The Sustainability Blueprint will be the primary topic of the World Future Energy Summit

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Abu Dhabi's clean energy company Masdar have spearheaded a global project called Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week to accelerate sustainable development and promote economic, social, and environmental success. The summit is the week's centrepiece.

“This event has evolved just as the energy sector and our economies are transitioning,” said Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.

“It has now morphed into the Middle East’s most important industry gathering, of which clean energy and infrastructure are key components,” Mazrouei added further.

To reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is investing Dh600 billion ($163.5bn) in clean and renewable energy projects over the next three decades. It is constructing the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai, with a capacity of five gigawatts, and the world's largest solar plant, with a capacity of two gigawatts, in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region. Both are planned to be completed in the coming year. Saudi Arabia, the largest economy in the Arab world, plans to become carbon neutral by 2060 and has so launched a number of new renewable energy projects. The most populous Arab country, Egypt, plans to get 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035. Next month, the country in North Africa will hold Cop27.

“This newly transitioned event profile is in the right place at the right time, underlining a much-needed shift towards reaching our clean energy goals, as well as achieving sustainable governance and adopting consumption and production of natural energy methods that ensure the quality of life for current and future generations,”  Al Mazrouei said.

Efforts around the world to promote a green transition have led to a sustained increase in funding for renewable energy. Rystad Energy predicts that capital investments in renewables will surpass spending on oil and gas for the first time in 2022 as rising electricity prices encourage governments to diversify their energy mix. The Oslo-based energy consultant predicted this month that investment in renewable energy would reach $494bn in 2022, surpassing upstream oil and gas spending at $446bn for the year. Next year's event will preside over the establishment of a dedicated hydrogen innovation centre as demand for the clean fuel picks up globally amid green transition initiatives, in addition to the focus on energy, water, eco-waste, solar, smart cities, climate, and the environment. This is place as the UAE gets ready to host Cop28 in 2019.