UAE's Engagement At Singapore International Energy Week Focuses On Clean Energy Investments And Regional Integration

Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, took part in the Ministerial Dialogue at the Singapore-IRENA High-Level Forum during Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2025. The forum gathered industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss this year's theme: "Envisioning Energy Tomorrow, Building Systems Today".

The session focused on how governments have balanced regional energy integration with national priorities. Panelists shared insights on policies, regulations, and partnerships essential for unlocking investment opportunities in cross-border energy projects.

Al Olama explained that the UAE's strategy for clean-energy investments relies on three main pillars: long-term policy stability, open and competitive markets, and strong regional and global connectivity. He highlighted that over the past decade, the UAE has attracted significant clean-energy investments by offering transparent tenders and bankable power-purchase agreements.

Through Masdar, the UAE is developing clean-energy projects in over 40 countries with more than 50 GW of installed capacity. Masdar aims to reach 100 GW and produce one million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

Al Olama emphasized three key enablers for scaling investments across borders, especially in rapidly growing regions like Southeast Asia. These include clear long-term market signals to build investor confidence, regulatory harmonisation for seamless interconnection, and innovative financing to mitigate risks related to demand, currency fluctuations, and political instability.

The GCC Power Grid was highlighted as a successful example of regional cooperation. It has helped GCC states save over $3 billion in generation costs while enhancing resilience and reducing emissions. This model could support green power corridors between the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where electricity demand is expected to rise by 60% by 2040.

Commitment to Sustainable Growth

"As we advance toward COP30 and beyond," Al Olama stated, "the UAE remains committed to turning dialogue into delivery." He stressed that mobilising partnerships will make clean energy, efficiency, and interconnection central to shared energy security and sustainable growth worldwide.

With inputs from WAM