The UAE has ranked first among Arab countries in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which evaluates nations across 47 indicators covering environmental health, ecosystem vitality and climate change. The country posted a perfect score of 100 in waste management and scored 94.99% in wastewater treatment, ranking 19th globally in that category. The UAE also placed first regionally and ninth globally for protecting marine Key Biodiversity Areas.
Renewable Energy Investment Accelerates
The UAE's renewable energy capacity has grown 117% since 2022, underpinned by major projects such as Masdar and EWEC's $6 billion solar-plus-storage initiative, which will add 5.2 gigawatts of solar capacity and 19 gigawatt-hours of battery storage to the national grid. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the ranking reflects the country's long-term investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure.
AI-Powered Mangrove Restoration
The UAE has also made progress toward its goal of planting 100 million mangrove trees, with more than 50 million already planted using AI-guided drone technology that identifies optimal planting sites along the coastline. The country ranked first regionally and ninth globally for protection of marine Key Biodiversity Areas, and its Al Taweelah plant remains among the world's largest reverse osmosis desalination facilities.
