's largest photovoltaic power station in Abu Dhabi, powering 200,000 homes annually.

The project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.4 million metric tons, supporting the UAE's climate goals.

Green finance in MENA reached $3.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to continue growing.

The Middle East has high solar energy potential, with 2,000 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.

Title:

Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
World Future Energy Summit.
Green finance and climate change lead day 2
The second day of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in the UAE, kicked off today.
The summit is the premier annual forum for future energy and sustainability.
The day ’ s events focused on green finance, with Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, stressing the urgency of correcting climate change and thinking outside the box, and providing inspiring views on the obstacles to investing in renewable energy and ways to develop it during a session entitled “Financing Global Approaches to Low-Carbon Economies ”.
“It takes a lot of in-depth social studies, practical solutions and a lot of financial support – governments around the world spend a lot of money to defend themselves against other governments, but we don ’ t spend that much money to fight everyone ’ s first enemy, climate change.
He believes that finding practical solutions requires a serious approach to financing and establishing an assembly line for simple renewable energy projects, so that tangible results can be achieved as soon as possible, which is not possible without setting aside the side issues that usually concern us or we will not be able to solve the problem for another 10 years.
Ahmed Bahieldin, General Manager and Commercial Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at GE Vernova, an independent public company spin-off of GE ’ s energy, wind and electricity business, also joined the panel.
“Time is an important factor, especially as there is a lot of capital looking for projects in advanced markets, especially in the areas of renewable energy sources and new technologies, and regulatory reforms and the structuring of the revenue model give more room for growth.
The second day of the summit also saw the launch of the Solar Outlook 2024 report, officially released by the Middle East Solar Industry Association at the World Future Energy Summit.
The report highlights the growing contribution of solar energy to the MENA region ’ s ongoing energy transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewables, amid continued manufacturing boom, population and economic growth, as well as concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability.
Solar Energy
According to the report, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region today has one of the highest levels of solar energy potential in the world, with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Egypt contributing on average annual solar radiation exceeding 2,000 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.
While the regional solar growth trajectory is expected to continue, the report reveals that it is still well below the levels required to replace the current fossil fuel contribution of 87%, with solar providing just over 2% of the current energy mix in the MENA region.
Denisa Vines, Secretary General of the Middle East Solar Industry Association, said: “The COP28 pledge to increase renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency with the support of 124 countries has set ambitious targets to increase the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures by 2030, but we still face many challenges to achieve these goals, especially in the energy sector within the Gulf region. After 2030, a variety of technologies are expected to be market-ready, offering scalable solutions to decarbonize the energy sector, enabling a more effective role for renewables, energy efficiency and zero-emission technologies.
The broad pursuit of ambitious targets by 2030 is focused on public utility projects, which may overshadow the needs of the commercial and industrial sectors, and this underscores the importance of considering a balanced approach to energy deployment to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
COP28 Pledges
Speaking at the Solar and Clean Energy Conference, Dr. Ralph Blumenthal, Head of Networks Programs Middle East at Siemens, praised the ongoing discussions on digitization and the great importance of integrating renewables into smart grids to help achieve the goals of the COP28 pledge.
Batteries are key if we want to triple renewables by 2030, and increase them nine-fold by 2050. Batteries are not only storage, they are essential to grid regulation and reduce disruptions that may occur during renewable energy generation. Today, around 1,500 GW of renewable energy has been installed globally and is ready for deployment, but cannot be integrated into networks. It operates 100% on renewable energy, but national grids have not yet been able to effectively integrate renewables on a large scale.
Constructive discussions and sessions on global energy issues and solutions will continue tomorrow with the Electric Mobility Forum, which will comprehensively examine the role of clean and independent transport in changing the future of city design, and what is needed to unlock the potential of investing in expanding electric mobility.

The UAE leads Arab countries in solar energy, with the Middle East adding 3.2 gigawatts of renewables in 2022, a 12.8% increase.

Title:

