{
  "id": 1962289,
  "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",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-19T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "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 consumption is expected to double by 2050, as per a senior official from the Department of Energy. The emirate's current total installed capacity stands at 25 gigawatts and is projected to increase to 50 gigawatts. This significant expansion is attributed to rapid economic growth, population increase, and the development of digital infrastructure. Abdulaziz Alobaidli, the director general for regulatory affairs, revealed to The National that Abu Dhabi plans to invest over Dh300 billion in utility infrastructure over the coming decades. This investment will cover generation, transmission, and distribution to accommodate the escalating demand, as well as the adoption of digital infrastructure, AI, and computing initiatives. The emirate is also committed to reaching net-zero energy targets by 2050 by building renewable energy plants. This aligns with the International Energy Agency's prediction that global electricity demand will nearly double by 2050. In 2025, the UAE launched a $6 billion renewable energy project, capable of generating 1 gigawatt of clean, uninterrupted power. Over the next five years, Alobaidli anticipates that the share of clean and renewable energy will rise from 45 percent to 60 percent. The emirate is heavily investing in AI infrastructure, which is anticipated to intensify energy demand. The Stargate UAE project, a 1GW facility being developed by Abu Dhabi-based AI company G42 in collaboration with OpenAI, Oracle, and Nvidia, will be part of the 5GW UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi. Water demand in Abu Dhabi is also on the rise, although at a slower pace compared to power demand. The authorities are focusing on enhancing water supply through the implementation of reverse osmosis technology, a more efficient method used to purify water. Alobaidli emphasized that the emirate's water and power supplies remained uninterrupted during the Iran conflict, crediting the system's resilience to long-term investment and planning.",
  "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 UAE",
        "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",
        "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."
}