- Investors launched 360 foreign-backed renewable energy projects in the Arab region between 2003 and 2024, committing over $351 billion and creating 83,000 jobs.
- The UAE attracted the highest investment ($88.5 billion), while ACWA Power led in project count and Infinity Power in project value.
According to the Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (dhaman), investors launched 360 foreign-backed renewable energy projects in the Arab region between January 2003 and December 2024. They committed more than $351 billion and created over 83,000 jobs.
Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, Mauritania, and Jordan hosted 248 projects, equal to 69%. These countries absorbed $291 billion in investments and generated nearly 68,000 jobs, representing 82% of sector employment.
The UAE led in renewable energy investment, attracting 57 projects worth $88.5 billion, one-quarter of the total funding, and creating over 16,000 jobs. At the corporate level, Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power executed 20 projects, the most in the region, while UAE-based Infinity Power delivered the highest value, with $34 billion in projects.
Arab countries also pursued cross-border collaboration. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt invested in 90 interconnected projects worth $113 billion, which accounted for a quarter of all activity and created 22,000 jobs.
Looking ahead, 15 Arab countries will expand electricity generation by 4.2% in 2025, surpassing 1,500 terawatt-hours (TWh), reaching 1,754 TWh by 2030. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Iraq, and Algeria will concentrate nearly three-quarters of production. Consumption will grow 3.5% to 1,296 TWh in 2025, led by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Algeria, and Kuwait.
Foreign trade in electricity and power equipment also surged. In 2024, the sector’s trade value rose 8% to $39.2 billion, with exports climbing 9% to $7.6 billion and imports increasing 7.8% to $31.5 billion. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, Iraq, and Qatar captured 81% of this trade.
Turkiye led electricity exports with $446 million, while the United States dominated power equipment supply with $6.6 billion. On the import side, Libya bought the most electricity at $59 million, and France led in power equipment imports with $593 million.