Content: Sunday, 24 September 2023 02: 03 GMT
2030 Arab Goal to Advance Renewable Energy Capabilities Globally
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Several Arab countries are accelerating to keep pace with the international aspiration to achieve the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, which is receiving widespread attention, amid various plans and strategies at national levels in many countries.
The Arab countries that are likely to play the largest role in this regard, according to industry experts, are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria and Morocco, by injecting more investments into this vital and promising sector.
During the recent G20 summit in New Delhi in September, G20 leaders expressed their support for all efforts to increase renewable energy capacity and pledged to accelerate measures to address environmental crises and challenges.
With this growing international interest in the energy transition, the plans are facing many challenges, including (but not limited to) access to finance, especially for low- and middle-income countries, with significant investment required over the coming years.
(Al-Bayan), a group of American academics and specialists in the renewable energy sector were surveyed about the main opportunities and challenges on the way to increase the desired capacity, the investments required to achieve that goal, and the extent of its expected environmental and economic repercussions.
Huge spikes.
Achieving the ambitious goal of doubling global renewable energy capacity in the near term will be reflected concretely in several contexts, explains Gregory Nemet, a specialist in the analysis of international energy systems and environmental policies at the University of Wisconsin. By 2030, it will deliver significant benefits in terms of jobs, economic development, and improved air quality, as well as putting the world on the path to addressing climate change in the long term.
“The costs of renewable energy, especially solar and wind, have dropped dramatically over the last 10 years, and most experts expect them to continue to fall, ” says Nemet, explaining that a clean, affordable source of energy creates huge opportunities, allowing global renewable energy capacity to be tripled by taking full advantage of it.
According to Nemet, the 3-fold increase also presents challenges, such as “access to finance for low- and middle-income countries, and investments in electricity grids to accommodate this growth ”, stressing that“ challenges can be overcome through sustained efforts and supportive policies, as we have seen many examples in the recent past. ” A sign of broad international cooperation is required in this regard.
Last year, renewable energy capacity (globally) increased by 9.6 percent to 3,372 gigawatts, an increase of a record 295 gigawatts, despite global uncertainty in light of geopolitical developments and the Ukrainian war, according to data published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on March 22.
Almost half of the new capacity from renewable energy in Asia has been added, with China contributing more than 141 gigawatts to the new capacity of the entire continent.
Renewable energy sources in Europe and the United States grew by 57.3 gigawatts and 29.1 gigawatts respectively.
African capacity increased slightly by 2.7 gigawatts.
According to IRENA data, although hydropower accounts for the largest share of total global renewable energy capacity at 1,250 gigawatts, solar and wind power continue to dominate new capacity, contributing 90% of total capacity last year.
Solar capacity came first with an increase of 22%, followed by wind power with an increase of 9%.
Policies and Incentives
University of Massachusetts academic David Turcotte, whose research interests include climate change and environmental justice, believes that there are many opportunities in the context of increasing global renewable energy capacity, due to increases in oil prices as a result of the Ukrainian crisis, which makes renewable energy sources more cost-effective, as well as worsening economic and human costs. Recurrent, more severe climate change disasters.
“Many developed countries have expanded policies and incentives to encourage increased capacity to produce renewable energy.
However, we still face a lot of challenges […]
That threatens to derail efforts to increase renewable energy capacity, and the transition to a clean energy economy.
Among these challenges is the lack of adequate funding to support increases in renewable energy capacity in developing countries, a challenge he described as “serious. ”
While international efforts are accelerating to target investments in the context of increasing global renewable energy capacity, those investments are still below the 1.5 ° C target.
This is shown by data from IRENA and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) released in February, which estimate the total volume of investments in renewable energy sectors during 2022 at $499 billion, up from $430 billion in the previous year 2021.
Developments in the world over the past year, especially with the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, have also encouraged many countries to move more towards renewable energy sources, to overcome the energy crisis caused by the consequences of the war, in the interest of the desired goal of increasing capacity.
Required investments
John Hall, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Center for Energy Production and Infrastructure, University of North Carolina, United States, notes that “the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 is a challenge, and achieving the goal requires an intensive global strategy, focused on significant financial investment, technological innovation targeting these communities, inclusive policies, and collaborative efforts. ”
Speaking with Al-Bayan, he stressed that community participation and infrastructure development in underserved areas should be central to the strategy, leading not only to the promotion of the energy transition, but also to economic upgrading.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that $4 trillion per year will be required in the clean energy sector until 2030 to strengthen global capacity in this regard.
Logistical challenges
Warren Mabey, an academic at Queen ’ s University who specialises in energy policy and natural resource management, told Al Bayan that “it is technically possible to triple global renewable energy capacity over the next six years, and this will put enormous pressure on the global supply chains that support the sector. and manufactured goods, necessary for the transformation process).
Mabe believes that “the cost will be enormous, and the logistical challenge may be too great to overcome ”, stressing the need for“ strong and consistent leadership from countries around the world to achieve this. ”
Arabic Steps
At the Arab level, five Arab countries (Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) are expected to account for about 72% of the region ’ s total growth in renewable energy, according to the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), which expects renewable energy capacity to reach 45 gigawatts by 2027, an increase of 3 times. Compared to the last five years.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that in 2022, the Middle East saw the highest increase in renewables ever, with 3.2 gigawatts of new capacity added last year, a 12.8 percent increase over the previous year.
According to the Arab Renewable Energy Authority (AREA), the volume of investments by Arab countries in renewable energy projects is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2040, in light of the interest of Arab governments in this file, to achieve global environmental goals.
A Great Leap in 10 Years
According to the current data, the renewable energy sector in the region is expected to witness a huge leap in the next 10 years, at a time when eight Arab countries are leading this trend, according to the researcher in international relations and political economy, Abu Bakr al-Deeb, adviser to the Arab Center for Studies and Research, who tells Al-Bayan that the countries strongly candidate to move in this direction are:, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria and Morocco).
Aldeeb also cites the volume of electricity generated from renewable sources in the Middle East and Arab countries, which is expected to increase six-fold in 10 years through heavy reliance on solar photovoltaic energy, noting that the Arab region has “great potential ” to help launch major projects to produce energy from the sun. And wind, among these possibilities or advantages (the right climate, the bright sun most days of the year, as well as human expertise, and financial capabilities also for some countries).
The UAE is at the top of the list of Arab countries that produce electricity from solar energy, while Egypt is the largest country in the Arab world in terms of electricity production from wind energy, according to a report issued by (Global Energy Monitor), which Al-Deeb cites when explaining the progress made by some Arab countries in this sector, The UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are among the first Arab countries to establish solar and wind power plants.
According to the report, renewable power plant projects for Arab countries are likely to achieve 92% of the region ’ s total target by 2030 when completed.
One of the most reliable projects in this regard is the Green Hydrogen projects, through which the Middle East is seeking global leadership, with export revenues likely to reach $200 billion by 2050 for the Gulf countries, according to a study by Dii Desert Energy.
In this context, Al-Deeb notes the abundance of renewable energy resources, clean hydrogen, human expertise, capital, and their geographical proximity to the European market, all of which provide them with important and growing opportunities.
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The region's renewable energy capacity is expected to reach 45 gigawatts by 2027.

Total investment in Middle East solar energy is nearly $100 billion, including a $3 billion investment by Jingke Energy and Saudi Arabia's sovereign fund.

Title:

