UAE vows to remain a reliable energy supplier to Europe

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will remain a reliable energy supplier to Europe and the rest of the world despite the crisis in the region, Undersecretary of Energy and Petroleum Affairs Sharif Al Olama told Euronews. He spoke at ADIPEC, the oil and gas industry exhibition and conference held in Abu Dhabi.

Al Olama said oil exports carried on throughout the crisis, helped by investment in diversified export routes. He acknowledged the pressure on the sector, saying the first few months were very difficult. Behind the scenes at the conference, senior officials from around the world mostly discussed the threat of renewed military strikes in the region while the US-Iran war continues. Many regarded them as inevitable, though they still hoped diplomacy could find a way forward.

A diversified energy mix

The official said a long-term decision to spread the UAE's energy mix across nuclear, renewables and fossil fuels, with hydrogen and other future fuels in development, kept systems running and services uninterrupted. Lessons from the crisis are now being built into facility design, capacity under construction and system back-up.

The UAE has about 8.2 gigawatts of solar capacity, with plans to grow to 20 gigawatts and beyond. Several large solar projects are due to come online over the next few years as the country works toward net zero by 2050, the same deadline the EU has set for climate neutrality.

Demand from artificial intelligence

Al Olama described the rapid growth of AI data centres as a global challenge for energy planners, one Europe also faces. The UAE's answer begins with efficiency: in some data centres, AI tools have cut power consumption by 40%. Expansion, cooling and the use of existing infrastructure come next.

He stressed that cooperation with Europe runs both ways and that governments learn from each other. The UAE is considering rating data centres for energy efficiency and climate neutrality, and is sharing practice with European governments.