MoEI Collaborates With Youth To Drive Electric Vehicle Transition In The UAE

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), alongside the Federal Youth Authority, recently held a session titled ‘Youth Leadership in the Shift to Electric Vehicles’. The event, hosted by Rubu Qarn Science and Technology, focused on empowering Emirati youth to lead the transition towards clean energy and electric vehicles. A key highlight was the Pole Position EV racing initiative, which involves students in building and racing an electric car.

Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, emphasised the Ministry's dedication to empowering youth for a sustainable future. He stated, "Organising this youth session aligns with the Ministry’s commitment to empowering the young generation and helping it shape a sustainable future. Our Pole Position initiative aims to highlight the important role of electric vehicles in reducing carbon emissions, in line with the National Conservation Campaign ‘Save to Sustain’. Through such events, we seek to encourage youth to become leaders of change and key contributors to our sustainability agenda."

Al Olama also noted the steady growth of the UAE's electric vehicle market. He mentioned plans to increase electric and hybrid vehicles' share to 50% by 2050. In 2023, electric vehicles accounted for 13% of total car sales. This trend is expected to continue as more incentives are offered to customers. The UAE government has launched UAEV, its first wholly-owned electric vehicle charging company.

UAEV is committed to expanding green transportation infrastructure across the Emirates. It aims to deploy 100 chargers by 2024 and over 1,000 by 2030. This initiative aligns with the country's vision for a greener future and reducing carbon emissions in transportation.

Ahlam Al Ahmad, Director of Rubu Qarn Science and Technology, highlighted Rubu Qarn Foundation's efforts in fostering young Emirati talent. The foundation provides an interactive environment with various programmes that encourage using modern technology for sustainable solutions.

The session concluded with participants agreeing on several key points. They stressed promoting collaboration between government entities, youth, and private sectors for future goals. Additionally, they highlighted raising awareness about electric vehicles' role in sustainability and securing sponsorships for initiatives like Pole Position.

Participants also discussed addressing technical challenges in infrastructure development. They emphasised inspiring youth to adopt sustainable technologies actively contributing to emission reduction efforts.

With inputs from WAM