Content: Land solar energy investment set off the "Middle East fever" total amount of nearly 100 billion
China's new energy investment set off the "Middle East fever", solar industry giants Jingke Energy, TCL Central almost at the same time announced cooperation with Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) sovereign fund solar projects, a total investment of about 3 billion US dollars (about NT $97.5 billion).
In addition, inverter giant Sunlight Power announced the successful signing of the world's largest energy storage project with Saudi company ALGIHAZ, with a capacity of up to 7.8GWh.
Analysts pointed out that the above case means that in addition to the continued investment of Middle East funds in the mainland, in the solar industry is subject to overcapacity criticism, mainland funds choose to go to the Middle East to develop the solar industry.
Founded in 1971, PIF is one of the largest and most influential sovereign renewable wealth funds in the world. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, RELC, is one of the largest and most influential renewable wealth funds in the world. and a leader in green energy technology manufacturing.
Founded in 2021 by two major conglomerates, Abunayyan and Al Muhaidib, VI aims to build a new energy industry chain manufacturing capacity in Saudi Arabia to meet the huge demand for new energy in the Middle East and the world, and is an investor and developer of green energy industrial projects to support the localization of supply chains.
Among them, JinkoSolar ’ s joint venture company plans to set up a joint venture company in Saudi Arabia to build 10GW of high-efficiency batteries and components, with a total investment of 7.157 billion yuan.
JinkoSolar has a market share of more than 50% in the Middle East in 2023, including more than 70% in Saudi Arabia.
The joint venture company of TCL Central has an annual output of 20 GW of solar wafer projects in Saudi Arabia, with a total investment of about RMB15.1 billion.
It is also TCL ’ s first overseas solar wafer factory in Central.
After the project is launched, it will become the first solar wafer project in Saudi Arabia and the largest wafer factory in the world.
Vision Group ’ s joint venture will manufacture wind turbines and critical components locally. Helping Saudi wind power value chain achieve 75% localized production by 2030.
And Vision is the global wind power leader, overseas wind orders for two consecutive years accounted for 70% of the orders of mainland China's wind power enterprises.
At the same time, Sunlight Power also announced three sites in the Middle East energy storage project, in the Najran, Madaya and Khamis Mushait regions of Saudi Arabia, with deliveries starting in 2024 and full capacity grid operation in 2025.
However, Sun Power did not disclose the contract amount in the announcement.
TCL Middle East Wealth
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The UAE and Saudi Arabia generate the cheapest solar electricity, with Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra hosting a 2 GW solar farm.

Title:

Content: The Middle East and North Africa have significant investments in wind energy
The Middle East and North Africa have significant investments in wind energy
Renewable energy throughout the Middle East and North Africa is usually talked about from one point of view: the sun shining strongly on the region ’ s deserts.
Solar energy is indeed a great source of energy and is designed to power equipment and appliances, but wind also blows through the plains, hills and seas of the Middle East, and megaprojects harness the power of wind and turn it into energy.
Political analyst Robin Mills says the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region actually started using modern wind energy on a commercial scale a decade before using solar power, with projects in Morocco, Egypt, Israel and in Tafileh in Jordan, where the turbines are slowly spinning near the ancient fortress of Karak.
The cheapest electricity in the world is generated from solar power in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and global projects such as the largest single-site solar farm in Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi, with a power of 2 GW, and two of the largest multi-project sites, the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai (5 GW) and Banban in Egypt (1.8 GW), can also be installed. solar on a smaller scale on the shelves of homes and factories.
Despite the lack of consistency unlike Northwest Europe, there are excellent wind resources in the MENA region.
Winds are blowing in southern Morocco and the areas around the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba in Egypt, Jordan, northwestern Saudi Arabia, southern Egypt and the southeastern coast of Oman.
Parts of Libya, southern Tunisia, the Algerian desert, inland Iran and Kuwait also experience strong winds, and in contrast to most parts of Europe, the region has open spaces where the construction of wind stations will not be rejected by some segments of society.
Egypt, which hosted the COP27, benefits from having projects that produce 1.59 GW currently installed, 0.75 GW under construction and 1.6 GW planned, and has signed a series of projects in recent weeks, which have included memorandums of understanding with Norwegian developer Skatek for 5 GW, with UAE clean energy company Masdar for 10 GW, and with Saudi energy development company Aqua for 10 GW.
It will be the second largest wind farm in the world, and the largest is Gansu, which produces 20 gigawatts in China.
Aqua is already building a 1.1 GW wind farm at Jebel Zeit on the Gulf of Suez, which will be the largest in the region when it comes into operation in late 2026, with Egypt ’ s total projected production capacity of 24 GW, the seventh largest national capacity in the world according to current figures.
In addition, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Morocco and Mauritania will need huge wind farms to build their planned green hydrogen projects, which use renewable electricity to analyze water with electricity.
Under MENA conditions, wind power is likely to be more expensive than solar, even if Saudi Arabia gets a very competitive tariff of 2.13 cents per kilowatt-hour for its first wind farm in Dumat al-Jandal (which was the lowest solar contract in the region at 1.03 cents per kilowatt-hour).
Wind power also takes longer to build, and production cannot be predicted after a few days.
But wind has many advantages: it is clear that it often blows at night more strongly than during the day, making it complementary to solar energy.
This is especially useful in hot early autumn evenings, when people need air conditioning even after sunset.
Solar energy in the region has achieved a capacity factor, which is the average output of the source as a proportion of its peak output, and is about 20 percent over the year, allowing work at night and different seasons, Egyptian wind power manages 53 percent, and solar and wind power in the best locations can have a combined capacity factor of more than 70 percent.
And there are still some vital questions about the location of turbines and mega projects planned in Egypt?
Wind lanes around Sinai are relatively confined and surrounded by mountains, and areas to the south on the Red Sea coast, or inland areas with difficult logistical hurdles, will have to be considered.
And will the region venture out and explore offshore wind power, as Northwest Europe has successfully done?
There are stronger and more consistent winds, and much more room to develop them, albeit at higher costs.
Will current project announcements overlap with green hydrogen projects?
If this is done, the wind requirements will be much greater, and will provoke competition for good sites and equipment.
Can countries in the Middle East and North Africa that are less exposed to wind power, particularly the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, benefit economically from improved turbines for slower wind speeds?
Will other wind-blowing countries with low energy, such as Iraq, Kuwait, Libya and Tunisia, start adopting this technology?
If those questions can be answered with a yes, the spinning turbines and shimmering solar panels in the Middle East and North Africa will become a symbol of the region ’ s shift to clean energy.
arabic

Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park has 5 GW capacity, and Egypt's Banban has 1.8 GW.

Egypt has 1.59 GW of installed solar power, 1.6 GW planned, and a capacity factor of around 20 percent.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt target 50% by 2030, 50% by 2050, and 40% by 2035 of renewable or clean energy, respectively.

