As Abu Dhabi continues to accelerate its path toward the UAE Net Zero 2050 goals, the demand for smarter, cleaner, and more efficient infrastructure has never been greater. Buildings and factories account for the majority of the capital’s energy use and emissions, driving the urgent need for deep retrofits, renewable integration, and advanced energy management.

Rapid urbanisation in recent years has increased awareness of the social, economic, and environmental impact of buildings. In response, government entities such as the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy have launched several programmes to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings while ensuring that new developments meet the required sustainability standards.

As part of the Energy Efficiency Accelerators in the Industrial Sector initiative, the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) is targeting 100 industrial establishments to optimise energy and water use in support of the UAE Net Zero 2050 goals. The programme provides technical evaluations to identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities without financial burden, with 50 industrial facilities scheduled for assessment and retrofitting in 2026. In parallel, 300 commercial and residential buildings across Abu Dhabi will undergo major retrofitting in 2026, building on electricity savings of approximately 220 GWh achieved in 2025.

The 6th RetrofitTech Buildings & Industrial Innovation Abu Dhabi Summit, taking place on 23 - 24 June 2026, will highlight a series of new projects scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2030, along with key policies and programmes driving energy efficiency across commercial, government, and industrial sectors.