The UAE’s new, more ambitious emission-reduction targets revealed this week are set to involve wide-ranging changes across several sectors from transport to power generation, water production, waste and agriculture.
Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, announced the Emirates' goal of cutting emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 compared to business as usual only months before the UAE hosts the Cop28 climate change conference.
The UAE certainly has the resources to invest in low-carbon technology
Dr Michael Mason
Ms Al Mheiri said the government “views climate action not only as a strategic imperative for the environment and our future generations, but also as an opportunity for sustainable economic growth and socially inclusive prosperity”.
Through the UN process for cutting emissions, government pledges are set out in what are called nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
Asher Minns, executive director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change research at the University of East Anglia in the UK, said it was "really important" for countries not only to make NDC pledges, but to act on them and to step them up.
"At the moment emissions reductions are relatively easy – the low-hanging fruit," Mr Minns said. "It’s going to get harder and harder over time."
Emissions reductions tend to become more difficult over time because authorities typically focus initially on areas where cuts are less difficult to make, such as in carbon-intensive power generation.
The NDCs are being made by governments as part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which set out the aspiration to limit average global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Countries are expected to come up with strengthened pledges over time. The latest announcement is the country’s third revision of its second NDC.
Reducing greenhouse emissions
In 2020, UAE authorities announced they were aiming for annual greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 equivalent to 240 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2e), compared to 310 million tonnes under business-as-usual practices, which assumes an absence of emission-reduction efforts.
A second update came last year, with a target of 208 MtCO2e, followed by this latest revision, which sets emissions at 182 MtCO2e, a cut of at least 40 per cent compared to business as usual.
The new target also means that by 2030, annual emissions should be 19 per cent lower in actual terms than they were in 2019, a milestone on the path to achieving net zero and particularly significant given the country’s continued economic and population growth.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Climate change pushing ecosystems beyond 'tipping points'
__________________________________________________________________________________
In late 2021, ahead of the Cop26 gathering in Glasgow, the UAE became the first Gulf state to make a net-zero commitment when it set out the ambition to achieve this by 2050.
Key to the country’s efforts are decarbonising energy, which traditionally has been dependent on the burning of fossil fuels.
The development of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is a central measure and in February it was announced the third of its four reactors had entered commercial operations. The four reactors will together be able to generate 5,600 megawatts of power.
Increasing investment in renewable energy
Earlier this month the UAE announced it was investing up to Dh200 billion as part of a national energy strategy that will see a tripling of renewable energy output by the end of the decade.
The UAE had in 2017 committed to increasing clean energy’s share of the country’s energy mix to 50 per cent by the middle of the century.
Major investments date back more than a decade, with the Shams 1 in Madinat Zayed inaugurated in 2013.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is investing $15 billion in low-carbon technology, including "carbon capture and storage, electrification and investments in hydrogen and renewables", the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said in Accelerating Action Towards a Green, Inclusive and Resilient Economy, a document released to accompany this week’s NDC announcement.
Recycling more water
Other key parts of the UAE’s 2030 plans include reducing the carbon impact of desalination, such as by recycling more water.
Transport is expected to achieve a 56 per cent reduction in emission, helped by a national network of charging stations for electric vehicles.
Emissions from waste are set to be cut by 8 per cent, while the government wants emissions from agriculture to fall 22 per cent.
The UAE is not looking only to advanced technology to achieve climate goals, it is also employing natural methods to capture carbon, having previously announced plans to plant 30 million mangrove seedlings by 2030. Mangroves both capture CO2 and act as a bulwark against sea-level rises.
Dr Michael Mason, director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, said the UAE, as host of this year’s Cop28, is keen to "demonstrate and signify their commitments in this area are meaningful".
The resources are there
He described the UAE as "certainly" having the resources to invest in low-carbon technology.
"Their whole economic plan is to reduce their emissions anyway to move to more clean energy in their domestic sector," he said.
While there are commitments to cut domestically generated carbon emissions, Dr Mason said Gulf states intended to remain major fossil fuel exporters.
The continuation of exporting hydrocarbons is sometimes justified on the basis there will be demand for fossil fuels until economies have transitioned to low-carbon technology, and extraction of oil and gas in the Gulf region is less carbon intensive than in many other parts of the world.
The UAE states that its oil has a carbon intensity of less than half of the average for the industry.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh450%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
The five pillars of Islam
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils
8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers
MATCH INFO
BRIGHTON 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 3
McTominay 44'
Mata 73'
Pogba 80'
Racecard
%3Cp%3E8.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E9pm%3A%20Yas%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Saadiyat%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E10pm%3A%20Reem%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%3Cbr%3E10.30pm%3A%20Arabian%20Triple%20Crown%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(PA)%20Dh300%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3Cbr%3E11pm%3A%20Al%20Maryah%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