Title:

Content: People 's Network > > International
Sino-Arab green transformation cooperation is on the rise
December 8, 2022, 13: 09 | Source: Xinhua Network
Small number
Xinhua News Agency, BEIJING, December 8 (International observation) Sino-Arab cooperation on green transformation is on the rise
Xinhua News Agency reporter Luo Guofang
China and Arab countries have different resource endowments and development paths, but they are in the key stage of green development transformation.
The pursuit of a common vision of sustainable development will push China and Argentina to move forward together in a cleaner, greener and low-carbon direction, and continuously deepen cooperation in related fields to benefit the people of China and Argentina.
Development Complementary Advantages
At present, China's development is changing from high-speed growth to high-quality development, and it is committed to energy transformation and clean development in the field of energy, and strives to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system.
At the same time, many Arab countries have also launched energy transformation plans in recent years, committed to the development of clean and renewable energy, and strive to reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, and promote sustainable economic development.
Saudi Arabia announced in its Vision 2030 development strategy that by 2030, the proportion of renewable energy in the country's energy mix will reach 50%.
The UAE ’ s Energy Strategy 2050 aims to increase the share of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50% by 2050.
Egypt plans to increase the share of clean energy generation to 40% by 2035.
The Arab region has one of the best solar and wind energy resource endowments in the world, and the development of clean and renewable energy has unique conditions.
According to a report released by the Global Energy Monitor in June this year, Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa plan to add 73 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and wind capacity by 2030, more than five times the current installed capacity.
China has advanced technology and rich experience in the field of photovoltaic and wind power, and has complementary advantages with Arab countries in the field of clean and renewable energy.
Abu Dhabi Energy Director, Avida Murshid Maral, said that vigorously developing renewable energy has become a global trend, which creates a good opportunity for deepening Arab-Chinese energy cooperation.
Collaborating for a Green Transition
In recent years, China has actively expanded cooperation with Arab countries in the field of clean and renewable energy, and the two sides have jointly implemented a number of cooperation projects.
The Zafra Solar Power Station, about 35 kilometers from Abu Dhabi City, is the largest single photovoltaic power station in the world, with an installed capacity of 2 GW.
The solar power plant, which is contracted by a Chinese company, will help Abu Dhabi reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.4 million tons per year and play an important role in the sustainable development of the UAE's energy economy.
Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast is creating a green new city, the project called the Red Sea New City, the future electricity supply will be 100% from clean energy.
The realization of this vision will not only rely on solar and wind energy, but also benefit from energy storage systems that can act as energy “cisterns ” and“ regulators, stabilizers ”.
The successful signing of the Red Sea New City energy storage project by Chinese enterprises will help Saudi Arabia to build a global clean energy and green economy center.
Abdullah Wadi, a researcher at the Saudi think tank Research and Knowledge Exchange Center, said that Saudi Arabia and China are committed to vigorously developing clean and renewable energy, and actively promoting relevant international cooperation, which has set a good example for the international community to work together to promote green and low-carbon development and jointly deal with various challenges and global issues facing mankind.
Helping Fishing Development
With the deepening of cooperation between China and Arab countries in clean energy, low-carbon economy and energy transition, China ’ s advanced technology in related fields has also entered Arab countries. China adheres to the concept of “teaching people to fish ” and helps Arab countries improve their independent development capabilities through multi-level cooperative research and training programs.
China and Arab countries jointly set up the China-Arab Clean Energy Training Center to jointly organize capacity-building activities in photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind power and smart grid.
China and Egypt have set up a Sino-Egyptian joint laboratory on renewable energy to carry out joint research, promote personnel training, and help Egypt strengthen scientific and technological capacity building.
Since its establishment in 2015, the China-Arab Technology Transfer Center has built eight bilateral technology transfer centers in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries, forming a technology transfer cooperation network linking nearly 5,000 Chinese and foreign members.
“The development of zero-carbon and low-carbon energy technologies is of great significance.
These technologies align with our energy transition goals, make the energy industry more resilient and help us build a sustainable and peaceful future, ” said Maral.
(Editor: Jia Wenting, Liu Jieyan)
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The UAE aims for 30% clean energy by 2030 and 50% by 2050.

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Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
Arab Monetary Fund: Growing interest of Egypt and countries in the region in renewable energy
The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) has confirmed the increasing interest of Arab countries in renewable energy with the aim of diversifying the national mix of energy sources and working to reduce harmful emissions to the environment through the adoption of clean energy technologies and the safe disposal of carbon.
In the 55th issue of its series of introduction booklets entitled “Renewable Energy ”, the Fund stated that the UAE aims to triple its renewable energy production capacity by 2030 and increase the contribution of clean energy in total energy production to 30% by 2030, reaching 38% by 2035.
He pointed out that the Arab Republic of Egypt aims in its integrated energy strategy until 2035 to reach 42% of the total electricity produced in 2035, where the current contribution of renewable energy including hydropower in the total electricity produced is about 12%.
The IMF pointed out that within the framework of Saudi Arabia ’ s National Renewable Energy Program, which is a strategic initiative launched within the Kingdom ’ s Vision 2030, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Renewable Energy Initiative, the Kingdom aims to increase its share in renewable energy production, balance the local energy mix and meet its commitments to avoid emissions.
The IMF pointed out that Oman ’ s Vision 2040 includes goals related to achieving energy security through diversifying energy sources, increasing reliance on renewable energy, and rationalizing consumption, and aims to increase the proportion of renewable energy consumption in total energy consumption to reach 20% in 2030, rising to between 35% and 39% in 2040.
Qatar National Action Plan for Climate Change 2030
According to the IMF, the Qatar National Action Plan for Climate Change 2030 stressed the importance of expanding renewable energy projects and the integration of renewable energy sources in the energy mix in Qatar is an opportunity to liberalize energy production for export, reduce the amount of oil and gas consumed in desalination and power generation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The IMF pointed out that the energy management strategy in Tunisia aims to enhance energy efficiency by reducing the national consumption of primary energy by 30%, and the development of renewable energy sources by raising the contribution of renewable energy in electricity production to 30% by 2030, while in Algeria the government ’ s action plan aims to achieve a production capacity of 15,000 GW by 2035 based on renewable energy sources, especially solar energy.
In its comprehensive energy sector strategy for the years 2020-2030, Jordan aims to increase the contribution of renewable energy to electricity generation to 31% in 2030 compared to 21% in 2020, while Morocco ’ s energy strategy aims to increase the share of renewable energies in electricity generation from 20% to more than 52% in 2030.
The IMF pointed out that the rest of the Arab countries such as Iraq, Bahrain, Libya and the United States are working to enhance their use of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, which Arab countries rely on a lot in light of the Arab region's advantages related to the solar belt that surrounds it, which is characterized by the availability of bright sunlight and heat that extends for long periods during the year.
The Arab Monetary Fund pointed out that the global interest in expanding the use of renewable and clean energy sources, in light of the ongoing challenges related to achieving energy security that have emerged clearly globally on the one hand, and the increasing demand for energy on the other hand, in addition to the growing environmental challenges that push towards the transformation of energy systems to clean, sustainable and affordable energy.
The IMF pointed out that despite the increasing interest in renewable energy, its contribution to the global energy mix remains modest, with several challenges related to the ability of renewable energy to meet the requirements of reliability and sustainability in relation to the availability of certain weather and climate conditions such as intensity and longevity of sunlight and heat, wind speed and water flow strength.

