$210 billion — the value of 136 energy projects in the UAE, led by oil

Summary

• 136 UAE energy projects under development carry roughly $210 billion in estimated capital spending, per EIC data.
• Upstream oil and gas alone accounts for almost 40% of planned investment, ahead of renewables at 11%.
• Many projects, especially hydrogen and carbon capture, have yet to reach final investment decision.

The latest

Some $210 billion in estimated capital expenditure sits behind 136 energy projects under development in the UAE, according to data the Energy Industries Council presented at EIC Connect UAE 2026 in Abu Dhabi. Oil and gas dominates the spending, with upstream work alone close to 40% of the total. The EIC noted that not every project in the pipeline has reached a final investment decision.

Details

• The headline number: EICDataStream figures put 136 projects under development in the UAE at a combined estimated capex of about $210 billion. The council presented the data at its EIC Connect UAE 2026 event in Abu Dhabi, and cautioned that the pipeline includes schemes that have not yet been sanctioned for investment.
• Hydrocarbons lead: Upstream oil and gas represents almost 40% of total estimated capex, according to EICDataStream. Downstream projects account for 16% and midstream developments just under 12%, putting the three hydrocarbon segments together at roughly two-thirds of planned spending in the pipeline.
• The energy transition share: Renewables make up 11% of projects under development, followed by hydrogen at 9%, transmission and distribution at 8%, and conventional power at 7%. Carbon capture and energy storage each account for 4%, leaving transition-linked categories well behind oil and gas.
• New capacity: The UAE is expected to add 17,980 megawatts of renewable capacity through 14 projects scheduled to come online by 2030, EICDataStream said. A further nine conventional power projects are expected to deliver 12,947 MW, keeping thermal generation a significant part of the build-out.
• Sanctioning gap: Progression across the GCC remains uneven, according to the EIC. Of 99 renewable projects under development in the bloc, 28 have reached final investment decision. In hydrogen, only two of 39 projects have been sanctioned, and in carbon capture two of 18.
• The EIC view: Ryan McPherson, Regional Director and General Manager for the Middle East, Africa and CIS at the EIC, described the UAE pipeline as "strong" and said it spans both conventional and non-conventional technologies. The council did not attach a delivery timeline to the full $210 billion figure.
• Waste and power: Abu Dhabi has two material recovery facilities under development with combined sorting capacity of 800,000 tonnes a year. The planned Al Bihouth waste-to-energy plant is expected to process up to 900,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually and generate enough electricity for around 52,000 homes.

Background

The EIC is a trade body tracking energy project data through its EICDataStream platform, and its regional events publish pipeline figures covering spending that is planned or proposed rather than committed.

Between the lines

The pipeline's composition and its sanctioning record point in the same direction. Hydrocarbons carry the bulk of estimated capex, while the categories tied to the transition sit in single digits apart from renewables. The GCC figures sharpen that: hydrogen and carbon capture show two sanctioned projects each, against 28 in renewables, suggesting announced ambition is converting into committed capital far more slowly in the newer segments.

What's next

Watch which of the 39 GCC hydrogen projects and 18 carbon capture schemes reach final investment decision, and whether the 14 renewable projects totalling 17,980 MW stay on track for their 2030 commissioning dates.

Source: ZAWYA Projects, Energy Industries Council (EICDataStream)