UAE Advances Nationwide Infrastructure Projects to Support Sustainability

ABU DHABI, UAE – Infrastructure projects launched across the United Arab Emirates in 2026 are reflecting a broad national strategy focused on long-term development, service efficiency and quality of life, as the country continues to invest across energy, water, transport, roads, urban development and economic infrastructure.

According to WAM, the breadth of activity underway this year highlights the UAE’s continued emphasis on coordinated planning, delivery at scale and the use of advanced technologies to strengthen an integrated infrastructure ecosystem that supports sustainable economic growth.

In the energy and water segment, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure launched the first phase of a programme aimed at reducing energy and water consumption in government buildings, beginning with Abdullah bin Omran Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah and extending across 60 facilities with investments of AED120 million ($32.7 million). A second phase is expected to expand the programme to 360 government buildings at a cost of AED1 billion ($272.3 million), in partnership with the private sector.

Further momentum is building in Abu Dhabi’s power and utilities landscape, where Emirates Water and Electricity Company received multiple bids for the development of the 3.3-gigawatt Al Nouf 1 Independent Power Producer (IPP), described as the largest project of its kind in the country. The facility will be located within the new Al Nouf complex, EWEC’s latest strategic site for the energy sector, designed to support advanced generation technologies and low-carbon reverse osmosis desalination.

In Ras Al Khaimah, the government signed a long-term wastewater treatment agreement with a consortium made up of Etihad Water and Electricity, TAQA Water Solutions, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and Saur International Water Services. The agreement covers the development of a plant with capacity of 60,000 cubic metres per day, with the project expected to serve nearly 300,000 residents upon completion.

Dubai also continued to push ahead with utility and drainage upgrades. The emirate announced projects to improve sewerage and stormwater drainage networks in Al Quoz Creative Zone at a cost of AED250 million ($68.1 million), part of a wider AED500 million ($136.1 million) plan. At the same time, five contracts were awarded under the second phase of the Tasreef programme to expand Dubai’s stormwater drainage network, with a combined value of AED2.5 billion ($680.7 million). The works will cover 30 key areas spanning 430 million square metres and are designed to serve an estimated 3 million people by 2040.

Dubai Municipality also confirmed that 36 percent of the Deira stormwater drainage project has been completed. The scheme, valued at AED500 million ($136.1 million), will serve 13 areas across 4,700 hectares through 60 kilometres of drainage networks, with completion scheduled for the end of 2027.

In Sharjah, the Electricity, Water and Gas Authority increased water supply capacity in Kalba from 6 million to 9 million gallons per day, while also integrating desalination plants, transmission lines and distribution networks into a unified operational system aimed at improving responsiveness and efficiency.

Transport and road infrastructure also remained a major area of activity. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority installed 726 modern bus shelters, upgraded marine transport waiting areas, and developed three integrated truck rest areas with capacity for 490 heavy vehicles, in line with international safety standards.

The authority also awarded the second phase of the Hessa Street development project, covering 3 kilometres and including three major intersections through bridges extending 8,835 metres and a 480-metre tunnel. The project serves 10 residential and development areas and is expected to benefit around 650,000 residents.

Elsewhere in the UAE, Umm Al Qaiwain’s Municipality Department completed the first phase of its internal roads network project, extending 30.74 kilometres. In Ajman, the Al Tallah Road development project was inaugurated, including an 800-metre bridge on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and a 1,100-metre bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Urban development and real estate-linked infrastructure projects also continued to gain traction, reflecting the UAE’s wider ambition to create integrated, future-ready and sustainable cities. In Sharjah, work began on a new exhibition and conference project that will host the Sharjah International Book Fair in 2027, with an investment of AED500 million ($136.1 million).

Dubai, meanwhile, announced expansion projects in Dubai Silicon Oasis valued at AED12.8 billion ($3.49 billion), alongside the expansion of Dubai International Financial Centre, which will add a total floor area of 17.7 million square feet and is valued at AED100 billion ($27.2 billion). The emirate also launched the Liwan Oasis eco-leisure project, further broadening its pipeline of mixed-use and lifestyle-oriented developments.

In Ajman, the Masfout Gate project was inaugurated to improve quality of life in mountainous areas and strengthen connectivity through integrated and safe walking trails.

Economic zones also continued to attract industrial and logistics investment. Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) secured five industrial and logistics projects in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain worth AED147 million ($40 million), with the developments expected to create 500 jobs. Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) also marked the groundbreaking of a new storage facility covering 5,839 square metres, with projected capacity of 12,000 cubic metres.

Taken together, the latest projects underscore the UAE’s continued focus on resilient infrastructure, stronger service delivery and long-term sustainable development, while reinforcing the country’s strategy of linking utilities, transport, urban development and economic zones into a more connected national growth framework.