The UAE has invested nearly $8 billion in clean energy, including the world's largest solar plant in Al Dhafra.

Title:

Content: World Future Energy Summit to focus on providing ‘sustainability blueprint’

The three-day event will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from January 16 to January 18

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The 2023 World Future Energy Summit aims to provide a “crucial sustainability blueprint” amid a global focus on the energy transition and measures to boost investment in the renewables sector.

Energy industry leaders and policymakers from around the world will participate in the three-day event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from January 16 to January 18, organisers said on Wednesday.

The summit is the centrepiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a global initiative championed by the UAE and Abu Dhabi's clean energy company Masdar to hasten sustainable development and advance economic, social, and environmental progress.

“This event has evolved just as the energy sector and our economies are transitioning,” said Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.

“It has now morphed into the Middle East’s most important industry gathering, of which clean energy and infrastructure are key components.”

Countries in the Middle East such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Egypt are boosting investment in the clean energy sector.

The UAE is investing Dh600 billion ($163.5bn) in clean and renewable energy projects over the next three decades as it aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

It is building the world’s largest solar plant with a capacity of two gigawatts in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region that is expected to be ready next year, as well as the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai with a capacity of five gigawatts.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, also announced a number of new renewable energy projects as it seeks to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, aims to derive 42 per cent of its electricity mix from renewable sources by 2035. The North African country is hosting Cop27 next month.

“This newly transitioned event profile is in the right place at the right time, underlining a much-needed shift towards reaching our clean energy goals, as well as achieving sustainable governance and adopting consumption and [the] production of natural energy methods that ensure the quality of life for current and future generations,” Mr Al Mazrouei said.

Renewable energy investment continued to rise amid green transition efforts globally. Capital investments in renewables are set to surpass oil and gas spending for the first time in 2022 as high power prices prompt countries to further diversify their energy mix, according to a report by Rystad Energy.

Investment in renewable energy is set to hit $494bn in 2022, outstripping upstream oil and gas spending at $446bn for the year, the Oslo-based energy consultancy said this month.

In addition to the focus on energy, water, eco-waste, solar, smart cities, climate and the environment, next year's event will also preside over the launch of a dedicated hydrogen innovation centre as demand for the clean fuel picks up globally amid green transition efforts, organisers said.

The event takes place at a time when the UAE is preparing to host Cop28 next year.

Updated: October 19, 2022, 10:41 AM
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The UAE aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 through its Climate Neutrality Strategy 2050, focusing on large-scale renewable projects.

Title:

Content: 7 out of 10 UAE residents believe it is necessary
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Eight in 10 respondents in the UAE said that global climate change is a serious crisis, with 70% of respondents believing that urgent action must be taken within the next five years to mitigate the effects of climate change and secure a more sustainable future.
This is according to a study by global management consultancy Kearney, which reveals how UAE residents view sustainability initiatives.
The study comes ahead of the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference later this month, where the issue of climate change is gaining global attention.
Among the main themes of the conference will be the role that the global community should play to promote national interests and contribute to the achievement of global climate goals, under the slogan “Together for Implementation ” to protect the future of the world.
According to the findings of the study, the majority of UAE residents believe that addressing the impacts of climate change will have a positive impact on global cultural and social issues, with 81% of respondents indicating that climate change significantly affects the livelihoods of people in different countries around the world.
68% said social imbalances could be corrected to some degree through collective action by countries to combat climate change.
Mauricio Zwaazua, partner at Kearney Middle East, said: “The Middle East has given great attention to sustainability and energy transition in the past decade, and countries in the region have made significant efforts to shift away from oil as their sole source of energy by investing in more renewable energy sources.
We have seen how strategic initiatives such as UAE Climate Neutrality 2050 and Saudi Arabia ’ s Climate Neutrality 2060 have come into effect to combat climate change at the national level, as well as many clean energy initiatives.
With the 27th and 28th UN Climate Change Conferences being hosted in Egypt and the UAE respectively, we expect the region to see more global investment, which in turn will accelerate sustainable development, and there is an opportunity to capitalize on this momentum to accelerate sustainable development through design in the Middle East.
The UAE Climate Neutrality Strategy 2050 is a national engine that aims to reduce emissions and climate neutrality by 2050, making the UAE the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to announce its goal of achieving climate neutrality.
The survey also indicated that 50% of respondents believe that the country is on track to achieve climate neutrality, while 73% of respondents stressed the importance of the role of companies in achieving this goal.
More than half (56%) believe companies need to do more to slow climate change, and 72% believe new technologies should be adopted to mitigate the climate change crisis.
70% of respondents noted the importance of individual contributions in supporting national sustainability goals.
77% said they were willing to make lifestyle changes in an effort to slow climate change.
68% said they prefer companies that implement core practices and protocols in the areas of social environment and governance such as sustainable products, green certificates, and transparent reporting on carbon emissions.
Fifty-nine percent of respondents were willing to pay a small amount for sustainable products, a sentiment that was prevalent among all surveyed groups.
In terms of living sustainably, the survey revealed that 73% of respondents would be more inclined to live sustainably if governments encouraged them to do so by implementing stricter rules on carbon emissions from cars, the use of plastics, green labeling on white goods, retrofitting old appliances and so on.
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The region requires foreign technology and talents, with countries like Qatar and Turkey participating in large-scale renewable energy projects.

