Dubai proves day by day that it is a model for sustainability and innovation. With the application of green building standards to over 55,000 government and private buildings, Dubai strengthens its position as a global sustainable city, moving steadily towards a future of more efficient energy and water consumption.
Dubai’s Energy and Water Demand Management Strategy 2050 was updated under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, with the aim of achieving savings of up to 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2050. These figures are not mere ambitions but a well-structured plan that includes building upgrades, improving cooling efficiency, encouraging the use of recycled water, as well as adopting smart charging technologies and sustainable mobility.
Impressive Achievements in Energy Efficiency
Green Buildings: Since the implementation of the Green Building Code in 2011 and its mandatory status in 2014, the number of green buildings in Dubai has risen to 55,000, with the current code being improved by 20%. The new code planned for 2026 will achieve an additional 35% efficiency.
Building Retrofit Program: More than 15,000 buildings have been retrofitted, including 1,500 government buildings by the end of 2024, resulting in savings of 709 GWh of electricity and 462 million gallons of water annually.
Centralized Cooling: 25.5% of Dubai’s cooling capacity relies on efficient local cooling systems with an efficiency rate of 0.85 kWh/ton of cooling/hour, with a combined capacity of two million tons of cooling.
Solar Energy: Installation of solar energy systems with a capacity exceeding 600 MW on building rooftops.
Green Transport: Over 65,000 vehicles have been converted to environmentally friendly ones, with 400 charging points spread across the city.
In 2023, Dubai achieved savings of 9.7 TWh of electricity (a 16% decrease) and 19 billion gallons of water (a 12.5% decrease), contributing to the reduction of 21.5 million tons of CO2 emissions and saving 14.6 billion AED since 2011.
Artificial Intelligence to Support Sustainability
Dubai invests in modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to analyze big data and optimize resource distribution, enhancing the efficiency of smart grids and ensuring high-performance predictive maintenance.
An Ambitious Vision for the Next Decade
Dubai is moving towards enhancing its strategic programs by 2025, focusing on the development of a new building code, circular economy strategies, energy storage, and plans to improve energy efficiency in the industrial and hospitality sectors.
What Dubai achieves today is not just a local achievement but a testament to its global leadership role in sustainability. Thanks to collaboration between the public and private sectors and ambitious strategies, Dubai is leading the region towards a fully green and sustainable future.
This is the model the world needs, and this is the vision that truly makes Dubai the city of the future.
