The UAE has 136 energy projects under development representing an estimated capital expenditure of $210 billion (approximately AED 771.2 billion), according to EICDataStream figures presented by the Energy Industries Council (EIC) at its EIC Connect UAE 2026 event in Abu Dhabi on 22 September.
Oil and gas represent the majority of planned spending, with upstream developments accounting for nearly 40% of estimated capex, downstream projects representing 16%, and midstream ventures making up just under 12%, the EIC reported. The project pipeline also includes renewables at 11%, hydrogen at 9%, transmission and distribution at 8%, conventional power generation at 7%, and carbon capture and energy storage at 4% each.
EICDataStream is currently tracking 17,980 MW of renewable power capacity across 14 UAE projects scheduled to come online by 2030, alongside 12,947 MW of conventional power capacity across nine developments. The EIC noted that not all tracked developments have reached a final investment decision (FID), meaning the figures reflect projects in development rather than committed capital. Across the wider GCC, 28 of 99 renewable projects have reached FID, compared with two of 39 hydrogen developments and two of 18 carbon capture projects.
Ryan McPherson, the EIC's regional director and general manager for the Middle East, Africa and CIS, stated that the UAE possesses a strong project pipeline across both conventional and non-conventional technologies. Separately, ADNOC's board approved a $150 billion capital investment plan for 2026 to 2030 in November 2025, which includes the 9.6 million tonnes per annum Ruwais LNG facility targeted for commercial operation in 2028 and a planned 4 million tonnes per annum liquefaction facility on the country's east coast.
Sources
- oilandgasmiddleeast.com · 2026-10-04