Title:

Content: Contribution ｜ Explore Hong Kong ’ s role and opportunities in the development of renewable energy in the Middle East
Author: 01 More Voices
Published: Updated:
In recent years, Hong Kong has actively promoted the development of renewable energy and launched a number of related products in the financial market.
In addition, more and more Hong Kong enterprises have also started to participate in the development of this industry, especially in the financial market, and launched a number of financial products to support the development of renewable energy.
At the same time, many countries in the Middle East, such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Turkey, are also actively engaged in various large-scale projects to promote the development of renewable energy, and expect to see a different energy mix and economic development model in 2030 or 2050.
For Hong Kong, China and other countries, the development opportunities of the Middle East market cannot be ignored, and Hong Kong ’ s participation in this area cannot be underestimated.
Submitted by: Kwong Cheuk-wui
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in several seminars on economic and energy development in the Middle East, and have in-depth exchanges with government representatives in charge of foreign affairs and trade from various Middle Eastern countries and Azerbaijan.
These exchange experiences provide the author with a wealth of insight.
After many in-depth talks, to understand the interest and momentum of the development of renewable energy in many countries in the Middle East, the author synthesized the information from various parties and came to the following insights: The reason why the major oil producers in the Middle East are actively developing renewable energy is to achieve economic diversification and get rid of dependence on oil and related industries.
They hope to turn the country ’ s surplus renewable energy into new, dependable foreign revenues (i.e., revenues generated from natural resource exports; “Rents ”) through innovative technologies.
For other non-oil producing countries, they want to achieve economic sustainability through the development of renewable energy, reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels or electricity imports, and convert renewable energy into new external rental income to boost the country ’ s economic development.
From this, it can be seen that the Middle East countries are very concerned about the development of renewable energy, but also hope to complete the energy transformation as soon as possible, and look forward to renewable energy can produce more and greater economic benefits, create new dependent income, promote economic diversification and modernization, but also benefit thousands of people.
As a result, many countries in the Middle East have invested heavily in and promoted energy transformation and clean energy development.
Although many countries have made extraordinary achievements in driving renewable energy development, they also face many challenges.
Jordan, for example, has a wealth of renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy, as well as state-of-the-art renewable energy laws, regulatory mechanisms and development frameworks.
Earlier this year, Jordan successfully achieved its national roadmap, originally set for 2030, with renewable energy accounting for 31% of total energy.
The Jordanian government also plans to increase this target to 50%, and is committed to building the country into a regional renewable energy development center and exporting environmentally friendly power to neighboring countries to increase the country ’ s foreign revenue.
However, like other Middle Eastern countries, Jordan faces a host of challenges.
These challenges include lagging energy infrastructure, imperfect grid planning, an over-concentration of resources on solar and wind with less focus on geothermal energy, and a lack of energy storage systems and foreign investment.
In addition, there is the debt problem of the national power company.
These difficulties not only affect Jordan ’ s progress in developing renewable energy, but also act as a barrier to modernizing and diversifying the country ’ s economy.
Some Jordanian officials and scholars are concerned about whether the development of renewable energy is progressing as expected.
They are concerned that if the development of renewable energy and its core economic development model are not carried out smoothly, or if the newly set targets are not successfully achieved, the country ’ s economic sustainability will be adversely affected.
At the same time, it can undermine the credibility and governance of the government.
In particular, those political forces that have been opposed to the use of renewable energy to promote economic development and diversification may take the opportunity to launch opposition actions, further endangering the political stability and regional security of the country and the Middle East as a whole.
It is worth noting that these challenges are not only in Jordan, but also in Middle Eastern countries such as Morocco and Egypt.
Other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have also made great efforts to develop solar and wind power in recent years, but in addition to the above concerns and challenges, there are also concerns that the development of renewable energy will have some impact on the high dependence of these countries ’ economies on oil and gas markets, which may affect existing incomes and lead to economic and social instability.
Other factors include the huge demand for capital, the need for foreign technology and talents, the need for talent training, economic feasibility, etc. These are also issues of concern to the officials of these Middle Eastern countries.
These challenges are in fact a valuable development opportunity for Hong Kong.
The key is to make good use of our strengths, especially in the Belt and Road Initiative, to work with the Middle East countries to promote renewable energy and green economy development.
This not only helps these countries diversify their economies, but also creates development opportunities for Hong Kong businesses and governments, and indirectly promotes the development of other industries.
I suggest that Hong Kong can establish cooperation platforms and channels of communication with transnational organizations in the Middle East and North Africa, such as the Arab Parliamentary Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Turkic Parliament and the Arab Maghreb Union.
Such a platform could be used to explore free trade agreements and to help Middle Eastern countries provide services such as finance, advisory, legal, education or training, and energy infrastructure.
This will not only help Hong Kong consolidate its leading position in the professional services sector and the financial sector, but will also directly or indirectly create many development opportunities, especially in Islamic finance.
Finally, Hong Kong can consider providing financial support to the Middle East countries by assisting in the issuance of Islamic financial bonds to promote the development of renewable energy, and can also take the opportunity to develop Islamic finance in Hong Kong as a new financial center outside the Islamic world.
Of course, Hong Kong should not only cooperate with major countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates or the above-mentioned multinational organizations and platforms, but also consider other regions with development potential and worthy of investment, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco, etc.
This diverse collaboration will help Hong Kong expand its international presence and contribute to global sustainability in the renewable energy sector.
The author, Mr Kwong Cheuk-rui, is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Group of Ideas, a Master of Arts from the Australian National University, and has worked at the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
The article is only the opinion of the author and does not represent the position of Hong Kong 01.
Please email us at 01view @ hk01.com.
Please attach the author ’ s real name and contact details.
If not applicable, without prior notice.

The UAE and Oman are developing hydrogen strategies, with Oman aiming to produce 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.

Title:

Content: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues have become increasingly prominent on the global stage as organisations recognise the need to integrate sustainability into their operations.

