UAE to become world's biggest generator of solar electricity by 2031, IEA says

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will become the world's largest producer of solar electricity by 2031. The Middle East's total renewable energy capacity is expected to triple by that time, according to the Paris-based IEA's 2026 Renewables report. Solar power per capita in the UAE is projected to reach over 4,000 kilowatt-hours, making it the highest among Middle Eastern economies.

Oman and Qatar follow in third and fifth place respectively in the top 10 Middle Eastern countries, while Australia and Bulgaria rank second and fourth globally. Greece, Austria, Spain, China, and Chile complete the top 10 list.

The IEA report indicates that solar power will account for approximately three-quarters of the world's total renewable electricity capacity by 2031, which is anticipated to surge by nearly 85% compared to the previous six years. Globally, the average per-capita solar output is more than double the current average by 2031, but the leading nations still generate multiple times the average, highlighting disparities in deployment rates and access to solar generation.

UAE's Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei emphasized the country's commitment to renewable energy during the Middle East Energy summit in September. The UAE has raised its clean energy target to 35% by 2030 to 2031, necessitating new projects, heightened competition, and wider private sector involvement in power generation. The IEA data also reflects expectations of a threefold increase in renewable energy capacity in the Middle East by 2031, similar forecasts for Africa and Southeast Asia.

Analysts at the IEA attribute the region's growing prominence in the global renewables market to ambitious energy policies, security benefits, supportive regulations, and the rising competitiveness of wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Saudi Arabia, the largest economy in the Arab world, is projected to increase its renewable energy expansion fivefold by 2031, followed by the UAE, marking a significant market shift in the region's energy sector.

By 2031, the Middle East is expected to substantially contribute to the global increase in renewable capacity due to robust policy support and market development, according to the IEA's analysts.