Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 2012 and implemented by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), is one of the key strategic projects driving the UAE’s journey towards a sustainable future that depends on clean and renewable energy. The solar park’s total production capacity has reached 3,860MW and will exceed 8,000MW by 2030, compared to the original plan of 5,000MW. The share of clean energy now exceeds 21.5% of DEWA’s total capacity and will reach 36% by 2030, compared to 25% in the original plan, reducing over 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The solar park supports the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to ensure that 100% of Dubai’s energy production capacity comes from clean sources by 2050. DEWA implements the solar park’s projects in collaboration with the private sector through the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model — a pioneering approach that embodies the integration of government vision, technological innovation, and investment efficiency.

DEWA has completed five phases of the solar park and is currently implementing the sixth phase. It has invited qualified companies and consortiums to submit proposals for the seventh phase of the solar park, which will add 2,000MW from photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and include a 1,400MW battery storage system with a six-hour capacity. This phase, implemented under the IPP model, will be one of the world’s largest solar-plus-storage projects.

The 950MW fourth phase of the solar park, which includes 700MW of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and 250MW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity, marks a major milestone in global clean energy innovation. It is both an engineering and technical landmark that adds to the UAE’s achievements in renewable energy. The project set four Guinness World Records for the highest-capacity single-site CSP plant (700MW); the tallest CSP tower at 263.126 metres; the largest thermal energy storage capacity of 5,907 megawatt-hours; and the longest continuous CSP plant operation, achieving 39 days of uninterrupted service.