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 has just unveiled another futuristic landmard, and this one could redefine sustainable government buildings worldwide.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated Al Sheraa, the new headquarters of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in Al Jaddaf.
Mind-blowing numbers
Dubbed the tallest, largest, and smartest energy-positive government building in the world, Al Sheraa is designed to produce more energy than it consumes, making it a major milestone in Dubai’s sustainability journey.
دشَّنا مبنى "الشراع" المقر الرئيسي الجديد لهيئة كهرباء ومياه دبي في منطقة الجداف… أعلى وأكبر وأذكى مبنى حكومي إيجابي الطاقة في العالم…
110 آلاف مستشعر ذكي وأكثر من 1500 نقطة وصول لاسلكية و3200 جهاز شبكي لإنتاج أكثر من 1.9 مليون أمر تحكم آلي يومياً.. بقدرة إنتاجية للكهرباء… pic.twitter.com/kJSxilwqzr
The building features: • 110,000 smart sensors • 1,500+ wireless access points • 3,200 connected smart devices • Over 1.9 million automated control commands daily • Solar energy systems generating up to 5 MW of electricity
The building combines cutting-edge AI, automation, and renewable energy technologies to create a next-generation workspace focused on efficiency and sustainability.
Calling it a “global architectural icon,” Sheikh Mohammed said the project reflects Dubai’s leadership in innovation, smart technology, and green energy.
From AI-powered systems to solar-powered operations, Dubai is once again showing the world what the cities of the future could look like
The iconic Burj Khalifa has added another global title to its long list of records, this time as the world’s most Instagrammable landmark.
According to the latest Instagram Attraction Index, Dubai’s famous skyscraper secured the top spot globally with more than 10 million tagged Instagram posts and approximately 1.1 million monthly searches, reinforcing its status as one of the most photographed destinations in the world.
Developed by Emaar Properties and officially completed in 2010, the Burj Khalifa rises 828 metres into the Dubai skyline with more than 160 floors, making it the tallest building on the planet.
Designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the tower has become one of the UAE’s most recognisable landmarks, attracting millions of visitors every year for its observation decks, fountain shows and skyline views.
Among the countless images shared online, some of the most visually striking photographs of the Burj Khalifa have come from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose social media posts frequently capture Dubai from dramatic perspectives.
From lightning storms illuminating the tower to sunrise scenes above the clouds, Sheikh Hamdan’s photography has played a major role in showcasing the landmark’s cinematic appeal to audiences worldwide.
The Burj Khalifa’s popularity on Instagram reflects Dubai’s broader rise as a global tourism and lifestyle destination, where architecture, luxury experiences and futuristic cityscapes continue to attract international attention.
For many visitors, photographing the tower has become almost a mandatory Dubai experience, whether from the Dubai Fountain promenade, a rooftop overlooking Downtown Dubai or even from inside the clouds during winter fog season.
The UAE has introduced a major digital upgrade for parents and students, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sharjah Private Education Authority launching a new system that allows academic certificates to be issued and attested online in just minutes.
Activated through the Dalil platform, the service combines certificate issuance and attestation into one streamlined digital process, removing the need for families to navigate multiple platforms or complete separate applications.
Officials said the move is part of the UAE’s wider Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, designed to simplify services, reduce paperwork and create a better, more user-friendly digital experience.
Previously, parents often needed to complete up to three separate procedures involving schools, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE missions abroad. Under the new integrated system, the entire process can now reportedly be completed in around three minutes instead of taking up to six working days.
The platform allows users to issue academic certificates through SPEA while simultaneously obtaining attestations from MoA and the relevant UAE mission in the destination country through one unified digital window.
Officials described the initiative as another step towards building a fully connected digital government ecosystem focused on convenience, efficiency, and smarter public services.
The new service is expected to particularly benefit families applying for university admissions, overseas transfers, and official educational documentation both inside and outside the UAE.
Why is certificate attestation needed?
School certificate attestation is the official process of verifying and certifying the authenticity of a student’s educational documents. This ensures that academic records and other important certificates are legally recognised by authorities in the UAE.
The process is often required for several key purposes, including school admissions, university applications, student visa procedures and confirming the validity of educational qualifications for use inside the country.
