World Green Economy Summit: From Success to Scale

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) has consolidated its position as a catalyst for a broader global transformation, in which sustainability has evolved from a concept associated with responsibility and long-term ambition into an economic, developmental and investment pathway that is reshaping the priorities of governments, markets and societies.

Over the past 12 years, the summit, organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the World Green Economy Organization, has helped establish the green economy as a pillar of sustainable growth. It has strengthened its role as a platform that bridges the gaps between policy, finance and technology; between vision and implementation; and between climate ambitions and measurable outcomes. It has also brought together governments, business leaders, investors, innovators and experts around a shared conviction that the green transition is no longer an option, but a necessity for enhancing competitiveness, building economic resilience and creating opportunities.

Global indicators show that the green economy has become one of the world's most important avenues for growth and investment. Global energy transition investment reached USD 2.3 trillion in 2025, compared to USD 1.8 trillion just two years earlier. In the Middle East and North Africa, operational renewable energy capacity reached 43.7 gigawatts (GW), while the capacity of projects under development exceeds 200 GW. These figures demonstrate that the green transition is no longer an emerging sector or a passing trend, but a growing economic force that requires faster implementation, broader partnerships, and legislative, financial and technological frameworks that enable successful solutions to be deployed at scale.

Today, the world is entering a new phase in the transition towards a green economy. Many clean technologies and solutions have demonstrated both their economic viability and environmental value. Several technologies have progressed from testing and experimentation to large-scale deployment, while green business models have emerged that generate tangible economic returns alongside developmental and environmental benefits. The question is no longer whether the green transition is possible, but how it can be accelerated, scaled up, and extended across sectors and societies.

In this next phase, the green economy requires more scalable models, more effective partnerships, more flexible financing mechanisms, and policies that are better aligned with the evolving requirements of the transition. It also requires building human and institutional capabilities that can translate knowledge into implementation, technologies into projects, and projects into sustainable economic, social and environmental impact. This is the role of WGES: to bring together decision-makers, private sector leaders, international organisations and experts around a common goal of accelerating the journey from ambition to implementation, and from success to scale.

This underscores the significance of the 12th edition of WGES, which will take place on 21 and 22 October 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme, 'From Success to Scale: Showcasing the Green Economy.' The theme captures the imperative of the next phase: moving from proving the viability of solutions to scaling their deployment, from high-impact initiatives to integrated ecosystems, and from individual achievements to broader and more sustainable global impact. This year’s summit will focus on four main thematic pillars: Energy Technology & Infrastructure; Business Strategy & Transition; Water & Food Security; and Finance. It will also explore three cross-cutting themes: Artificial Intelligence; Governance; and System Enablers, including supply chains and the circular economy.

Since its launch, WGES has built bridges between vision and action, ideas and applications, and commitments and outcomes. Today, the summit is embarking on a new chapter focused on positioning the green economy as a key pathway to growth, resilience and sustainable prosperity, while scaling proven solutions to a level that matches the magnitude of global challenges. In doing so, it seeks to transform sustainable impact from aspiration into reality for present and future generations alike.