As the Middle East moves towards a low carbon future, sustainability has become a top priority for organisations and governments across the region.

Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai announced while launching the National Hydrogen Strategy that the UAE is to invest up to AED 200 billion ($54.5 billion) in renewable energy.

The launch of a AED 4 billion renewable energy plant in Dubai,  and the world’s largest waste-to-energy plant are proof of sustainability climbing the agenda.

With COP 28 being held in the UAE this year, there is a renewed sense of urgency on climate change action, and the net-zero carbon target is being prioritised through policies and actions.

After all, sustainability will boost the UAE’s economic competitiveness, drive innovative policy and improve investment opportunities.

The region has seen notable sustainability innovations, including Saudi Arabia’s rapid transition to a circular carbon economy, Bahrain’s state oil company refinancing a $2.2 billion sustainability-linked corporate finance facility, and Oman’s exploration of green hydrogen as a clean energy source.

However, the Middle East faces its own unique challenges in implementing ESG practices, especially around accurate sustainability reporting and implementing early regulations to fill in previous gaps.

Other challenges that hinder the progress of the region’s ESG agenda include the talent gap, how corporates in the region address the need to implement ESG practices, as well as data availability.

Regulatory frameworks

While standardised frameworks and reporting guidelines begin to form, the lack of clear regulations can hinder consistent measurement and disclosure of ESG performance.

Global frameworks have now become more widely adopted in the region such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and the newly published International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

The gap in standardisation previously posed challenges for investors and stakeholders who relied on transparent and comparable ESG data for decision-making, however, we are starting to see drastic changes in this area.

Data availability

Many companies in the Middle East still face challenges in collecting, managing, and reporting ESG data, which can hinder their ability to effectively assess and manage their sustainability performance.

Data is the first step to measure any status, but also measure progress. Improving data collection mechanisms and investing in robust reporting systems will be instrumental in addressing this challenge.

ESG talent gap

Organisations need individuals with specialised knowledge and expertise in ESG practices to drive sustainable strategies effectively. Alongside this specialised knowledge, the industry also needs innovators, risk takers, agitators for change, mentors, and communicators in the field. There is however, a shortage of skilled professionals in the region with a deep understanding of ESG principles to drive innovative solutions.

Bridging this gap requires investment in education and training programmes to build a skilled workforce capable of integrating ESG considerations into business practices. Universities and training institutions are therefore increasingly offering courses and programmes on sustainability and ESG and businesses are partnering with academic institutions to develop tailored training initiatives and internships, nurturing a pipeline of talent equipped with the required knowledge and skills.

These efforts will cultivate a sustainable workforce capable of implementing and driving ESG practices in the Middle East.

Implementation by region’s corporates

Despite the challenges, corporations in the Middle East are embracing ESG practices, recognising the importance of sustainability and responsible business conduct. We see this through accelerated electrification and the increase of decarbonizing energy supply.

The GCC’s oil-producing nations have made efforts to diversify energy sources, transitioning towards net-zero carbon fuels for transportation. Investments in renewable energy, such as solar and wind, aim to mitigate environmental impacts and promote a low-carbon economic future transforming the economic system and supply chain.

Additionally, social considerations are gaining prominence. Companies are addressing social issues through initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and employee welfare.

Governance practices are also being strengthened to ensure transparency, accountability, regulatory reforms and ethical conduct.

While obstacles in integrating ESG practices persist in the Middle East, corporates in the region are proactively embracing sustainability and responsible business practices.

That the Middle East is emerging as a leader in ESG adoption is apparent through their fullfillment of the UN SDG goals which has driven positive environmental, social, and governance outcomes for businesses and society as a whole.

The Arab region has made progress in renewable energy, with five countries pledging net zero emissions, including the UAE and Oman by 2050.

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Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
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Mohamad Elbaz
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
UN report: Arab region has made progress in renewable energy generation
The United Nations Economic and Social Committee said that the Arab region has recently made progress in achieving the goals of the seventh goal of sustainable development, but it must accelerate the pace of action, as the crisis in Ukraine has caused multiple crises, including energy crises in many regions, affecting the most vulnerable groups.
In a report obtained by the Constitution, ESCWA said that the continued disruption of the supply chain, economic contraction and instability in many Arab countries are slowing the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and urgent efforts are needed to achieve the targets of SDG 7 by 2030.
In terms of policy, five Arab countries have pledged to achieve net zero emissions for the economy as a whole; the United Arab Emirates and Oman aim to achieve this goal by 2050; Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia by 2060; and energy is at the heart of Arab sustainable development.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) noted that the Arab region has made significant progress in recent years in the field of renewable energy generation, and several world-leading projects are scheduled to be launched in 2023.
Access to electricity in the Arab region reached almost 91% in 2021, depriving some 42 million people of access to electricity, and facing only 83% of the rural population compared to 98% in urban areas.
In contrast, 52 million people in Arab countries did not have access to clean cooking, with significant disparities between subregions.

The UAE has completed the world's largest photovoltaic power station in Abu Dhabi, powering 200,000 homes annually.

Title:

