Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar have entered into a strategic Collaboration Framework Agreement aimed at accelerating the deployment of utility-scale renewable energy projects across the UAE, with targets set to surpass 30 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity and integrate more than 8 gigawatts of battery energy storage by 2035.

Agreement Details and Signatories

The Collaboration Framework Agreement was signed on May 5, 2026, by Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

EWEC, which describes itself as a leading company in the integrated planning, purchasing, supply, and system dispatch services of water and electricity across the UAE, characterized the agreement as a pivotal strategic tool designed to reshape the country's energy sector.

The framework is structured to streamline Masdar's participation in the engagement process for EWEC's renewable energy projects, covering early-stage project development through to financial close.

According to both parties, the agreement is designed to improve efficiency while preserving the transparency and independence of EWEC's competitive procurement processes.

Targets and National Energy Objectives

The CFA is aligned with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi, as well as the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

The central ambition embedded in the agreement is to meet 60 percent of Abu Dhabi's total energy demand from renewable and clean sources by 2035, underpinned by more than 30 gigawatts of solar PV capacity and over 8 gigawatts of battery energy storage integration.

EWEC has also outlined a parallel goal of enabling nearly emissions-free water production by 2030, situating the agreement within a broader transformation of the UAE's water and power sector.

Alshamsi said in a statement accompanying the signing that the framework "reflects our commitment to continuously optimizing our processes and procedures to reduce costs and further optimize our operations," adding that it places EWEC on "a definitive path toward the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative."

Building on an Existing Track Record

The new agreement builds on a previously established working relationship between EWEC and Masdar. Both organizations cited a series of jointly developed projects as the foundation for this expanded collaboration, including the Al Dhafra Solar PV project, the Al Ajban Solar PV project, the Khazna Solar PV project, and a gigascale round-the-clock solar and battery storage project.

Al Ramahi noted in his statement that the agreement "strengthens our long-standing collaboration with EWEC and builds on our track record in advancing the UAE's energy transformation," specifically referencing the gigascale Round-the-Clock solar project as an example of the kind of world-leading solutions the two entities are jointly advancing.

In-Country Value and Emirati Talent

A stated priority of the Collaboration Framework Agreement is the maximization of In-Country Value. The agreement has been explicitly designed to foster Emirati talent and expertise as the UAE scales its renewable energy infrastructure. This emphasis on local capacity development is presented as a central component of the framework's design, not an ancillary consideration.

The two organizations did not specify in the announcement how In-Country Value would be measured or what thresholds would be targeted, but both framed the domestic development dimension as integral to the agreement's purpose alongside its technical and commercial objectives.

Industrial and Economic Dimensions

Beyond meeting residential and public electricity demand, the agreement identifies powering local industrial growth as one of its explicit objectives. Al Ramahi stated that the collaboration is intended to provide "local UAE industry with reliable, affordable, clean power," positioning the renewable energy rollout as a driver of broader economic activity rather than solely a decarbonization measure.

EWEC described itself as "the driving force behind the UAE's energy transition" and characterized the scale of the planned deployment as part of a global shift toward sustainable, utility-scale power and water production.

Scope of the Framework Process

The Collaboration Framework Agreement governs Masdar's participation across the project lifecycle, from early-stage development through to financial close. By formalizing this process, both parties have indicated an intent to reduce the time and friction associated with individual project negotiations while retaining the integrity of competitive procurement.

The framework does not constitute a direct award of specific contracts. Instead, it establishes a structured pathway through which Masdar can engage with EWEC's pipeline of renewable energy projects, which is forecast to exceed 30 gigawatts of solar PV capacity by 2035. The agreement is aligned with EWEC's broader roadmap to transform the UAE's water and power sector in line with Abu Dhabi's long-term energy strategy.

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