A high-level delegation from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy, led by Director-General Ditte Juul Jørgensen, concluded a successful visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week. The visit aimed at strengthening EU-UAE energy diplomacy through various meetings with senior UAE officials and representatives of the UAE Presidency of COP28.

Building on the political agreement reached on June 27th between President Ursula von der Leyen and COP28 President Designate Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, Director-General Ditte Juul Jørgensen's visit focused on advancing cooperation between the EU and the UAE on global energy issues ahead of COP28. The visit also followed a meeting between President von der Leyen and UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 7 September, where they discussed ways to strengthen EU-UAE cooperation and COP28. The EU and UAE aim to rally global support for the Global Pledge on renewables and energy efficiency targets, which will be a key agenda item at COP28 in Dubai this December.

Recent analyses by the European Commission, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) emphasize the urgent need for global action to triple renewable energy capacity to 11,000 GW and double annual energy efficiency improvements to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal.

The UAE, in its role as the chair of COP28, plays a crucial role in the global energy transition and has committed to achieving net-zero domestic emissions by 2050. During the visit, Director-General Ditte Juul Jørgensen explored opportunities for EU-UAE energy collaboration to stimulate economic growth and accelerate investments in clean technologies.

The UAE plans to triple its renewable energy capacity by 2030, reaching a total of 14.2 GW, and aims to become a leading hydrogen producer by 2031. UAE investors are also eyeing investments in renewable projects across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, creating potential for trilateral cooperation through the Global Gateway initiative. The UAE's strategic position as a regional hub for EU exports of energy technologies further strengthens the prospects for collaboration.