{
  "id": 1960852,
  "title": "Abu Dhabi’s power demand to double by 2050 amid rapid economic expansion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/abu-dhabis-power-demand-to-double-by-2050-amid-rapid-economic",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2026/08/19/abu-dhabis-power-demand-to-double-by-2050-amid-rapid-economic-expansion/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abu Dhabi's electricity needs are projected to double by 2050, according to Abdulaziz Alobaidli, the Department of Energy's director general for regulatory affairs. This surge in demand is attributed to the emirate's rapid economic expansion, population growth, and the development of digital infrastructure. Presently, Abu Dhabi's total installed capacity stands at 25 gigawatts, which is expected to rise to 50 gigawatts by 2050. To accommodate this growth, the emirate plans to invest more than Dh300 billion in utility infrastructure for generation, transmission, and distribution.\n\nAlobaidli emphasized the importance of building renewable energy plants to achieve net-zero energy targets by 2050. This aligns with the International Energy Agency's forecast that global electricity demand will nearly double by the same year. Last year, the UAE launched the world's first facility providing renewable energy 24/7, as part of a $6 billion project capable of generating 1 gigawatt of clean power. The project, a collaboration between Masdar and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company, is anticipated to commence operations in the coming year upon securing financial closure in June.\n\nIn addition to expanding power capacity, Abu Dhabi is also concentrating on AI infrastructure, which is expected to augment electricity demand. A notable example is the 1GW Stargate UAE project, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based AI firm G42 and tech giants OpenAI, Oracle, and Nvidia. This project, set to be located within the 5GW UAE-US AI Campus, will bolster energy consumption. The demand for water in Abu Dhabi is also on the rise, although not at the same rate as power demand. To address this, the emirate is prioritizing investment in reverse osmosis technology, a more efficient desalination method. Recently, significant funds were allocated to this technology, particularly as aging thermal desalination units reach the end of their lifespan.",
  "summary": "Abu Dhabi’s power demand is expected to double by 2050, driven by rapid expansion of the economy, population growth and digital infrastructure, according to a senior official. The emirate’s total installed capacity is projected to rise to 50 gigawatts from the current 25 gigawatts, with major investments planned in building utility infrastructure, Abdulaziz Alobaidli, director general for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Abu Dhabi’s power demand to double by 2050 amid rapid economic expansion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/abu-dhabis-power-demand-to-double-by-2050-amid-rapid-economic-1962289",
        "published": "2026-08-19T15:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}