Content: People 's Network > > International
The Middle East: Struggling between reconciliation and conflict
December 25, 2023, 16: 10 | Source: Xinhua Network
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Xinhua News Agency, CAIRO, December 25, (International Watch) The World's Seven Regions 2023 Review | The Middle East: Struggling Between Reconciliation and Conflict
By Xinhua reporter Chen Mengyang
Reconciliation and cooperation, disasters and conflicts, growth and decline … The Middle East presents a complex picture in 2023, reflecting the coexistence of hope and challenges, vitality and hardship in the region.
Reunification of Shay leads to regional reconciliation
In 2023, reconciliation and cooperation are the salient features of the situation in the Middle East, indicating the growing autonomy of the Middle East countries.
Under the mediation of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed in March to resume diplomatic relations after severing diplomatic ties for seven years.
This has shocked the world by reviving old enemies in the Middle East.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to hold a joint summit of leaders of the Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh on November 11, the first visit by an Iranian president to Saudi Arabia since 2012.
In 2023, the Middle East countries made a series of progress in the regional reconciliation process: Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed their first free trade agreement with Arab countries; Turkey and Egypt sent ministerial officials to exchange visits for the first time in years; Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced the resumption of formal diplomatic relations; Syria was suspended for more than a decade.
Speaking at the 32nd Arab League summit on reconciliation and unity, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed said that peace, unity, cooperation and construction are in the interest of the Arab peoples. "We will not let this region become a zone of conflict," he said.
In 2023, the role of Middle East countries in international and regional multilateral organizations and cooperation mechanisms will continue to increase.
Iran officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran were invited to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism.
Zou Zhiqiang, a scholar at the Center for Middle East Studies of Fudan University, believes that the situation in the Middle East in 2023 has shown an unprecedented momentum
Although the Middle East peace process has been suspended due to the outbreak of a new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it will not continue, and the general trend of relaxation and local instability will not be fundamentally changed.
Serious consequences of conflict
In 2023, there will be many serious natural disasters and armed conflicts in the Middle East, which will seriously affect regional stability and development prospects.
On February 6, a powerful earthquake hit Turkey's southern border region near Syria, killing more than 50,000 people and leaving millions homeless. Damage in Turkey alone amounted to about 100 billion U.S. dollars. On September 8, a powerful earthquake hit Morocco, killing more than 2,900 people and injuring more than 5,000 others.
Many people have been unable to return to their homes since the two major earthquakes caused huge loss of life and property.
The armed conflict has cast a shadow over the Middle East in 2023. On April 15, fierce clashes broke out in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, and the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces exchanged fire, which has continued to this day. On October 7, a large-scale armed conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has caused huge casualties.
The Palestinian-Israeli issue has once again become the focus of great attention of the international community.
The new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict has turned the situation in the region into chaos, disrupting the process of reconciliation between Israel and other Arab countries and Turkey.
In addition, unstable factors such as the Iranian nuclear issue, the civil war in Yemen, the conflict between Lebanon and Syria and Israel, and Turkey ’ s cross-border attack on PKK militants continue to plague the Middle East.
Multinational economic development in the doldrums
In 2023, due to multiple internal and external factors, in addition to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, economic growth in many countries in the Middle East is weak and depressed.
Recently, the world's largest single photovoltaic power station, Eldavra photovoltaic power station, was completed in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
The plant produces enough electricity to power 200,000 homes each year and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.4 million metric tons.
This project once again demonstrates the determination of the UAE, an oil and gas rich Gulf state, to diversify its energy and green development.
Saudi Arabia ’ s Vision 2030, which aims to move away from dependence on oil revenues and diversify its growth, is gradually turning from a blueprint into a reality.
According to a recent IMF report, Saudi Arabia is in a period of strong economic growth and is in good financial condition.
At the same time, other countries in the region, such as Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, suffered from sharp currency devaluations, high inflation and soaring unemployment.
The exchange rate of the Lebanese pound, the Egyptian pound, the Turkish lira and other Middle Eastern countries has reached record lows against the US dollar.
In addition, the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has hit the economies of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and other neighboring countries hard.
Forecasts released by the World Bank in October show that economic growth in West Asia and North Africa is expected to decline sharply in 2023, from 6% in 2022 to around 1.9%.
Zhao Jun, associate professor of the Middle East Research Institute of Shanghai Foreign Studies University, believes that due to factors such as low oil prices leading to oil production cuts, global financial environment tension, sustained interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, and the continued price rise of commodities and raw materials such as food due to the Ukrainian crisis, coupled with local turmoil continues, the economic downturn in many countries in the Middle East is unlikely to be reversed in a short time.
(Editor: Liu Ye Ting, Xu Xiangli)
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The project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.4 million metric tons, supporting the UAE's climate goals.

Green finance in MENA reached $3.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to continue growing.

Title:

Content: Global News
The World Today - A pivotal and promising role for the countries of the region in the transition to renewable energy
You are now following the news of a pivotal and promising role waiting for the countries of the region in the transition to renewable energy from the news section of the world and now we leave you with full details
MARCH 3, 2023 02: 16 AM - The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has always played a pivotal role in the oil and gas markets, but this role will not stop if the world decides to move to low-emission sources of energy.
According to APRICORP, renewable energy investments are expected to account for 34 percent of electricity investment in the Middle East and North Africa between 2022 and 2026.
According to McKinsey & Company, the Middle East and North Africa receives 22 to 26 percent of the solar radiation energy on Earth, due to its geographical location.
Solar energy is not the only thing that distinguishes the region, as countries in this region are likely to be the source of 10 to 20 percent of the global hydrogen market by 2050, according to Roland Berger.
Hydrogen is likely to generate annual revenues of $120 billion to $200 billion by 2050, and many countries in the region have already started projects to transport and export hydrogen to energy-consuming countries.
The region has about 10 percent of global carbon capture and storage capabilities.
Despite the many challenges that countries in the region must face in this regard, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has the potential to play a pivotal role in the global energy transition.
The most prominent question about green finance comes in this promising region.
Nael Amin, senior director of financial services at Arthur D. Little, said on this week ’ s episode of Dot Gulf ’ s World of Energy program that green finance in the Middle East and North Africa, including green bonds, had reached $3.8 billion in 2020.
This amount, according to Amin, has grown significantly during the year 2022, specifically in 4 countries, Turkey, the Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, due to the development in the region and increased investments in this sector, as well as providing some important requirements in this sector.
Amin explained that besides financing, the region is witnessing progress in many areas in terms of dealing with environmental factors, which is an attractive factor for investors.
Over the past two years, banks have significantly increased their legislation in this area, as each of the Gulf countries has implemented the necessary standards and requirements to support the business environment in the field of green energy.
There are challenges, according to Amin, the most prominent of which is the data challenge, as he pointed out that banks are approaching the activities of customers to know the necessary data on funded projects, for example, in the case of financing the construction of a building, you must know the amount of energy that will be consumed by this building.
The Gulf States are working and collaborating with each other to understand the framework that must be adopted to develop infrastructure in the field of renewable energy and promote sustainability, which will positively impact and support green investment in general in the region.
We hope that we have succeeded in conveying the full details of a pivotal and promising role that awaits the countries of the region in the transition to renewable energy.
In God ’ s care and protection.
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