In 2023, fossil fuels supplied about 72% of electricity consumed in the United Arab Emirates, entirely from gas. Low-carbon sources supplied the remaining 28%, with nuclear providing almost one-fifth of electricity and solar a further 8%. Clean electricity therefore already makes a substantial contribution, although gas still dominates the electricity mix, leaving considerable scope to reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in United Arab Emirates?

Electricity consumption per person is growing: it reached a new record of about 15,500 kWh in 2023, roughly 260 kWh, or 2%, above the previous peak in 2021. Low-carbon electricity generation grew much faster, reaching about 4,300 kWh per person—around 1,600 kWh, or 59%, above its previous record in 2022. This strong clean-electricity growth is encouraging, providing a foundation for meeting additional demand from electrification and AI while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Suggestions

The United Arab Emirates should build on its existing nuclear fleet by expanding nuclear generation, alongside accelerating solar deployment. France, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds of electricity, demonstrates the substantial contribution this clean technology can make. For solar, the sunny US states of Nevada and Arizona offer particularly relevant examples: solar supplies about 35% and 19% of their electricity, respectively, compared with about 8% in the UAE. Learning from their deployment experience could help the UAE make fuller use of its abundant sunshine. Together, expanded nuclear and solar generation could underpin a much larger low-carbon electricity supply.

History

The UAE’s low-carbon electricity expansion began gradually before accelerating sharply. Solar generation showed no annual increase in the listed years from 2009 to 2011, followed by small gains in 2013 and 2014 and larger additions toward the end of the decade, including 2.4 TWh in 2019. From 2020 through 2023, nuclear became a major driver of growth, adding roughly 2, 9, 10 and 12 TWh in successive years. Solar continued expanding over the same period, with annual gains of around 1–2 TWh before a striking 6 TWh increase in 2023. Wind also added 0.1 TWh in 2023, while biofuels recorded no change in either 2022 or 2023. Overall, the early 2020s marked a welcome acceleration in clean electricity generation, led by nuclear and solar.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade