GREEN MOBILITY-

#1- Zayed Port to see UAE’s first hybrid heliport: The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) granted design approval for the country’s first hybrid heliport at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal in Zayed Port, Wam reports. AD Ports Group, Falcon Aviation Services, and Archer Aviation will collaborate on developing the site, which will have a unified platform to serve both helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, including Archer’s Midnight model.

Just in time: The facility will be a launch point for Abu Dhabi’s air taxi service, set to be rolled out by 2026, and the site was chosen for its strategic location and high passenger volume. GCAA’s proposed regulations for eVTOL infrastructure are expected to be finalized by July 2025.

ICYMI- Archer Aviation is set to launch test flights of its eVTOL aircraft in Abu Dhabi thissummer, before full commercial rollout later. Archer and Falcon Aviation are also developing a “vertiport” network across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while in Dubai, the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) partnered with electric aircraft developer Joby Aviation last year to launch air taxi services in the UAE by early 2026.

#2- Ajman to get EV charging hub, Dubai to follow: The UAE’s state-owned EV charging network UAEV will launch the country’s largest EV recharging station to date in Ajman by the end of 2025, the National reported on Wednesday, citing comments made by CEO Hicham Ezzahid. The flagship hub will be capable of servicing 20 EVs simultaneously, and a second hub is planned to open in Dubai in 2026, Ezzahid said. The move comes within UAEV's broader goal to install 1k public charging stations across all seven emirates by 2030. It recently signed an MoU with AWR to support EV charging infrastructure.

#3- UAEV + AWR to boost UAE’s EV charging experience: Emarat EV Charging Stations Company (UAEV) — a JV between the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and Etihad Water and Electricity — and AW Rostamani (AWR) Group have signed a strategic agreement to support electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the UAE, according to a statement issued Tuesday. Zeekr exclusive distributor AWR Group will provide charging credits to customers of those vehicles for use across UAEV’s charging network. The partnership will launch in the coming months

REMEMBER- UAEV plans to install 500 EV chargers by 2025 and to expand this to 10k chargers by 2030, and 30k by 2050. The UAE is the second highest in the Middle East for EV usage, with EVs accounting for 13% of total car sales in 2023. The UAE has already installed over 100 EV chargers in 2024.

#4- More electric taxis to launch in Dubai: Dubai Taxi Company has partnered with Al Futtaim Electric Mobility to deploy 200 all-electric BYD SEAL taxis in Dubai, according to a Press Release issued on Monday. The move aligns with Dubai Taxi’s goal to convert its entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2040 and with Al Futtaim Automotive’s goal to make hybrid and electric cars account for at least 50% of its UAE sales by 2030.

#5- SkyCargo taps hydrogen-powered trucks: Emirates Skycargo has partnered with UAE-based land freight cargo firm Allied Transport Company to integrate five hydrogen-powered trucks into its fleet by 1Q 2026, according to a statement released last week. The new trucks will have a carrying capacity of 28 tonnes of cargo each, with a full tank offering a range up to 700 km. Hydrogen fueling will be available in Dubai Expo City and Al Qudra Dewa Station,

Trucking in numbers: Skycargo currently boasts over 60 trucks in its trucking fleet, which serves as a crucial link between Dubai World Central (DWC), Dubai International Airport (DXB), and the wider region.

SOLAR-

#1- ADFD brings Comoros solar plant online: The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has inaugurated its AED 25.7 mn (c. USD 7 mn), 6.3 MW solar power plant in Comoros, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. The plant will provide energy to the capital, Moroni, and other surrounding regions.

ADFD has a green portfolio abroad: ADFD finalized an AED 92 mn loan agreement with Rwanda’s government to enhance water systems at the Karenge Water Treatment Plant last December. ADFD-backed UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund inaugurated Masdar’s hurricane-resistant hybrid solar-diesel plant in the Caribbean’s Antigua and Barbuda last year.

#2- Iran readies 100 MW of solar panels for launch: Iran’s Energy Ministry has installed 15 solar panels with a total capacity of 100 MW across the country, Tehran Times reported last week. The panels are installed in the provinces of Isfahan, Yazd, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, Kerman, Markazi, and Alborz.

GREEN FINANCE-

Qatar Central Bank issues Sustainable Finance Framework: The Qatar Central Bank has issued its Sustainable Finance Framework as part of the country’s Third Financial Sector Strategic Plan and broader ESG strategy, according to a statement issued on Sunday. The framework will focus on enhanced transparency, revenue management, mandatory reporting, and external audits. It also aims to integrate sustainable Islamic finance instruments.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE-

Saudi receives bids for Mawqaq substation: The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has received bids for the construction of the 380 kV Mawqaq substation in central Saudi Arabia as well as several overhead transmission line (OHTL) projects, including a 380 kV OHTL from Mawqaq to the national grid, Trade Arabia reported last week. The lowest bidder for the substation — which is being set up to support new renewable energy projects under the government’s National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) — was Trading & Development at SAR 592 mn (c. USD 158 mn), while the lowest bidder for the OHTL project was Alfanar Projects at SAR 159.3 mn (c. USD 42 mn).

REMEMBER- The SEC invited bids to develop 380 kV substations and overhead transmission lines in Afif, Khurma, Tabarjal, Qirah, and Ash Shayyit for in-progress renewable energy projects last month. The Saudi Power Procurement Company has already prequalified a total of 22 utility project developers for the sixth round of wind and solar projects under the NREP. This round will add a combined capacity of 4.5 GW to Saudi Arabia's renewable energy portfolio.

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