In 2023, the United Arab Emirates still relied on fossil fuels for almost three-quarters of its electricity consumption: gas supplied about 72%. Low-carbon sources provided the remaining 28%, with nuclear contributing almost one-fifth of total electricity and solar about 8%. Nuclear was therefore the largest clean electricity source, while solar also made a meaningful contribution.

Is Electricity Growing in United Arab Emirates?

Electricity consumption per person reached a new high in 2023, at about 15,500 kWh—roughly 260 kWh, or 2%, above the previous record set in 2021. Low-carbon electricity generation per person grew much more strongly, reaching about 4,330 kWh compared with the previous record of about 2,720 kWh in 2022. That increase of roughly 1,610 kWh, or 59%, is an encouraging sign that clean electricity is expanding rapidly alongside demand. Continued growth can help support electrification and emerging electricity needs, including AI.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, the UAE should expand its existing nuclear capacity and accelerate solar deployment, building on two technologies already delivering substantial electricity supplies. France, where nuclear supplies about 67% of electricity, offers lessons in sustaining a nuclear-led clean electricity system. For solar, the sunny US states of Nevada and Arizona are relevant examples, generating about 35% and 19% of their electricity from solar, respectively. The UAE can also explore wind development at suitable sites, drawing on Morocco’s experience with wind supplying about 20% of electricity. Together, additional nuclear, solar and suitable wind projects could meet growing demand while reducing reliance on gas and its associated climate and air-pollution impacts.

History

The UAE’s low-carbon electricity expansion began modestly: solar showed no recorded growth in 2009–2011, followed by small additions in 2013–2014. Annual solar gains then accelerated in the late 2010s, reaching 2.4 TWh in 2019. From 2020 onward, nuclear transformed the pace of clean electricity growth, adding 1.6 TWh in 2020, around 9 TWh in 2021, nearly 10 TWh in 2022 and more than 12 TWh in 2023. Solar continued growing throughout this period, with annual gains of roughly 1–1.5 TWh in 2020–2022 before a striking 6 TWh increase in 2023. Wind added another 0.1 TWh in 2023, while biofuels recorded no change in 2022 or 2023. The recent acceleration, led by nuclear and solar, marks a substantial advance in the UAE’s clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade