The UAE is fast-tracking low-carbon economic growth to deliver new jobs, new industries and new revenue streams, said Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change.
He was speaking at the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week (Menacw2022). Dr Al Jaber explained that the UAE is adopting a comprehensive, balanced and proactive approach to climate action and the energy transition that delivers sustainable economic growth.
“As a young country, and a responsible energy leader, the UAE has always faced the future with a positive mindset, and addressed challenges head-on. This is why we stopped flaring 30 years before the World Bank asked the industry to do so. It’s why we achieved 0.01 per cent methane intensity 20 years before the global pledge asking for a gradual reduction. It’s why we began to capture C02 (carbon dioxide) on an industrial scale before the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) called it an essential tool for de-carbonisation. And it’s why we became the first hydrocarbon producer to power our operations with zero-carbon energy,” Dr. Al Jaber added.
He pointed out that the UAE was also the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, the first to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions, and the first to announce a Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. The UAE has chosen to lead in these areas because it views climate challenges “not just as problems to fix, but as opportunities to seize,” he underlined.
While the world mobilises investments for a new energy economy and addresses the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber emphasised that recent events have “reminded us that we cannot simply switch off the current energy system”.
“We all need to recognise that the energy transition will take time and require sober, thoughtful planning. It is more evident now than ever before that this cannot be rushed. The push to divest from hydrocarbons has led to a supply crunch that is having the biggest impact on the most exposed. The clear lesson is that we should not adopt climate policies that lead to energy poverty. We need to keep investing in low-cost, low-carbon energy that can provide the baseload power that the world relies on,” said Dr. Al Jaber.
He had reiterated this message during his speech at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum held at Expo 2020 Dubai.
On climate finance, he said it can be an effective tool for climate action as he urged the international community to do more and fulfil the $100 billion climate pledge made to developing nations over a decade ago.
“The international community continues to fall short of the $100 billion climate finance pledge they made to developing nations over a decade ago. We need bold targets going forward and we need to start treating climate risks as potential global security risks.
“We have taken a partnership approach focused on projects in countries most exposed to climate risks because we know that local resilience builds global resilience. We have provided over $1 billion in climate aid to more than 40 countries. And our experience tells us that once concessional finance is there, private finance will follow.”
He concluded by extending the UAE’s invitation to governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society to partner on solutions that make sense for our climate and the economy. He said, “We should not have to choose between the two. We can and we must make progress on both.”
The Mena Climate Week aims to accelerate collaboration and integrate climate action into global pandemic recovery. Other dignitaries present at the opening ceremony of this first edition included Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, minister of climate change and environment, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organisation (Wgeo) and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa); and Patricia Espinosa, E
executive secretary of UNFCCC.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced the resumption of several major bus routes following temporary suspensions caused by heavy rainfall and unstable weather conditions across the UAE.
The authority confirmed that services are now operating again, allowing passengers to travel safely and more smoothly, although minor delays may still occur as operations gradually return to full capacity.
Several key routes have resumed, including:
E315 between Etisalat Bus Station and Muwaileh (Sharjah)
E101 to Abu Dhabi, now operating from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station instead of Ibn Battuta Bus Station due to earlier waterlogging
E411 service to Ajman from Etisalat Bus Station
Route 201 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Ain
The service restoration comes after disruptions triggered by adverse weather, which led to the temporary suspension of multiple bus routes to ensure passenger safety.
RTA said all necessary safety and operational measures are in place to support a smooth return to normal services.
Advice for commuters
Passengers are encouraged to:
Allow extra travel time
Check updates through official RTA channels
Follow safety guidelines while commuting
Authorities added that services will continue to stabilise over the coming days as conditions improve.
Dubai is accelerating its push toward sustainable mobility, with the Roads and Transport Authority announcing the completion of 13 cycling tracks across the emirate as part of a broader 15-track master plan.
The newly developed network spans key corridors, linking areas such as Al Khawaneej to Al Mamzar Beach, Al Warqa’a to Saih Al Salam, and Dubai International Financial Centre to Jumeirah. The tracks form part of a long-term strategy to build a 162-kilometre network and ultimately expand Dubai’s cycling infrastructure to 1,000km by 2030.
According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of RTA, the goal is to create a fully integrated transport system where cycling connects residential communities with major destinations and public transport hubs. This approach is aimed at encouraging residents to adopt bicycles and other eco-friendly mobility options for short-distance travel.
Dubai’s efforts have already earned global recognition. The emirate was ranked among the top 100 cycling-friendly cities in the 2025 Copenhagenize Index — becoming the first city in the Middle East to achieve this milestone.
The city’s cycling infrastructure has seen rapid growth, expanding from 560km in 2024 to 636km in 2025. During the same period, cycling trips surged by 23.5 per cent, reaching 57.3 million journeys, while user satisfaction climbed to 85 per cent. Today, over one-fifth of Dubai’s population has access to dedicated cycling facilities.
Further enhancing connectivity, several major pedestrian and cycling bridges are under construction. These include crossings over Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai–Al Ain Road, and Al Khail Road, linking cycling routes across key districts such as Al Sufouh, Dubai Hills, and Jumeirah.
Additional developments include new cycling tracks in residential neighbourhoods like Al Khawaneej 2 and Al Barsha 2, alongside infrastructure upgrades near metro stations, including BurJuman, Baniyas, and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Dedicated tracks for bicycles and e-scooters, as well as improved pedestrian pathways, are also being rolled out across multiple districts.
With more projects set for completion in the coming months, Dubai continues to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable urban mobility and active transportation.
