The United Arab Emirates plans national investments of up to AED 200 billion in the energy sector by 2030, roughly $54.5 billion. Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei made the announcement at a ministerial panel at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, themed “Energy Security Is National Security”.
Al Mazrouei described diversification as the backbone of the strategy. Renewables, nuclear and gas play complementary roles and ensure reliable, competitive supply. The minister noted that the country’s major national projects are diversifying the energy mix by pairing renewable sources with peaceful nuclear energy. The plan also calls for greater private-sector participation and closer partnerships across the supply chain.
The minister cited the following figures for the current picture: renewable capacity has risen from 129 megawatts in 2015 to more than 8.2 gigawatts in 2025, an increase of more than 63 times. Clean energy accounts for 32.4% of generation, with a target of 35% by 2031. A year ago, at the UAE Energy Forum 2025, Al Mazrouei put total clean capacity at 12.4 gigawatts, of which 5.6 GW from nuclear. That share comes from the Barakah plant.
The backdrop is growing demand. The minister links rising consumption to the expansion of artificial intelligence and data centers, which require more electricity from all sources. For this reason, according to the Emirati government, energy security also encompasses infrastructure resilience, cybersecurity and continuity of service. Al Mazrouei also cited the development of local manufacturing capacity, access to critical equipment and the training of specialized national talent.
The implications for the industry are concrete. Masdar has reached investments of about $45 billion and a portfolio of more than 65 gigawatts, with a target of 100 gigawatts by 2030. Stated priorities include faster project start-up, new financing instruments and large-scale deployment of emerging technologies. For international nuclear suppliers, a market that puts public resources and private capital on the same footing is a counterpart worth watching.
For those looking at Italy, the Emirati case shows a path that is replicable in its broad outlines: a plant in operation, a measurable nuclear share already in the mix, and a spending plan that places it alongside other sources. If data center demand follows current estimates, the next announcements on new nuclear capacity in the Gulf could come before the 2030 deadline.
