Abu dhabi: Dii Desert Energy, a prominent energy transition think tank in the MENA region, has announced the release of its flagship annual report, 'MENA Energy Outlook 2026 - Renewables, Hydrogen and Energy Storage Insights 2030'. The report's key findings were unveiled at the World Future Energy Summit.
According to Emirates News Agency, the 2026 edition builds on the success of the inaugural MENA Energy Outlook 2025 released last year, showcasing rapid growth that surpasses even optimistic projections. The peer-reviewed report offers a comprehensive overview of the energy transformation technologies and countries in the MENA region. It provides a forward-looking perspective with various scenarios for the energy transformation in MENA by 2030, utilizing insights from Dii's Renewable Projects Database, the MENA H2 tracker, and the Energy Storage Projects database.
Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, emphasized the necessity of scaling up renewable energy in response to climate change and energy security challenges. He noted the UAE's commitment to tripling its renewable energy capacity by 2030, setting a target of more than 22 gigawatts of installed renewable energy capacity, including solar, CSP, wind, and waste-to-energy, within the next five years.
He further stated that access to reliable data and forward-looking analysis is crucial for policymaking, investment decisions, and regional coordination. In this context, the MENA Energy Outlook 2026 offers valuable insights into the trends, risks, and opportunities shaping the region's energy future, supporting evidence-based decisions for a more secure and sustainable energy system.
Cornelius Matthes, CEO of Dii Desert Energy, highlighted 2025 as a breakthrough year for energy transformation in the MENA region, with significant increases in solar PV, wind, and BESS capacities driven by market factors. The report identifies a critical breakthrough, noting that the region has entered an exponential phase of deployment, with nearly 15 GW of new capacity added in 2025 alone.
Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, remarked that the MENA Energy Outlook 2026 indicates a decisive inflection point for the region. The rapid deployment of renewable energy demonstrates the potential of renewables to outperform conventional energy in cost, speed, resilience, and returns, reinforcing MENA's position as a global leader in clean energy.
Dii Desert Energy's insights and connections to the latest developments in projects and markets make the report an essential resource for understanding the renewable energy, hydrogen, and energy storage landscape in the MENA region.
Key findings reveal the region's entry into an exponential growth phase, with 15 GW of capacity added in 2025, compared to the growth from 2020 (14 GW) to 2024 (30 GW). The report also notes a sharp surge in the project pipeline, reaching 202 GW, surpassing the 'Balanced Transition' scenario forecast of 165 GW in the previous edition. The pipeline has grown by 54 percent from 131 GW recorded a year earlier.
Additionally, the UAE has solidified its position as a renewable energy leader, ranking second in the region with 7.5 GW of operational capacity. Masdar, in collaboration with EWEC, is developing a 5.2 GW solar park integrated with 19 GWh of battery storage, marking a breakthrough in delivering clean, around-the-clock power at a large scale.